My husband found Tom Richards... I had NO idea what Rolfer was, Tom was VERY Professional and helped me feel a lot better! I've had Chronic Back Pain... Tom went to work and showed me on what to do to help with my bad posture... he even showed me how to walk better! THANK YOU TOM read more

Don't bother. This guy doesn't communicate well. It's not worth your time or money. Don't be surprised if he ghosts you suddenly and leaves you scratching your head. He need to be more professional and respectful. read more

Excellent, I am three months into Rolfing and it's changing my entire body. I was in so much lower lumbar pain, I used lidocaine patches and pain relievers daily. My activity level was so curtailed, I could hardly do a small hike, now my pain has diminished, and my movements are much more fluid, and my range of motion has improved significantly. read more

My body continues to evolve and get better after 25 years of pain. Tom is magical with his hands and his knowledge.

Tom is a really knowledgable Rolfer - he does a thorough examination, is good at finding the tight spots that need release, and gives very specific exercises to help you heal on your own. I've seen him for a variety of issues with my back and arms over the years and he's helped me a lot. I've been to a variety of Rolfers and massage therapists and Tom's one of the best I've found. read more

Incredible healer! For 20+ years my hips were misaligned and caused me ongoing discomfort. I had tried all non-surgical remedies -- yoga, PT, chiropractor, etc. -- but nothing worked. And then my yoga teacher recommended Tom. It was miraculous how he helped align my hips. I have recommended that my family and friends go to Tom. He's incredibly talented! read more

I have a lumbar-sacral injury that tends to flare up due to the nature of my work and sport. (I'm a nurse, and I surf) Needless to say, my body often feels quite beat up. A good friend of mine referred me to Tom. After a thorough assessment, he immediately got to work. I felt a noticeable difference after the very first session. I am more in tune with how my body feels in relation to how it moves. After every session, aches are relieved and my body feels more aligned and symmetrical. This has helped enhance my performance at work and in the ocean. ROLFing has helped my body function to the best of it's ability. Thank you Tom, your work is amazing! read more

My experience with Tom was excellent. I have seen a few other practitioners, and Tom is clearly in the #1 position. Knowledgeable, great bedside manner, and he knows exactly what the issue is, and how to resolve it (if it can be resolved...). Check him out. read more

Miracle worker. Seriously. I show up with stiffness in a particular area, and leave with freedom of motion. No other work, from any other person, from any discipline has been as dramatic of a change as this, from him. I've had rolfing done before from someone else and had benefits from it, but nothing near to this. The difference between start to finish of a session is dramatic and noticeable. Highly recommend Tom. As a boxer, I put my body through hell, and Tom always manages to put me back together and coach me to use my body better so this doesn't happen again. My posture and flexibility is better than it ever was. EVER. read more

TOP SECRET ALERT: I can be a greedy little hoarder of all discoveries magical and healthy (initially anyway, then I tell everyone I know!) and I can now write this glowing review after my Rolfing 10 session completion with Tom. oh btw he is in the Bay Area end of the week and weekends (Berkeley/Albany area) I've always had trouble with my posture, anatomically one hip bone is 3/4 inch higher than the other and standing straight and strong has always been something I've had to think about to do. In recent years, I developed chronic pain in my Achilles Tendon. My life was limited in how far and where I could walk (stay away from stairs and hills). Being off balance also made me feel uninspired, anemic, grouchy, and tired. I found Tom after meeting/speaking with other Bay Area Rolfers and he was a good match. He is methodical, strong, physical, kind, insightful and open minded. I saw him from the Fall of 2010 to Summer 2011, in which my posture and frame feels natural and good again. He really helped with pain relief for my ankle. Here is how it went for me: Worked at a studio off Solano Ave, safe and peaceful. Rolfing is a bit like art, Tom looks at you walk and says, "I'd like to work on that side of your ribcage" or "Let's free up your neck today". You are in various positions, on a massage table, standing, sitting, while literally your body is lifted and moved around according the the underlying connective tissue. The NYT said it was like Extreme Yoga, but it's actually crazier than that. My body changed, I had a longer neck, could take deeper breaths, and felt good. You will get crazy bruises but they go away, Tom works on refining the structure of your body. Each session is 90 minutes and he is priced very reasonably. So, if you have a sports injury, chronic pain, and are interested in a holistic but very physical method to improve your posture (my reasons), I highly recommend Tom Richards and his Rolf to Evolve Practice. I kidnapped Jon K. and took him to Tom and I am sure he had his own and probably much different experience with Tom. All I know is he loved it and kidnapped Greg K. and took him to Tom. Let's keep the momentum going! read more

I went to see Tom in late 2009. I'd been suffering from chronic back pain for about 3 years, but it had been getting progressively worse. I had trouble washing my feet in the shower, and decided that enough was enough. A college friend recommended Rolfing, so I thought I'd give it a try. It's been about 1 year since I completed my Rolfing sessions with Tom, and I'm still mostly pain-free. I combined Rolfing with some core strength training at Urban Fitness in Oakland, and the results were almost immediate. Honestly, I expected this thing to be a waste of money. I was completely wrong -- but happy to admit it! read more

I recently completed my 10-session rolfing series with Tom and am Yelping about it because it was a profound experience. I sought out rolfing to complement physical therapy I am doing for an injured hip and calf. I have certainly experienced physical changes in my body from rolfing--more flexible, better posture, less stress--but more than that, I feel like as a result of my sessions with Tom, I have new knowledge of how my body works, how I hold myself, and honestly, just a much better outlook/attitude about my physical health. Each session focused on another area of my body--and each time I walked out of Tom's office, I felt different, better, taller, and lighter on my joints. After almost every visit one or more people told me I looked "great" or "healthy" or paid me some sort of related compliment. The benefits are motivating, one reason I was reluctant to see the sessions end. The relationship with Tom was interesting--it was very professional, but trusting and intimate as well. I walked in really apprehensive (heard all kinds of rumors about rolfing that didn't hold up in my experience) and finished the series trusting him and his skill completely. He worked both deep and superficially, but always in a way I could tolerate. He was like a sculptor who was molding and improving my structure in real time. Like with many healers and therapeutic relationships, I don't know as much about him as he does about me, but what's clear is that he has a mastery of the body and is very present in his work, so it felt like he was completely there to help me. He is expert at delivering care aimed at serving each of his client's best interests. I felt like it was a privilege to be one of his clients and I'd recommend him to anyone. Finally, I put my body through a lot of stress and strain as a new triathlete, and while I am making progress toward being injury-free, I am not there yet. Tom has been instrumental in helping me make significant improvements and I expect more changes to occur for the next several months based on my sessions with him. These physical and emotional results of our work together are so moving, it's got me looking forward to when I will be going back to him for maintenance work/massage in the future. Cindi read more

I did a rolfing series with Tom Richards, Certified Rolfer, a couple of months ago. It appears to have been the catalyst for some profound changes in my body. I have since lost 16 pounds. I feel more ease in my body. I am more flexible and certainly a lot more healthy. I feel that I learned about my body as result of these sessions with Tom. I thought the sessions were incredible and recommend Tom highly. Simon Gibson PT Montclair Physical Therapy & Wellness read more

Tom has already made an impact on my chronic pain and restrictions in the two sessions that I have had with him. I'm a massage therapist and have a highly tuned sense of what is going on in my body, and Tom's assessments and treatments are spot on. He's done a great job of addressing multiple systems- nerves, connective tissue, and muscles, while also coaching me in the motion and use of my arms, hands, and core. I feel very confident in Tom's approach to bodywork and I am so grateful to receive work from him. I am very picky about bodywork, and Tom is one of the best. read more

I have been working with Tom for over two years as I have some chronic issues due to the stresses on my body from all of my sports (Kiteboarding, surfing, biking, running, etc.). He has changed my life by eradicating nearly all of my long term pain from previous injury, and helping me to continually increase my performance and recovery moving forward. I always learn something new about how to improve my body from him while getting relief from pain and injury. I consistently recommend him to my friends so I'm completely comfortable recommending him here with 5 stars. read more

Not only is Rolfing the most truly effective and lasting way I have found to address pain and movement restrictions, but Tom is the best Rolfer I have ever worked with. His sessions get to the very root cause of issues, and I am always amazed at what he can get accomplished. read more

I've been seeing Tom for a few months now and have had about 10 sessions. The relief I feel after the intense quirk he does on any area is crazy. I've never experienced such a quick healing process before, but to gain that you will go through very intense work that he does. It's totally worth it, beats surgery read more

Tom has been very helpful for me in correcting an injury I had during a fall in yoga where I twisted my body and was not the same after a year of other body work/chiropractic and physical therapy. This was my first experience with Rolfing and I found it very very helpful because of its targeted approach. I am the type of person who would do one session and if it didn't help significantly(!), I'd duck out and mysteriously disappear not making another. But this I signed up for 3 after the first one and here is why I did: Tom works for a long while directly on the spots you need as opposed to wasting time on parts that are not in need. I am a big fan of deep tissue work because I enjoy targeted work on release (he can go as deep or lightly as needed for your tolerance). I have had a lot of different types of body work and this got to all the places bothering me AND a few I didn't recognize until Tom found them (including something in my ribs and abdomen that had constricted my movement on one side). I can appreciate now how a successful Rolfer doesn't need you to confirm the spot but can assess the location of stagnation by feeling the subtle tightness in areas and areas where there is lack of tone due to the muscles being restricted (yes ladies, I did notice a reduction in cellulite when bloodflow was improved to some areas although I am sure Tom wouldn't advertise this as a side effect). Since I have a background in Traditional Chinese Medicine, I noticed a connection to points. I am not sure if this was part of Ida Rolf's original plan but I found it helpful for me in referencing when I got home after a session. Finally, my yoga practice has gotten closer to normal since I have worked with Tom. Something important to me since after my fall I honestly felt like I "healed wrong". I feel much better now and look what I learned all about Rolfing during this process! read more

I completed the 10 sessions with Tom in January 2012. I refrained from writing a review then because based on my experience, any body work done (right), immediately leaves you feeling good. I forced myself to wait for a year. A year has now passed and I am happy to report that I am still feeling great. Maybe not as great as when I had just completed the 10 sessions, but only because I have not done my part to maintain all the good work Tom has done. I had had lower back pains for more than 10 years, and in recent years, the pain had moved to the mid-back as well as my shoulders and neck. Waking up was a pain because my muscles were stiff and constantly tense. It hurt when I ran, no matter how good my shoes were. I had difficulty breathing and felt tired easily. My knee specialist advised me to stop running altogether. After rolfing, I started running again. I shocked myself when I ran 15 minutes non-stop, without shortness of breath and absolutely pain-free. In fact, I didn't want to stop as I felt like an extremely well-oiled machine. So I didn't. I'm still running today and am loving it. I try to do the exercises that Tom recommended, and it has been especially helpful after a long day's work in front of the computer. I am more conscious of my posture, and try to maintain a good posture. I no longer need a massage every fortnight so I've saved a lot more money compared with my total investment in Tom. I am eternally grateful to Tom, who was always professional, kind and sincere. Needless to say, I highly recommend Tom Richards and would definitely visit him if I am ever in the Bay Area again. read more

Filthy office and lots of dismissive. A terribly demeaning poor experience. Couldn't be worse. "Office" really living room just off Telegraph was covered thickly in pet hair. TV was blaring from a neighbor upstairs. I would have put up with external circumstances except "Tom" was a yucky jerk. And Very Expensive. And only takes cash. He bruised me, didn't heal me, made me feel bad inside and out. read more

I did a full 10 sessions with Tom and have since been back to him for tune-ups. I was suffering with searing/stabbing pain in my right sacroiliac joint after incorrectly practicing Durvasana (a yoga posture that consists of placing one foot behind the neck and standing up). I had an 80% reduction of pain and was practicing yoga again after just four 90 minute sessions with Tom, and by the end of the 10 sessions was at almost 100% reduction pain and transformation in my yoga practice. Apart from the therapeutic aspects of the sessions they were highly edifying as Tom shared his extensive knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology with me, helping to apply it to yoga practice. He also gave me simple exercises to perform at home in order to retrain muscular movement patterns and aid in long-term recovery from the injury. I highly recommend Tom's services. read more

I have had a neck surgery and major back and neck pain that radiates down my arm and was told to try Tom to help. I was very impressed with the professionalism of his office and him in general. It was clean and everything I would have expected from this type of business! I was skeptical because I have tried many things to help with my chronic permanent nerve damage. After the first visit I felt considerable better. Now after my second I am a believer. I also use accupuncture which helps a lot but I would recommend without hesitation trying this! I was able to get in to be seen in a timely manner and the location was close to where I work a few days a week. Even if it wasn't I would travel to have him work on me. Thank you and I will be back again!!! read more

I didn't do the 10 series, but did have Tom work on some chronic issues I've had. I recently started exercising a lot more (running and cycling) which was great but... it seemed like some muscles (especially calf) were not working as smoothly as they could. I also had some trouble with knee pain. Tom worked with me to free up the bound muscles, and also helped me work on my gait. I can now run pain-free for many miles, faster and with less effort! I also have had trouble with my neck for YEARS (I think from using a messenger bag instead of a backpack) and he really helped with that, which NO ONE else has been able to do anything about. Tom's a great balance of professional and personable- he really knows his stuff but is also patient and a great explainer. I think you could find a massage for less per hour, but this is totally the next level- really investing in your long-term health and making serious changes. Absolutely worth every penny! read more

I am a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist and have experienced a wide array of alternative therapies. And so I consider my self a picky consumer when it comes to these things. I have had multiple knee injuries and suffer from arthritis in both knees. Tom has taken me completely through the Rolf ten series and in my mind he is the reason I have avoided knee surgery. His work is very intelligent and his presence is non-judging and patient. He is inquisitive, creative and obviously excited about the work and though new to the field has an extensive back round in manual therapies and movement related subjects. As a fellow therapist I am assured by his experience and feel safe in his hands. I highly recommend seeing Tom for pain or improvement of functional movement! read more

A truly positive experience. I was having a variety of pain in my body after years of competitive cycling, and then raising an active boy. I think many things in by body were out of whack and I had chalked it up to just "getting older." I was literally getting out of bed in pain every morning and couldn't move at all like I used to. I did 10 sessions with Tom over a 9 month period. Immediately there was something different about this treatment compared to other things I had tried like ART. But around the 6th treatment I noticed the biggest change. I walk more fluidly, I carry my body more loosely, I have far more mobility that I have in at least 15 years, and athletically I am suddenly able to tap into a strength I have not felt in a long time. Tom works out of his apartment. It's not like going to a traditional chiropractors office. But I didn't let that dissuade me because of my friend's recommendation. And then working with Tom, I quickly realized that his focus and passion for what he does is intense and unique. I trusted the process and it paid off massively for me. read more

Luckily Rolf to Evolve is still in Oakland. The Davis address is just for mail right now..

I have seen Tom at Rolf to Evolve through the 10-series and found it extremely helpful. Tom has a great knowledge of the body and I saw improvements after each visit. The rolfing modality that he works with is quite different than any other form of bodywork I've experienced. He's helped me break through structural patterns and regain optimal health. I highly recommend a session, or a series, with Rolf to Evolve! read more

Tom is a very talented rolfer. He is adept at his work because he takes it seriously and puts a lot of heart into it. In the 6 sessions I've had with him in the past couple months, I've never sensed any flightiness or detachment during our session, and being a bodyworker myself, I'm critical of this in others, but he's always right there with ya the whole time! I appreciate his focus and care, not to mention the extent to which he truly understands how the body and it's plethora of systems work. His interest in and ability to help my heal my pains has been awesome, and I'm so glad that I've had the good fortune to work with him. On top of all this, he's super good about staying in touch, replying to emails & phone calls, and being flexible for appointments. And although rolfing is generally more pricey than other types of bodywork, he maintains really fair rates and offers packages. I'd recommend him to anybody wanting to receive effective, affordable bodywork :) read more

Amazing! In 1 session he totally cured me of my pregnancy-related back pain -- which a chiropractor and physical therapist thought I would have to "manage" for the rest of my pregnancy. And it never came back!! Highly recommended! read more

I was a dancer for years and being extremely active was devastated when a back injury prevented me from training and moving with comfort. Years of physical therapy later, I was still having difficulty with nerve pain and full back functionality when I decided to try rolfing. I experienced incredible results after just one session and three sessions later am having sensation, strength, and movement ability in my lower back and legs that had been missing for years. I highly recommend Tom as a rolfer - he is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, thorough, and obviously loves what he does. Don't be dissuaded if he is busy - he is in incredibly high demand but extremely worth trying to work with. read more

I'm a capoeirista and have had a few nagging injuries over the years. Tom has helped me to better understand my body and that has allowed me the ability to get back out there training with confidence. I've found good results both, as I say, with Tom's ability to teach me about my body, and also with his abilities to free up trouble spots and thus improve my body mechanics. I recommend Tom to anybody looking to learn more about and to get more out of her or his body. Lastly, I like Tom's attitude. He's focused, intuitive, and puts me at ease-- that counts for a lot on my book. I've had five sessions and plan to go back for several more. read more

Tom is a talented, caring, and knowledgeable practitioner and an amazing resource for health. I started seeing Tom because I was having chronic body pain. With healing hands and careful evaluation, Tom helped me to shift out of discomfort and into healthy alignment. In addition to profound table sessions, he also taught me new beneficial ways to walk, stand, and move. It has been a blessing to work with Tom and I would highly recommend him to anyone. read more

tom. he's amazing. if you're scared of rolfing, and i was, get over it. the most effective bodywork i've ever had. i'm 66 years old and have a idiopathic scoliosis, and tom is the reason i'm healthy, happy and pain free. i've sent all my friends to him and recommend him without hesitation. read more