I am as skeptical as the next guy when it comes to shelling out $150 bucks for a single session of body work. That's why I bought the Groupon for half price so it wouldn't be a total waste if I didn't like it. But boy did I ever... After the first session, I was hooked but the cautious part of me decided to buy just 3 more sessions before I eventually committed to the 10 series. The more sessions you buy the bigger discount you get. I probably would have still done it for the full price but shaving off a few dollars never hurts. I will say this work isn't for everyone. If you go in with a bad attitude or expectations of trying to "get something" you probably won't notice the subtle ways your body is changing for the better. Save your money and go to burger king instead. The more you "let go", without trying to meticulously scrutinize his techniques or strategies, the more you will feel the magic of this work. It takes a tremendous amount of trust in the process because results may not be obvious at first. Each session has surface benefits-no matter what I leave feeling relaxed and energized. But the deeper benefits are what makes this incredible process worth it. The human body is amazingly brilliant and instantaneously responds to touch and you can be sure that metamorphosis is taking place within the first few moments of lying on the table, and beyond. Using various craniosacral techniques and deep fascia massage there can be moments of extreme pain and pleasures he navigates your body with his skillful hands, but its always tailor-made to what your body's wisdom is asking for. Over the last few months, my body has basically re-structured itself without me having to "do" anything. My posture has improved, the way I walk, my energy channels have opened up from my feet all the way up to my skull. Jed was able to "train" my nervous system to its attack my body (stress and anxiety people this is for you). There were areas of my body that I didn't even know existed because they were locked in a frozen state, that I now have access to. I can FEEL again! This is my first experience with rolfing so I don't have a lot of knowledge of other rolfers but I can say if it ain't broke, don't fix it! If you can afford it, its 100% worth it to see Jed! Keep and open mind and drop the inner skeptic and a few months from now you'll be glad that you did :) read more

Just, wow. I walked in to see Jed today with no prior Rolfing experience, and pain at a level 10. I had heard about Rolfing, and had tried everything else and nothing has worked for me. It's nothing like a massage, and not for the delicate, but if you want to get better, this is the place. About 1/2 way through, there was a "witching" moment, where I could feel my body relax and I even briefly fell asleep. Hard to do when you are in agony. I walked out with so much less pain and feel amazing. I can't wait to dig in to the rest of my sessions and see if we can make it disappear. I didn't know how much I needed this until I was there. Thanks Jed! read more

I found Jed on Yelp and did a 10 session program. It was my first time with rolfing. I really felt the difference after each session. I definitely recommend trying Jed out. He is in a convenient location in Oakland's Grand Lake area. read more

Really enjoyed this. Went in with a co worker and our experiences were different I walked out feeling grounded and at the core of myself. No pain where there usually is. The coworker was relaxed but not like me. Light pressure, intuitive and grounded. Would go back for sure. Thank you read more

Wow! I never knew what it felt like to fully inhabit my body until I started getting Rolfed by Jed. It's a remarkable experience that everyone could benefit from. I'd heard Rolfing was a painful experience - not true! It's subtle and soothing and somehow removes all the hidden energy barriers in your body that cause tightness, pain and limited mobility - and suddenly you are living with vitality and presence in your whole body. Jed is a gifted healer. He makes you feel safe and comfortable. A good investment in your health. read more

I completed the 10 series with Jed about a month ago, and am completely satisfied and happy with both the series as well as the long-term results that I am seeing. A lot of the reviews mention Jed's light touch, and this had initially made me a little curious about how effective his Rolfing could be - I usually favor the no pain no gain approach. However, when the lighter pressure was used it was incredibly transformative and shifted a lot of my muscle memory, as well as a lot of memories and emotions that had been stuck. I did want to say that there were definitely sessions when the work was physically deeper, though it never crossed the line into 'too painful.' I think Jed is vigilant about observing how your surrounding muscles as well as breath are reacting to his work at all times. As a result of the ten series, I find myself much more grounded. I trust my body and its capabilities more, and I feel like everything works together better. I've actually started enjoying and craving exercise - it's like I'm more in touch with what actually nourishes the physical aspect of my being. Also, upon viewing the before/after photos I am really pleased to see how much this work has improved my posture, more specifically the forward-head posture I have been trying to correct for almost a decade. read more

Jed has a unique gift for healing. He intuitively senses what is happening in your body and areas that need attention. After leaving each session, I found a renewed sense of alignment and joy, both physically and emotionally. In addition to the physical bodywork, talking with Jed about life goals and challenges was helpful and restorative. Jed creates a safe space to explore your ambitions and connect with your higher self. I completed the 10 series, and it impacted my life in a meaningful way, leading to transformations that I couldn't have imagined before I embarked on the series. As someone who has practiced yoga for many years and is very in touch with my body, I greatly appreciated the nuance of the work and the lasting changes. read more

It seems that he knows what he is doing but I do not feel like he was the right rolfer for me. I am writing this, but he is the first rolfer that I have been to. So, please read this understanding that I am writing this as if he is a masseur or physical therapist or maybe even an occupational therapist, as these are the people I have had a lot of experience with me. Here are a few things that disappointed me: His communication skills; he lacks the ability to tell you what is going on while he is working on you unless you attempt to question him and then he does try. He is very expensive; he charges $150 for 75 minutes and sometimes he doesn't even work on you the entire time. No tips nor exercises or work for preventative; to me, it is important that a person in this field give you very concrete things to do to help you in the future. He did give me a tips as in "be conscious of the way you are doing things and attempt to think about the connections" which is good but that is just too vague for me. I would rather have more concrete things that I have to do each week. Maybe just not the right fit. I am extroverted and type A....so take this into consideration. read more

This doesn't deserve even one star. Jed put his hands (lightly touched) on the problematic area to "heal", but literally didn't do anything nor had any effect at all. One thing that turned me off from the start is Jed not even bothered to come down stairs to open the door when I was having problem with the door code (while on phone with him trying to figure it out). He even complained that the instruction was on email. The therapy room was absolutely bare with a massage table in the center with an office-like large bright room. I didn't feel comfortable changing in the bright room with a smoked glass door. I'm puzzled why all of the reviews are raving and giving 5-stars for this business (perhaps non-5stars are deleted). My Rolfing experience at other places are absolutely different (more pressure and release), so I don't understand how the light bare touch can have any effect. read more

I am a bit of a skeptic about all things "alternative," but I am also open to new learning experiences. When my recovery from a stubborn spine injury seemed to have stalled, a friend recommended rolfing so enthusiastically that she paid for my Yelp coupon for a session with Jed. When I walked in the door, I was afraid that it was a bad recommendation and he would actually make things worse. Wrong. I walked out, after a single session, with a completely different posture. Walking was suddenly effortless and my spine didn't seem to want to twist painfully out of place as it had for months. I discovered in conversations with my doctors over the next week that I have been walking incorrectly and causing significant strain to my knees and back for my entire life. My injury recovery is already progressing more quickly since I have started to relearn to walk--and I never would have known the problem existed if not for a single rolfing session with Jed. Best of all, he put me on the waiting list for his scholarship program, which allows people like myself--with low income and already drowning in medical bills--to benefit from the 10-series even if we simply don't have $140 per session. I am deeply grateful that he views this therapy as important enough to share even with the likes of me. Hopefully, I will be back on Jed's table soon, moving swiftly down the path to recovery! The session itself was calming and focused. Jed has a kind presence and a firm but gentle touch. He was honest and reassuring when I expressed my skepticism, not taking it personally as some practitioners have when I questioned them in the past. I would absolutely recommend both Jed and rolfing to anyone with a stubborn injury like mine, and to anyone who does not live in moon gravity. UPDATE: I just finished my ten-series with Jed. It was a tremendously rewarding and awareness-building process, and I never would have been able to experience it without Jed's generosity. While it was not a miracle cure for my particular spine injury, it helped me gain a better understanding of how I can help myself heal through postural changes and attention to soft tissue and helped with several specific issues. I would still recommend rolfing to anyone who doesn't feel quite right in their body--many common alignment issues benefit from rolfing, and even those without known issues will likely walk away from each session feeling stronger and more stable in their body. read more

This was a wonderful introduction to rolfing. Jed was in tune with me and my process of integration. Through the 10 sessions - I was able to release painful holding patterns that has improved my emotional range and physical stamina. I look forward to continued work with Jed. It has been more than I expected to get out of the experience. read more

I wanted to try Rolfing because as I understood it , it involved fascia release and re- alignment over the long term. I spent 150.00 and he touched my leg with 2 fingers lightly. Nothing changed, felt nothing. Then he offered a 10 series package, but I was not interested- I don't know if it was supposed to be like reiki but it was not worth it to me. My advice is to ask a lot of questions about technique before booking read more

Jed was awesome. I went in with a list of complaints. I got the yelp deal and he worked with my schedule to get an appointment. I stood taller and didn't realize how my breathing was so effected by my tension! If I hadn't moved I would have definitely continued working with Jed. Very gifted healer. Must try. read more

I did the ten series with Jed and I was amazed at how detailed and specific his work is. His cool calm demeanor and firm hands were a welcoming factor for such deep relaxing work. I developed better posture and started feeling better in my body immediately after the first session. Jed is a great bodyworker who made the Rolfing experience possible to me, by way of his flexibility and understanding. A highly recommend choosing Jed as a bodyworker. I seemed to find parking within two blocks of his location. The room and building is quiet without interruption. read more

Jed is excellent. Let me elaborate: I had been wanting to do Rolfing for years, ever since one of my Kinesiology professors told me "it will change your life." This year was my year. I found Jed through a groupon deal. I thought Rolfing is supposed to be painful- it turns out skilled technichians, like Jed, are able to work and release patterns with little discomfort. In fact I fell into a dream state on the table during most sessions. It's very clear that Jed is very skilled, and committed to creating a safe emotional space for clients. As with all therapies Rolfing can bring up and clear a lot of past emotions. I certainly underwent a metamorphosis during our ten sessions. I also saw a huge physical benefit. My before after photos depict me going from a comical near cave-man hunch to a ballerina-esque erect posture. If you're on the fence about signing up, take the risk. It'll be worth it. read more

I wasn't suffering from any major physical issues prior to coming to see Jed, but I'd always wanted to give Rolfing a try. I didn't have any pain issues but I hadn't felt very comfortable in my own body for a long time. Things just didn't feel right in ways I couldn't quite explain, as though I was walking around in borrowed shoes. Fortunately, I never really had to explain much to Jed. I was expecting to feel some amount of pain during the procedure (everyone always said Rolfing was great but that it hurt like crazy) but I was surprised to find that there was none. In fact, it was even blissful! I went straight into a very deep relaxation while Jed seemingly had a conversation with my body with his hands. When we were done, I could breathe so much more deeply and easily. I felt like a weight had been lifted off of me. It's only afterwards that I realized just how much "overwhelm" I had been carrying around with me. I signed up for the 10 series and now after having finished it, I feel magnificent! I had never noticed just how little I was aware of my body before. Come to think of it, in my quest for higher awareness, I'd actually only ever considered the body to be a merely useful vehicle, even a hindrance. Now I'm thinking that inhabiting the body fully is a prerequisite for truly experiencing the here and now and I feel very very good. I feel more myself. More balanced - physically and mentally. I experience far less stress. I have moments of spontaneous JOY bubbling up from within! I highly recommend Jed to anyone who is even remotely curious to see what Rolfing can do for them - which probably should be everyone who hasn't recently been Rolfed! read more

Prior to having a session with Jed I had been to an acupuncturist, chiropractor, massage therapist, etc.. all of which didn't seem to solve the issues I was having on my shoulders and in my arms. After having one session with Jed I went to the gym the next morning and noticed that the problems seemed to have disappeared. I train 5-7 times a week, doing a combination of intense weight lifting, cycling, swimming, yoga, etc..To be able to perform at the optimum level my body is capable of is priceless. I would recommend Jed to anyone looking to rid themselves of an issue they have been having that other treatments may not have solved, or to anyone looking to just stay in an optimal level of health and alignment. read more

I came to see Jed through Groupon. I have a lot of prior experience with Rolfing and found Jed to be an intuitive and extremely talented bodyworker. I am so glad to have found him conveniently located in the center of Oakland. I highly recommend his work to dancers,athletes and musicians who overuse their bodies in strange and glorious ways! read more

I decided to try Rolfing, and after one session I felt fantastic. I did the 10 sessions and left feeling that my balance and proprioception are much improved. It's made walking and sitting much more easy and relaxed, and yet more active- and my body thanks me for it. I found Jed to be very knowledgeable and caring, and would recommend him to friends. read more

I consider myself a connoisseur in healing arts and bodywork and I have to say, Jed is one of the best I've experienced. I tried Rolfing with another practitioner a few years ago and had to bail on the 10 series, so I started over with Jed and just recently completed the 10 series with him in early December. The experience was so fascinating and championed my previous experience with Rolfing. I could literally feel my muscles shifting and new space being created in my body. The most amazing thing is that it barely felt like his hands were moving. I definitely released old, stagnant energy and emotions from my body, and have cultivated a new overall body awareness. And, I just dropped by for an appointment yesterday for some knee trouble - already I am pain-free and feeling great. He's really quite gifted and has great calming energy. I highly recommend him. read more

If you tend to carry a lot of stress in your body (which most of us do), I highly Rolfing with Jed. Initially, I bought one session with Jed on Groupon and after that first session, I was hooked and ended up buying 9 more. Jed has the amazing ability to do bodywork that is both therapeutic and relaxing. Unlike massage therapy, the changes that comes from the body work he does feel long lasting and highly transformative. read more

He is horrible. Had 5 sessions and he made no changes to my body. He did not loosen my tight muscles that were restricting my movements from an auto accident. When I told him, he did not change his methods and claimed his craniosacral like work will loosen me up. The man is a charlatan. I have seen better rolfers than him. I found him lazy and unethical. read more

Had my first session yesterday doing Rolfing for my posture and also to get stronger before I can enter the work field again. Jed makes it comfortable for his clients and he seems to be passionate about helping people. read more

In order to heal it you must feel it. That is exactly what Jed Bentley is capable of doing. He has the ability to truly feel what is under his hands and connect in a way that brings forth deep healing in the body. He has a great range of healing techniques, he doesn't just impose his will he works with tissues and matches the tone. I highly recommend Jed Bently, certified Rolfer! read more

Jed was absolutely amazing! I've seen many Rolfers over the years and he is definitely among the best I've seen. I had terrible back pain and foot pain but after seeing him only once I could definitely feel a huge improvement. I highly recommend him to everyone looking for pain relief! read more

I was referred to Rolfing by a friend because of some chronic issues i was having in my back and hips. I found Jed online and went in for 1 session. After the first one, I had to book three. after those three, I went to five, and finally got the whole 10 series in about as many weeks. Every week I felt some new part of my body open up and found myself each day as I left his office feeling renewed in a new way. Jed helped me become more conscious of the different ways my body can move and different levels of comfort that I can maintain while performing daily activities that would have normally exacerbated my condition. While the massage was not acutely focused on my one problem area, I felt the whole of my body begin to heal, and by working on the whole body, I have been able to correct some of the dysfunctional postures and movements that I had been holding for some time. I have a background in chiropractic, acupuncture and acupressure, and never, ever felt as good leaving one of their offices as I did EVERY time leaving Jed's. I have a background in tai chi, chi kung, and yoga, which i practice daily. The work Jed did has helped me sink farther deeper into myself and relate to my body in new ways both in and out of those practices. Once I experienced, with Jed's help, the way my body could move, and relax, life really hasn't been the same - now I'm never going back! read more

Jed Bentley is a wonderful healer and bodyworker. I've been to many body workers in the past 25 years or so, and he has been by far the most effective in releasing old bad habits of posture and alignment. My posture and breathing have been transformed for the better. Jed knows intuitively how to apply pressure effectively; knows when to apply it, and also knows when "less is more", when a lighter touch will get a more effective release than a stronger one. I recommend him highly. read more

My experience with Jed's healing hands has been wonderful. Everything I'd heard about Rolfing indicated that it was painful, but my body loves Jed's approach because even at his strongest, there has been little pain. It seems to me that Jed opens a dialog with the body and holds space for it to come to its natural healthy state, allowing the release of layers of old stuck energy. In the process of the 10 Series, my longstanding low back pain significantly lessened - for the first time in years I can lie flat on my back without discomfort, and walk without pain. As someone who works with subtle energies, it is a treat for me to find a body worker who understands that there are many layers/dimensions of healing. Jed is quiet and focused and comes to Rolfing with the understanding and experience of energetic movement in addition to the theory. It is that experiential knowing that sets him apart from other body healers. read more

What a strange, yet amazing experience I've had with rolfing. It has definitely won me over!! I went to Jed because I had twisted my ankle last May and it wasn't getting any better. I had tried wearing a soft brace and then a hard, bulky brace which in turn made me limp. My limping then made my back and neck hurt - you get the point... very frustrating. I bought the groupon session and went to see Jed. At the end of the first session, I thought... what the hell, I'll go for it... and signed on for the 10 series. The first session helped with my breathing. I'm asthmatic and was surprised at how my breath was being expanded in all directions (like occupying more space in my body). After the 10 series, I now stand with my shoulders back, feeling taller, more grounded, and with the feeling like I'm gliding instead of walking (no more limp, back pain or neck pain!). It has been exciting to see how every week continued to build my new foundation. I'm hoping that this feeling will stay with me. Thanks Jed! read more

Had a great first experience of rolfing going to Jed. I arrived a few minutes early and there was free parking right next to the building on Manila Ave. Had no problem with using the code to open the door. I waited in the lobby where they have cool water or warm tea to drink. Jed came out at exactly 4:00pm and greeted me with a handshake and a smile. His work area (office) is clean, spacious, sunny and warm. We spoke for 10 minutes and he answered my questions and then began the treatment. The pressure was a combination of hard, medium and light which was a surprise after reading some reviews saying he uses just light touch. I'm sure Jed knows exactly how much pressure is needed...He's the one with the training, not me. It's been 3 days so far and the lower back tightness I often feel in the mornings is 90% gone after only 1 session. read more

I saw Jed for 10 sessions. He is a deeply gifted healer who really knows his stuff

After delivering my third baby, my lower back was giving me a lot of trouble due to a tilted pelvis. I was debilitated to the point that it was difficult to dress in the morning and even sneezing gave me sharp pains down the spine. Its been a few months since I have completed the 10 sessions with Jed. I am so pleased to report that Rolfing did the trick. Now I am running 5 miles a day and am PAIN FREE. Not only did the rolfing sessions eradicate my back pains, Jed uncovered some old high school soccer shin injuries and loosened up an unknowingly tight shoulder from carrying small children. Sometimes you don't know how unaligend you can be from a lifetime of using your body. Thanks again to Jed for all his work in my recovery. read more

Great. Class act. Deep. Jed made me feel comfortable and helped me experience my body in new ways. I really appreciated his level of attunement to my body and rhythms. After the session Jed gave me some feedback and advice about my legs. He helped me think differently and pay more attention to how I was carrying myself. Thanks Jed! read more

I was impressed by Jed's gentle touch. I felt lighter and had less stiffness and pain after the treatment.

What can I say, Jed Bentley is a life-changing individual. I have been doing a lot of work on getting my body to relax and working on mindfulness. This kind work is hard to explain so here are 5 reasons I enjoyed this work: (1) It's really awesome because it helps you realize how much your daily experience contracts your muscles and distorts your posture and mobility. (2) It teaches you about somatic integration. It's one thing to know conceptually how to stand up straight and it's a whole other thing for your muscles to know how to do it. (3) Jed has a 6th sense about what your body is telling him. He can literally read your stress and what's happening inside. It's uncanny. (4) No one has ever massaged my abdomen, inside of my mouth, or inside of my nose and I have to say this work was profound. I definitely will be going back for this stuff. (5) I did the 10 series and every week I looked forward to the deeply relaxing experience and yet sometimes deeply painful experience that rolfing is. The endorphin rush is awesome. Big plus is you can use your HSA! Totally recommended. read more

I had heard about Rolfing in the 70's but never tried it because I thought it might be to painful. Now as a 72 year man, I got my courage up to try it. I trusted Jed immediately and this trust grew with each session over a 3 month period. Jed is sensitive, intuitive and very professional. Yes there was some pain involved, but I found the deep pressure which is contrasted with Jed's very light touch brought about a profoundly relaxed state, This relaxed state continued for days after the session. I would recommend Jed to anyone who wishes a very professional Rolfing session. I recommend the 10 session package in order to gain the full experience.. read more

This guy definitely knows what he's doing. My body felt renewed after one session. Hoping to do a full 10-session sometime soon.

I started working with Jed over a year ago. After 7 sessions my body stopped aching. By 10 session my posture and fluidity was as good as it has ever been. I've never worked with another Rolfer and I don't know if I would even try. Jed's skill is truly amazing. read more

I feel like copying Leahnora Rs review. She has covered everything I felt. I myself have purchased 5 more sessions and excitedly have them all booked. And I will continue to go. I do not have the words to describe how wonderful I felt after the session. My first session was yesterday, I decided to wait a day to make sure the review should be this good. I slept great last night. I've been having an issue with energy. I woke up after 8 hours of sleep and felt so awake and energized. I had the most amazing thing happen tonight. I had a stroke over 5 years ago. Since this I have not been able to sing. My tone was off and my breathing was wrong. Tonight I was getting my daughter dressed and started singing along with the radio. My old voice and control came out. Thanks Jed - I know I never mentioned this. Jed was great to work with. He listened to me and asked relevant questions. I was concerned because I have never liked strangers working on my body. (I don't do massages.) This was different, it felt great, and I didn't want it to be over. I highly recommend Jed!!! read more

Jed's knowledge and presence is a gift which guides the client to trust the process of an internal/intuitive healing practice. He is a true gentleman with a kind spirit. read more