CORE* Bodywork
*Coaxing Order, Restoring Ease
Noah has developed CORE Bodywork as a natural evolution from his training at the Rolf Institute in 1984-86, coupled with the clients, challenges and trainings he has since pursued. The basic series of Ida Rolf is usually performed in 10 sessions and is focused on achieving release of layers of connective tissue in specific sequence — early work is superficial, middle work is deep and final work is integrative. Noah honors and respects and still uses this recipe for clients who want the total Rolf experience but has developed his own 5 series recipe which he believes gives clients good value as well as lots of personal growth.
While it is useful to perform only one session of CORE Bodywork on a client if there are time or financial constraints, generally the work is initiated by a series of 5 sessions with specific goals for each session. The overall goals — for a session or a series — are to touch and soften the core, the place deep within each of us where we hold on to all of life's challenges, disappointments, and traumae. In the model of CORE Bodywork, this is the primary way to overall health. We — client and practitioner in relationship — challenge the core to soften, to release connective tissue holding patterns, and to integrate the changes into the bodymind of the client. Verbal skills from the practitioner are sometimes as important as the body work skills, as we are asking clients to examine old ways of being and see what may be appropriate to change.
The connective tissue layers of the body can best be explained by using several different images: First, imagine that the body is wearing five wetsuits and the third one down is too tight and on crooked. Our job becomes to try to stretch and straighten that layer. Second, visualize a sponge. If all the air bubbles contained muscle tissue, the sponge tissue itself is the too dry and too tight connective tissue. Further, imagine a three-dimensional crocheted wetsuit — any place that you touch the wetsuit will stretch and stress the rest of the suit. Finally, see an orange where all the pulp has been removed yet all the segment skins are intact. These images taken together give an idea of what connective tissue is like. It is our job to stretch, realign and integrate this connective tissue into the most effective and appropriate configuration possible.
Clients who choose a series generally space the sessions one to two weeks apart. Each session lasts approximately 1 to 1-1/4 hours and usually costs $80-120, depending on the practitioner. For ease in working, clients disrobe to underwear if that is comfortable, although some choose to remain fully clothed. A session is a very active partnership with the practitioner identifying and holding "stuck" places in the body's connective tissue webwork while the client breathes and stretches to release these holding patterns. Generally a further awareness assignment is given the client to enhance the work that has been done. It may be as simple as "put your feet on straight when you walk." The goal is to keep the client engaged and in charge of the process.
People choose CORE bodywork for a variety of reasons including chronic or acute pain, postural difficulties, as an adjunct to other therapies, to maintain good health and flexibility, or just to help them remember to relax and breathe! Clients often report feeling opened up and expanded breath capacity and energy.
Generally CORE Bodyworkers are massage therapists who have chosen to expand their education and skills. A Level I worker has taken a 20 hr weekend training, Level II is a 24 hour training, Level III is a 60 hour and Level IV a 72 hr training. (See CORE Certification page.) It is good to check with your practitioner how much training he or she has had — it is in Level III that the five-series recipe is learned.
Links
Guild for Structural Integration
The Rolf Institute