Rolfing® SI in Durham, NC: Understanding the Rolfing 10 Series®
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
Rolfing® Structural Integration is a process that helps the body organize itself more efficiently in gravity, while building awareness of movement, posture, and the everyday choices that shape how we feel. Gravity is the constant force your body is negotiating all day long. When the body is organized well, movement feels easier and more efficient; when it isn’t, we often compensate with tension and strain. Rolfing® was developed by Dr. Ida Rolf, who emphasized a whole-body approach rather than chasing isolated symptoms.
The Rolfing 10 Series® is a strategic progression of sessions designed to support lasting change in how you move, stand, work, and live in your body. Many clients come in expecting something similar to a massage. They leave with something far deeper: awareness, ownership, and a new relationship with their body.
At Bull City Soles, I prefer starting with the full 10 Series as foundational work because it gives your body time to learn, integrate, and sustain real change.
How I Work With Rolfing Clients
There are three common ways clients work with me through Rolfing® Structural Integration:
The 10-Series (best for new clients)
Maintenance sessions (as-needed support)
A focused 3–5 session series (for specific goals after the initial the 10 series)
After completing the 10-Series, I typically recommend about six months of integration. Some clients do best taking a full break, while others feel better coming in occasionally for shorter maintenance sessions, it really depends on what your body needs. After that integration period, we decide whether maintenance is enough or if a short series would be most helpful.
Rolfing Is Participatory, Not Passive
Rolfing works best when clients are involved. Awareness isn’t just something you gain afterward; it’s part of the work from the beginning.
In a Rolfing session, we look at how your body is organized, notice patterns in your posture and movement, and explore small changes that can make a big difference. That awareness continues to grow between sessions and affects how you walk, sit, work, breathe, and handle daily stress.
Rolfing is not meant to feel like a typical bodywork session.
It is a learning process that helps clients understand and support their bodies over time.
What Is the Rolfing 10 Series?
The Rolfing 10 Series consists of 10 sessions, each with its own goal and focus. Each session builds on the last, giving your body time to adapt, adjust, and reorganize rather than react.
The Territory and Goal of the Rolfing 10 Series
Sessions 1 to 3: Focus on the superficial, outer layers of the body, creating space, improving breathing, and building external support.
Sessions 4 to 7: Work with the core, deeper movement patterns, stability, and core organization.
Sessions 8 to 10: Bring the whole body together so movement feels more coordinated and efficient.
How the 10 Series Helps Your Body Integrate the Work
No matter which session you’re in, we end with neck and back work, either on the table, seated, or even standing. This helps your nervous system and overall structure “catch up” with the changes we made, so the work doesn’t stay local but organizes through the rest of your body.
While every series is tailored to the individual, the 10 Series follows a systematic “recipe”. A whole-body approach designed to build toward more balance, coordination, and ease, rather than chasing isolated symptoms.
What Changes Between Sessions?
Many important changes happen between sessions. As awareness builds, clients often start noticing everyday habits that don’t really support them; how they stand at the counter, sit at a desk, walk, drive, or hold tension when stressed.
This awareness is one of the most important parts of Rolfing. Not everything has to be forced or “fixed.” Instead, clients begin to discover new options, small shifts in movement and posture that support more balance, comfort, and efficiency.
Over time, the work becomes less about what happens during the session and more about how you move and feel in daily life.
Real-Life Changes Clients Begin to Notice
As the series progresses, many clients report lasting changes in breathing, movement, and posture, often accompanied by a greater sense of ease in their bodies.
One client shared after completing her Rolfing 10 series:
“I stand taller, with shoulders more open and wide, my step more balanced as I walk. My breath is now deeper and effortless. The most amazing result is that the changes from each Rolfing session are lasting.”—Jane
What stands out in stories like this is not just the physical change, but the new awareness that helps those changes last.
Who Is the Rolfing 10 Series For?
The series is a good fit for people who:
Live with chronic pain or long-standing tension
Have a history of injuries or accidents
Experience recurring headaches or migraines
Feel disconnected from their body
Want lasting change instead of just temporary relief
One client shared:
“After having a car accident in my teens, I began suffering from migraines. Through the Rolfing series, I became more knowledgeable about the mechanics of my body and how proper alignment brings relief.”
Another client, Marcus, wrote:
“When I started the Rolfing series, I was using a wheelchair if I knew I had to walk farther than the mailbox… The cumulative effects have been profound.”
Why Commitment to the Series Matters
I prefer to work with people through the full Rolfing 10 Series before offering maintenance sessions. We absolutely do hands-on work, and yes, we do “fix” or address things that are restricted, stuck, or not functioning well. But what makes the change last isn’t just what happens on the table.
The Ten Series gives you something most types of bodywork don't: a chance to build awareness and learn how to support the changes. As you start noticing your posture, breath, movement habits, and stress patterns, you become an active part of the process, not just a recipient. That combination of skilled hands-on work and client participation is often the missing piece for people who haven’t gotten lasting results from massage or bodywork.
The series is a financial investment, and that commitment matters. When people put time and resources into the process, they have “skin in the game”, and they tend to value the work differently. That buy-in supports follow-through between sessions, and the body responds best when it’s given time, consistency, and support to truly change.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rolfing
Is Rolfing painful?
Rolfing is not meant to be painful, and pain is never the goal. How it feels can be different for each person and each session.
Sometimes, discomfort comes not from pressure but from internal or emotional patterns that come into awareness. Communication is always encouraged, and sessions are adjusted to support each individual’s nervous system.
How often should sessions be scheduled?
Most clients book sessions every one to four weeks. Keeping a steady pace helps the body adjust and build on each session.
How is Rolfing different from massage?
Massage focuses primarily on relaxation and symptom relief. Rolfing, on the other hand, focuses on structure, alignment, and awareness, helping clients understand how their body functions as a whole.
What happens after the 10 Series?
Once a 10 series foundation is established, some clients choose occasional maintenance sessions. Others find they need less bodywork because they’ve gained tools and awareness to support themselves as needed.
Ready to Explore Rolfing in Durham, NC?
Curious? Take a look around our website to learn more about Rolfing Structural Integration and the 10 Series. When it feels like a yes, you can book online.
Rolfing is not about fixing your body. It is about learning to live in it with more awareness, options, and support.