"When the body gets working appropriately, the force of gravity can flow through. then, spontaneously, the body heals itself." ~ Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D.
My experience of completing the 10 series with Rich was life changing and healing on multiple levels. After suffering with chronic inflammation of my bicep tendon (tendonitis) for close to a year, I decided to seek out Rolfing as an approach to realigning my posture in order to create the conditions in which my body might be able to heal. I noticed immediate relief within one session with Rich, and prior to the completion of the full series I regained full use of my shoulder. Rich's skilled work brought balance to my body, and the positive impacts of Rich's work have extended beyond what I ever would have imagined.
I recall the sense of amazement with the sense of freedom that I felt in my body and my breathing after just the first session. It was as though I went into the session with rust throughout my spine and left with a sense that my spine and ribcage had been oiled to allow incredible fluidity of movement. Prior to the session I had not realized how much effort it had been taking my body to simply breathe, and I had not imagined the my torso could find more freedom and flexibility as I have an extensive dance background and regularly practice yoga.
The sense of awe that I experienced after the first session was continually replicated with each successive appointment. I noticed tightness and tensions disappear throughout my entire body as each meeting created the conditions for my structure to come closer to a place of balance. My shoulders, hunched forward from years of sitting at a computer moved back and down, my collar bones opened up, and I learned what it felt like to be able to sit and walk upright. The chronic pain in my neck then disappeared and in its place I began to experience greater mobility and length. My turned-out feet began to effortlessly face forward, which took pressure off of my knees, hips, lower back, etc. The benefits kept building as the weeks passed, and flexibility and ease of movement were continually restored.
At one point in the middle of the series I experienced what felt to me like a miracle. After severing the tendon under my right big toe and having it surgically repaired nearly 18 years ago, I was left with little sensation in the ball of my right foot. Moreover, the healing process had created a new pattern of weight distribution in my foot that I continued until my work with Rich. Through a combination of Rolfing and the use of a cold laser, I was not only able to evenly distribute the the weight in my foot, but I was also able to feel more of my foot than I had felt in nearly 20 years. I remember standing up off the table and walking as tears of disbelief flooded my eyes. If this had been the only benefit that I received from my 10 series it would have been worth it. The way that I walk, run, and balance have all radically improved.
The exponential benefits that I experienced from my 10 sessions with Rich have dramatically improved my life and created the conditions for healing that I did not know was even possible. The positive changes continue to unfold; I feel greater ease with movement, and my energy has improved as I am not losing energy from inefficient use of my body. Moreover, I have been surprised that several people in my life have noticed that I seem taller and more streamlined in my stance and gait.
I plan to return to Rich for follow up sessions, and I would highly recommend Rolfing, and specifically Rich Ennis, to anyone looking for a holistic approach to healing the body. Rich is a perceptive person and a talented Rolfer. He always took into account my individual patterns and needs in each session, and he worked methodically to improve the balance in the structure of my body. Rich also took the time to check in with me between sessions, was genuinely interested in my progress, and took the time to send articles and videos that I might find relevant or that would further facilitate my process. I will be forever grateful for my Rolfing experience with Rich. read more