Dr. Rolf developed a sequential approach to aligning the body in gravity, which she based on years of observing how the body best responds to the fascial work. The ten sessions she developed became known as "The Recipe". Each segment builds upon the one before and also prepares the body for the next session. The initial three sessions address the superficial layers of the body's fascial matrix. Sessions four through seven free restriction in the deeper core structures of the body. Sessions eight through ten balance and align the body as a whole. Client movement is a focus of these later sessions so that the newly found mobility and flexibility generated in sessions one through seven can be used to encourage new movement patterns, thereby integrating the work throughout the body.
The First Session
The session's goal is to systematically release the body's "stocking", or the fascial sheath that lies just below the skin's surface. Affecting the breathing pattern of the client is a goal of this session. This fuller expression of breath is achieved through work on the ribcage, shoulder girdle, pelvis, and spine.
The Second Session
The second session addresses the client's foundation of support--the feet and lower legs. The Rolfer works to open and balance the tissues of the feet and lower legs so that the client feels more supported and grounded. Movement by the client helps jump-start new patterns in the ankle's movement that can then be brought into walking.
The Third Session
The third session of Rolfing integrates the work of sessions one and two. It is also the last of the superficial sessions. The third session deals with the "lateral line", from the head of the humerus (upper arm) to the greater trochanter of the femur (thigh bone). The Rolfer and client work to enhance dimension and balance between the front and back of the body. The Rolfer will also work to differentiate the ribcage from the shoulder girdle on top, and the ribcage from pelvis below. Clients often feel taller after this session.
The Fourth Session
The fourth session represents a shift in the therapist's focus. The focus is no longer on the superficial fascial planes and is now concentrated upon the deeper or "core" layers of the body. Core layers are those that lie closest to the spine and to the body's midline. We return to the lower body to organize the inside of the legs, from the ankles to the pelvic floor. This organization happens in relation to the ankle, knee, and hip. Though most of the work in on the legs, clients will also often feel a "lift" throughout the torso.
The Fifth Session
The fifth Rolfing session is a continuation of the fourth. It is recommended that not more than two or three weeks separate session four from session five. The relationship of the superficial abdominal muscle (the Rectus abdominis) to the deep-seated muscle connecting the spine to the pelvis (the iliopsoas) is addressed. The client gains a feeling of the leg-trunk connection through this session. Restrictions that inhibit pelvic movement can be addressed in this fifth session, allowing the pelvis to horizontalize.
The Sixth Session
The sixth session gives the same length to the back of the body that was achieved on the front of the body in previous sessions. Restrictions in the area of the deep rotating muscles of the buttocks are addressed. Work on the back of the legs and into the low back generate a connection through the whole fascial chain. Clients usually leave this session feeling that the spine can undulate and that the sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine) is free to move unrestricted.
The Seventh Session
During a seventh session, the Rolfer works on the fascia of the neck and opens the connective tissue around the skull and face. Clients are amazed when work on the head and neck make profound changes in the pelvis.
The Eight, Ninth, and Tenth Sessions (The Integration Phase)
In sesssions one through seven, a main goal has been to free restrictions in the body, with a vision of whole body integration. In sessions eight through ten, integration becomes even more of a focus. One session might relate the lower body to the core, and the next might relate the upper body to the core. This leads to fluid and efficient movement. Also, the relationship of a particular body part to gravity is further emphasized. For this reason, more of the work might be done in a sitting or standing position. Changes initiated in this initial ten series will continue to unfold for weeks, months, and even years after the series. The journey has just begun!