The Rolfing is over, and it’s just beginning

My 10-session Rolfing is done.

By which I mean, it’s really only beginning.

There are any number of ways that yoga and Rolfing meet, aspects they share: the body awareness; thoughts of movement and a wholistic approach to the body; being in the moment.

But the real similarity they share is this: They are never over.

Yoga’s a journey. I don’t have to tell you that. (And Ashtanga’s really a journey.) Turns out, so is Rolfing.

Two weeks passed between my ninth and 10th (and final) session with Russ. When I walked out his door after No. 9, I was thinking to myself: “Self, you are no where near being ready to be done.”

As I walked down the driveway to his place on Thursday night, I was thinking: “Self, you are awesome. You’re nearly there. You’ve made such big strides these past two weeks.”

Turns out I was right and so very wrong.

I was right in that Russ told me I looked good walking in; it was twilight, and apparently he got a very “silhouetted” view of me.

I was wrong because he then went through all the pieces I still need to work on: better containment of the body; more heaviness (still); getting the head in the right place.

Feet and head, feet and head, feet and head. My problem areas.

Still.

But, even during our 90 minutes together, more pieces fell into place. Relaxed here; tight there; ankles loose; shoulders relaxed; head back.

I’m done with the Rolfing, but the lessons are no where near over. The changes they will bring, too, are far from done.

I need to be thinking about the connection between a muscle under my chin, the back of my head and the area behind my heart.

I need to push myself along, not pull.

I need to be heavy in my feet and ankles and light in my neck and head.

My weight needs to be forward, and it needs to be back.

If little of this makes sense, it’s because in many ways it doesn’t — there are all these seemingly contradictory pieces to the puzzle that, when finally brought together, fit.

Fit, right? Connect? Unite? Union?

Yoga.

And it’ll keep going.

So, did it accomplish what I wanted? No and yes. My wild hope was Russ would find the key to loosening me up. That was a ridiculous desire.

What I got was better. A realistic way to keep myself from tightening more, to give myself an avenue to loosen up — especially in conjunction with Ashtanga — and to be better, stronger, healthier in the years ahead.

Not such a ridiculous desire. And one that’s achievable.

Posted by Steve