The goal of Rolfing Structural Integration is to improve body posture, alignment, flexibility and movement. Its focus is the fascia of the body. This structure supports the skeleton and soft tissues, positions the bones, determines the direction of muscle pull and movement, and gives the body is shape. Fascia(also called connective tissue) is a thin, elastic, semi-fluid membrane that envelopes every muscle, bone, blood vessel, nerve and organ. It plays an intergral role in maintaining posture and proper movement. Dr. Ida Rolf defined fascia as the organ of change, and stated that injury, chronic pain and stress, or other trauma can lead to its deterioration. When fascia becomes increasingly more solid, rigid and sticky, it begins to restrict the movement of muscles and joints.

Rolfing is based on the idea that human function is improved when the segments of the body(head, torso, pelvis, legs, feet) are properly aligned in the gravitational field. Many people in pain assume that the problem lies where it hurts; this is usually not the case. Often, symptoms show up in an area that is forced to compensate for an imbalance that lies elsewhere in the body. When our bodies fall out of balance, whether it be from an accident or injury, a repetitive golf swing, sitting at a desk, playing a musical instrument, holding our children, or from poor posture, we are forced to compensate for this loss of balance. After maintaining out of balance postures for months and even years, the fascial tissues of the body must compensate to hold everything in this out-of-balance position. Movement becomes impaired, and this can contribute to reduction of mental clarity, increased pain and tightness in this soft-tissue network, and increased emotional stress.

The combination of hands-on applied pressure by the Rolf practitioner, and synchronized movements by the client, frees restricted tissue. This allows the body segments to realign and return to a balanced relationship, in both the resting state and in movement.

Larry Dossey, M.D., best-selling author: "There is one major reason to take Rolfing seriously: it works. Not only can it dramatically change people's bodies, it can transform their lives as well. Rolfing is powerful stuff."