Rolfing is a kind of deep massage and "movement education" developed by Ida P. Rolf (1896-1979), a biochemist and therapist. She authored several books on the relationship of form and structure in the human body.

Dr. Rolf claimed she found a correlation between muscular tension and pent up emotions. Rolfing is the name given to Dr. Rolf's method of massage, transcending chiropractic in that it is based on the notion that emotional as well as physical health depends upon being properly aligned. In Rolfing, alignment must be of much more than just the spine.

To be healthy, according to Rolfers, you must align your head, ankles, hips, thorax, pelvis, knees, shoulders, ears in just the right way or else the evils of gravity will be felt. By being properly aligned, gravity enhances personal energy leading to a healthy body and emotional state.

Some Rolfers claim that Rolfing is a scientifically validated system of body restructuring and movement education.  They claim that there is scientific proof that each of us has life-long patterns of tension and that realigning releases this tension, so that overall personal functioning tends to improve.

The expression "tends to improve" may sound like weasel words to some of us, but apparently it is crystal clear and scientific enough for Rolfers.

Sadly, the vaunted scientific proof is on the light side.

Rolfing balances muscle alignment.  Most people's muscles are not held in proper alignment for a variety of reasons.  When muscles are not adequately balanced with one another, one muscle tends to strengthen and become overly tight while the opposing muscle becomes increasingly weak.  This leads to arthritis, knee replacements, chronic back pain, orthotics, etc, etc.  Rolfing releases the fascia around tight muscles allowing for proper balance to be reintegrated into the body.  Rolfing has done amazing, amazing things for me.   I am currently working on stretching out overly tight hamstrings, adductors, and calves.  I'm working on correctly my everted feet, improving the circulation in my lower extremities, and improving the overall appearance of my legs.  Running and running only made all of these problems worse.  Rolfing has been ENORMOUSLY helpful in doing all of these things for me. Deep tissue work that hurts like hell a lot of times, and does create an emotional release.  It's just how it goes. And, definitely, definitely one of the better things I've done for myself.

Very limited what it can do besides increase local blood supply, nothing a simple ice pack will do after 10 minutes from a reactive hyperemia or hot pack. Rediculous.

Actually improves flexibility and goes a great way to reducing chronic pain.