Information for New Clients
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Sessions generally follow a consistent structure. When you arrive, we will check in about how you’re doing and what you’ve noticed since our last session. If you haven’t already, you will change into your Rolfing clothes, and we will do a short movement assessment. We will then have about an hour for bodywork on the table, including hands-on touch and movement cues, with opportunities to stand, move, and take note of what’s happening. We will close with movement integration, if appropriate, and a short post-assessment to notice what’s changed and where we’ll go next.
For more on what to wear and what to expect, check out the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
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New Rolfing clients generally start with the basic Ten Series. This series of 10 sessions gives us the space to be thorough and systematic with our work and set you up with a new baseline experience in your body. Read more about the Ten Series here.
You are always welcome to schedule initially for just one session. After one session, we will have a better sense of what may be possible and whether Rolfing is a good fit for you. Three, five, or thirteen sessions may also be appropriate depending on your needs, goals, and interests. If your intent is to address a specific problem, a series of at least three sessions is generally recommended.
Our aim with the Ten Series is to create lasting changes in your experience of your body. There’s no requirement to return for continued work. Some clients will return to go deeper in the form of a Post-10 three or five session series, or for semi-regular tune-ups. These sessions are always adapted to your individual needs, at the time and pacing that works for you.
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Session Length
Sessions are 75-90 minutes. Your first session will be 90 minutes, to allow ample time for intake conversation and getting oriented to the work. Subsequent sessions are designed according to your needs: most sessions are around 75 minutes, but we schedule for 90 to create space for integration and the unexpected, and we will use all 90 if needed. I encourage you to leave time for yourself after to transition slowly (go for a walk, sit, journal, whatever works for you) to support integration before your next activity.
Session Frequency
Rolfing sessions engage the body in a process that builds on itself over time. In order to build momentum, especially if you are in your initial basic Ten Series, it’s best to schedule every 1-3 weeks. If this is cost prohibitive, we will work together to find a session style, schedule, and payment plan that work for you. If needed, we can also schedule breaks into the series if you are planning a longer time away.
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Rolfing sessions are on a sliding scale of $100-$150 (flat fee for 75-90 minutes).
Cash, check (to Jen Wenz Somatics) and Venmo/Paypal (@jwenz12) are the preferred forms of payment, due at the time of your session. Credit cards will be accepted if need be.
I am committed to supporting all who would benefit from the work. If this cost is prohibitive to you, please contact me about reduced rate sessions, and we can work together to find a setup that is generative for both of us.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Clients wear a wide range of clothing for Rolfing sessions. Traditionally, the “Rolfing uniform” was underwear. These days, “new school” Rolfing-appropriate clothing can include exercise shorts, a swimsuit, underwear (briefs or boxer briefs), a tank top, and/or a bra. The most important thing is that you are comfortable walking around and moving on and off the table during the session. There is a changing room available in both locations and a bathroom down the hall.
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I intend to maintain a fragrance-free space in my practice to support accessibility.
Please refrain from wearing any lotions or scented body products to your session. This includes, for example, moisturizing lotions, sunblocks, body oils, perfumes, colognes, body sprays, strongly scented hair products, and other products with scents, including essential oils. Unfortunately, applying these products before your session will negatively impact my ability to work with you. There may be other clients coming after you who are allergic/sensitive to scents as well. Thank you for your attention and care towards this important issue.
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If you wake up feeling sick the morning of your appointment, please contact me by phone or text message to reschedule your session.
I am fully up-to-date on Covid vaccines and boosters. There is a HEPA air filter in the office space, and Thornes has updated all of their HVAC system with a top-of-the-line filtration system. I am happy to wear a KN95 mask for your safety; please let me know during your intake call if you would like me to mask during your sessions.
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My cancellation policy is reciprocal. There may be times when you miss an appointment due to obligations to work or family, and there may be times when I need to reschedule our appointment as well. Please call, text, or email me at least 24 hours prior to your appointment time to cancel or reschedule your appointment. I will do the same. If you cancel your appointment within 24 hours or no-show, you will be charged a $50 cancellation fee via the credit card put on file at booking. If I need to reschedule our time within 24 hours of your appointment, you will receive a $50 credit on your next session. Exceptions to this policy will only be made in the case of sudden onset illness (of you or a family member in your care) and emergencies beyond your control.
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Rolfing originally got the reputation for being painful back in the 1960s-70s. Since then, we’ve learned a lot about the neuroscience of change and have adapted as a modality. Rolfing should not hurt. We will always work together to find the level of engagement that works for you. One of the things we will be practicing is how to distinguish between intensity, pain, and discomfort. Like any good learning, we want to keep your body engaged and interested, but not to a degree of danger or pain where you can no longer learn something new.
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No. There are many ways that Rolfing differs from massage. One key difference is that Rolfing is educational: we are teaching your body to access new options and possibilities for movement, sitting, standing, and being. Another is that Rolfers work holistically, observing how patterns express through the whole body, and then working specifically through the fascia to reorganize those patterns. Sessions are collaborative and engaging, meaning that you will be asked to pay attention to what you are experiencing, whether it’s a certain kind of touch or a movement cue. As it’s often said, “instead of tuning out, let’s tune in.”
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Some clients find that creating extra space in their lives for integration and reflection upon their experiences is supportive. This can look like time for journaling; taking a walk; resting; taking an epsom salt bath; hydrating; eating foods you know support you; and connecting to the people, activities, and places that resource you. If you enjoy exercise, doing so during your Rolfing series can be beneficial, especially if you can take the opportunity to notice any new possibilities in your coordination and movement. Generally it is best to wait until about 24-48 hours after a session before pushing your limits with an exercise or training regimen. If you are interested in receiving Rolfing during in-season competition, let’s discuss further so we can schedule your sessions appropriately.
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Rolfing Structural Integration was developed by Ida P. Rolf, PhD in the mid-20th century. Dr. Rolf received her PhD in biochemistry from Columbia University in 1920s, where she studied fascia, the dense, fibrous connective tissue that supports our whole structure and surrounds and interpenetrates bone, nerves, blood vessels, muscles and groups of muscles. Seeking solutions for her health problems and those of her family members through study with chiropractors, osteopaths, homeopaths, and yogis, she came to understand that functional alignment, physiologic function, and anatomical structural are related. Building on this, she turned her attention to how the repetitive motions of our everyday lives, lived under the pressure of gravity, can put undue strain on our fascia, causing it to shorten, thicken, and tighten — and thereby restrict movement. She asked, “What conditions must be fulfilled in order for the human body-structure to be organized and integrated in gravity so that the whole person can function in the most optimal and economical way?" From here, she began to develop her method — what she called “Structural Integration” — in which, through soft tissue manipulation and movement education, the fascia can be restored to support a lasting improvement in alignment and overall sense of well-being. Dr. Rolf continues to be recognized as a pioneer and leader in soft tissue manipulation and movement education.
Since her death in 1979 at the age of 83, the Rolf Institute© of Structural Integration in Boulder, CO, has continued to share her work by certifying Rolfers© and Rolf Movement Practitioners, supporting research, and building upon her inspiration. Today, there are more than 1,950 Rolfers and Rolf Movement Practitioners worldwide.
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Ready to Get Started?
Reach out for a free 20-min consult call to see if the work is a good fit for you.