Look for the "little boy" logo above and the words "Certified Rolfer" or "Rolfing" to insure that you will receive care by a Certified Rolfer that has been trained by The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration.
Integrative Body Therapy
is a combination of Rolfing, Visceral Manipulation and Cranio-Sacral Therapy. While each therapeutic modality has it's own unique properties and techniques, they also share a common goal, to release shortened connective tissue which may cause discomfort, pain and improper alignment of the human body. Each client has unique needs as to which type of therapy would be most beneficial at a particular time in his treatment schedule. These different therapies are seamlessly blended into what is called Integrative Body Therapy. Clients receiving treatment will receive all benefits of the Rolfing 10 series as well as the added benefit of Cranio-Sacral and Visceral Manipulation therapies.
Rolfing is a pioneering form of bodywork created by Dr. Ida P. Rolf. If you can imagine how it feels to live in a body that is fluid, light and balanced, one that is free of pain, stiffness and chronic stress, and one that is at ease with itself and the earth's gravitational field, then you will understand the goals of Rolfing. Athletes, dancers, students of yoga and meditation, musicians, business people, people riddled with chronic stress and people from all walks of life and of all ages come to Rolfing. They come not only for relief from pain and stress, but also to improve their performance in their professional and daily activities. Rolfing can also benefit people in psychotherapy by facilitating a deeper connection to their emotional conflicts, and can effectively deepen practices such as yoga and meditation. Rolfingachieves remarkable results in a series of ten sessions. It does so through the manipulation of the myofascial system which includes muscles, fascia and tendons. The results of Rolfing are dramatic and long-lasting, giving a person a greater sense of lift, movement, and vitality. For more information on Rolfing click here on The Rolf Institute.
Visceral Manipulation was developed by French Osteopath, Jean-Pierre Barral. At optimal health, the relationship between the organs (viscera) and structures of the body (muscles, membranes, fasciae and bones) remains stable despite the body's endless varieties of motion. But when one organ can't move in harmony with its surrounding viscera due to abnormal tone, adhesions or displacement, it works against all the body's organs and structures. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body is forced to move around. That chronic irritation, in turn, paves the way for disease and dysfunction that can be experienced as back pain, sciatica, constipation, urinary dysfunction, anxiety and shortness of breath or something not as obvious such as shoulder and neck pain. Visceral Manipulation is a gentle hands-on therapy that works through the body's visceral system (the heart, liver, intestines and other internal organs) to locate and alleviate these abnormal points of tension throughout the body. For more information click here on Visceral Manipulation.
CranioSacral Therapy is used to detect and correct imbalances in the craniosacral system, which may be the cause of sensory, motor or neurological dysfunction. The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth which make up the cranium down to the sacrum or tail bone. This therapy has been successfully used to treat headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ, chronic fatigue, motor coordination difficulties, eye problems and central nervous system disorders. For more information on Craniosacral therapy click here on The Upledger Institute.
Ida P. Rolf, PhD
"One individual may experience his losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in the back, another as the unflattering contour of his body, another as a constant fatigue, and yet another as an unrelenting threatening environment. Those over forty may call it old age; yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structures and the structures of others that it has been ignored: they are off balance; they are at war with gravity."
Ida P. Rolf, PhD, Founder and inventor of Rolfing Structural Integration
What's New
Payment by credit card - I am now accepting major credit cards as payment for sessions. Intra Oral CranioSacral workshop - In March of 2013, I completed CranioSacral II Training. The course focused on cranial base dysfunctions, the masticatory system-hard palate, mandible and temporomandibular joint; whole body evaluation; and the energy cyst with regional unwinding.
New Office and Work Schedule - I will now be seeing clients in Asheville on Thursdays and on Fridays by special arrangement at my office located at 29 Ravenscroft. (Three blocks behind the Orange Peel). It's a nice professional space with lots of offstreet parking near the entrance. Park in the rear of the building and enter through the glass door. Take the elevator or stairs to suite 309 on the third floor. I am still seeing clients in Brevard on other days.
Somatic Experiencing Workshop - I recently attended a four day workshop which addressed the physical manifestations of psychological and physical trauma on the body. This is the work of Peter Levine of Boulder Colorado. For more information on this powerful work, see my blog http://allenfrostrolfing.blogspot.com/ Lake Eden Arts Festival in Black Mountain - Join me for a wonderful weekend of music, food, arts and of course Rolfing at the Lake Eden Arts Festival this weekend May 7, 8, and 9th, 2010. I'll have a tent set up and will be doing sessions all three days.
Brevard Office - Sessions are now available in Brevard NC by appointment. The office is located at 178 South Caldwell St. Phone number and rates are the same as in the Asheville office.
NEW RATE STRUCTURE- As always, Rolfing sessions will last a minimum of 70 minutes and will continue to be $100 per session. This rate reflects no increase in several years. Now available are Cranio-sacral and visceral sessions that do not involve Rolfing. These sessions last a maximum of 55 minutes and will be $80. I hope that this new rate structure will make this important aspect of the work available to more clients in these uncertain economic times. The cranio-sacral and visceral work is important to many client's healing process and is more conducive to a shorter session.
Neuromeningeal Workshop- was completed in January 2009 in New York City. Neural Manipulation examines mechanical relationships between the cranium/spine to the dura surrounding the brain and spinal cord and their related nerve roots. Neural Manipulation identifies and releases local nerve restrictions while at the same time examines the effect these local fixations have on the rest of the body. Symptoms of cranial and spinal chord restrictions such as radiating shoulder and neck pain and low back and sciatic pain are addressed with these techniques.
Whiplash Training - Allen has completed a fourth Visceral Manipulation course taught by Didier Pratt, D.O. from Lyons, France. This work focuses on treatment of victims of trauma with a special emphasis on whiplash. According to Pratt, whiplash syndrome is not only caused by car accidents but can be the result of other trauma such as prolonged computer use, work or sports related injuries or psychological stress. Besides the obvious neck and shoulder pain, symptoms can also be experienced as reflux, low back pain, knee and even foot pain. This treatment is indicated whenever the connective tissue and surrounding nerves of the neck and shoulder girdle become strained and inflamed. This course work is based on the work of Jean-Pierre Barral, D.O., also of France and was held in Fort Collins, Colorado in 2005.
Visceral Manipulation - Allen has completed training in Visceral Manipulation in Munich Germany. Four classes taken over two years have dealt with the thorax, the urogenital system and the abdomen. "Visceral manipulation is becoming an integral and important part of my sessions and I am happy to be learning from Prat, who is one of the best in the world", said Allen. Massage, Chiropractic work and even Rolfing to a large extent ignores strains in the organs and intestines, which are responsible for many restrictions in the body. Visceral Manipulation is a safe, gentle and effective way to help bring order to the body on a very deep level. For more information, click here on Jean Pierre Barral.
Craniosacral training - In addition to the basic Craniosacral classes an advanced craniosacral class was completed in August 2006 in Washington D.C. held by The Upledger Institute. Advanced techniques were presented for releasing strains in the cranial vault as well as fascial strains throughout the body. Another advanced course entitled Somato-Emotional Release was completed in 2007.
Advanced Training in Europe - In 2003, Allen completed a five week Advanced Rolfing Training program in Bolzano, Italy and Munich, Germany. Advanced techniques such as Visceral Manipulation, Cranio-Sacral Techniques for Rolfers and other advanced Rolfing techniques for shoulders and hips were presented. Instructors were Dr. Peter Schwind of Munich and Dr. Jeffery Maitland of Scottsdale AZ, both senior Advanced Rolfing Instructors.
Dissection Laboratory - A six day intensive Human Dissection workshop was completed June 2007 with Gil Hedley, Ph.D. This advanced workshop is designed to deepen anatomical knowledge as well as refine palpation skills. The workshop was held at Tuft's University Medical School in Boston.
