Frequently asked questions

Rolfing® can help people of all ages. Its goal is to improve body structure, posture, and movement. This is why it is possible to apply Rolfing® for all types of discomfort that have their origins in these areas. It can treat…

• Back pain
• Neck tensions
• Postural defects
• Headaches
• Problems with the hips, in the knees, or with the feet
• mobility restricted by relieving postures after accidents or operations

Athletes who want to achieve more efficient movement sequences benefit from Rolfing® as well. This is also true for people who want to expand their body awareness and possibilities of expression, such as musicians, dancers, and actors.

Additionally, Rolfing® is also suitable for anyone who wants to make lasting improvements to their health and wellbeing. (Benefits)

Rolfing® is the branded Structural Integration Method developed by Dr. Ida P. Rolf. Only those who have completed their training at the Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration (RISI) in Boulder, USA or at a partner organization are allowed to call themselves Rolfer™ (Certified Rolfer™, Certified Advanced Rolfer™).

The European Rolfing® Association e. V. (ERA) is the only school in Europe that offers training licensed by the Rolf Institute. The same is true for the Rolf Movement® Practitioner. (Becoming a Rolfer™ )

Rolfing® is holistic, process oriented body work. Dr. Ida Rolf called her work “Structural Integration” and developed a series of ten sessions that build upon one another systematically.

The Rolfer™ always takes the entire body, as well as structural and functional relationships into account. During 10 sessions (10-session series) the entire fascia network of the body is addressed – with the goal of aligning it ideally in relation to gravity.

Rolfing® differs from other methods because it takes gravity and its importance for our wellbeing into account.

Ida Rolf recognized early on that gravity plays an essential role as an organizing element for body structure, movement coordination, special perception, and even human expression. (About Rolfing, Rolfing and Fascia)

Every session begins with a short observation phase. The Rolfer™ asks the client to stand, to breathe deeply, to walk a few steps, or to sit down, for example. Then the client lies on a padded table, similar to a massage table.

The Rolfer™ delicately works on the fascia in a specific body area while applying precise pressure.

The client supports the effect through active movements and thereby also learns new movement patterns. Old habits that have a lasting effect on wellbeing are thus slowly eliminated.

This depends on your personal goals. To release specific tensions at least temporarily, 1 to 3 sessions can suffice.

However, if you want a lasting change in your overall wellbeing, the European Rolfing® Association e.V. (ERA) recommends the classic 10-session series that Dr. Ida Rolf developed, in which each session builds upon the progress achieved in the previous one.

If you ask individual clients about Rolfing® , it depends, among other aspects, on how well they can engage with their own body and the changes.

Apart from the manual work with the fascia, Rolfing® is also about refining the client’s body awareness and replacing unhealthy movement patterns through healthier ones.

The newly refined body awareness allows clients to quickly identify and correct returning old patterns, even after the series have been completed.

Rolfing® can also help young people with a variety of problems. Sessions for children are usually shorter and time between sessions are longer.

If you feel ill, of course you should consult your general practitioner. Rolfing® is not suitable for certain conditions, such as inflammations and tumors.

You can find a list sorted by name and postal code for certified Rolfers™ in Europe under “Find a Rolfer™ ”.

The costs vary according to region and country, and depend on whether the Rolfer™ is a Certified Rolfer™ or an Advanced Rolfer™.

In Germany, fees vary between 80 and 120 Euros per hour. Due to the different wage levels in European countries, a session costs around 60 Euros in Eastern Europe and up to 180 Euros in Switzerland.

Please inquire with your health insurance, whether costs are covered. In some countries and some health insurances, this is possible.

In our training centre in Munich-Schwabing we have different trainings for which we regularly need Rolfing® models. The sessions take place in a training mode, i.e. in our two training rooms.
– Taster individual session
– 10-series in intensive training (2 months with 2 sessions per week)
– 10-series in Modular Training (9 months with 1 session per month)

In both trainings we distinguish :
– 10-series as student model: here you will be treated by the student together with other Rolfing® models.
– 10-series as teacher model: here you will be treated by the teacher in front of the student group.

You decide which session or series you want to attend based on the dates and groups given on the website: https://rolfing.org/becoming-a-rolfing-model/
We need the completed and signed health form from you.

The 10-series with a student costs 300€, the 10-series with a teacher costs 350€.
Discounts are available for trainees, students, unemployed and pensioners upon presentation of the respective certificate.
A taster individual session costs 30€.

A Rolfing® session takes about 1.5 hours.

Rolfing® is practiced on the body, the practitioner needs direct access to your connective tissue, to your skin. You will therefore be treated in underwear or, for the ladies, in a bikini.
The sessions build on each other, please try to participate in all 10 booked sessions in your own interest as well as in the interest of the student!

You should be between 18 and 70 years old. You should not have any chronic, acute, inflammatory or dermatological diseases. Furthermore, at the time of the Rolfing® sessions, you should not be
psychotherapeutic treatment. Cancer should have been diagnosed and healed at least 5 years ago. You also need to be willing to be treated in a training mode together with other models and the students in a training room.

The European Rolfing Association encourages everyone to consider others at all times in your planning during this crisis and the period to follow.

We all share responsibility for the well-being of each other and must act accordingly.

In order to ensure the safety of students, instructors, models and employees in the immediate vicinity, please read our Covid-19 Security Guidlines carefully.

After registration, a housing list will be provided with your confirmation email.