Rolfing is hands-on body-work and movement instruction

Rolfing helps individuals find well-being by improving their posture and movement patterns in the field of gravity

“Some individuals may perceive their losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in their back, others as an unflattering contour of their body, others as constant fatigue, yet others as an unrelenting threatening environment. Those over 40 my call it old age. And yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure, that it has been ignored: they are off balance, they are at war with gravity”

— Ida Rolf (founder of Rolfing, US, 1940s)

Hayley J S Matthews is a certified Rolfer, qualified with the British Academy of Structural Integration. Accredited by the European Rolfing Association, Munich and The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, Boulder Colorado.

Hayley offers appointments for Rolfing in London at Clinic Central in Angel Islington. And in central Norwich at The Yoga Tree.

Contact Hayley To enquire about Rolfing sessions

How does Rolfing work?

Rolfing sessions are a way to work with your body, it’s habits, history and potential. They can address chronic pain and conditions, injury and rehab, post-surgery recovery, posture complaints, recovering from trauma, grief and stress. And can be an embodied approach to mental health or personal development and a route to address performance quality and ease for sports people and performers. Click the black button above to read more about how it works with different conditions and aspects

More About Hayley

I am A Rolfing practitioner, certified by the British Academy of Rolfing and Structural Integration, where training is accredited by the European Rolfing Association, Munich (ERA) and the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, Boulder, Colorado (RISI).

As well as being a Rolfing practitioner I am a professional dancer, and someone who has been through the Rolfing process in recovery from PTSD. Rolfing sessions helped me to better understand my body and how I interact with the world around me. Some of the Rolfing benefits I have experienced first hand are; how to sit at a desk, be less anxious, how to improve my running, swimming and dancing techniques, how to reduce my vulnerability to injury, build resilience and more energy, find more grace in my posture and movement and reach for what I want.

Each Rolfing practitioner approaches Rolfing from a point of view that reflects their own interests, skills and values. I also hold a degree in Art History and Curatorship, I am a daily mediator - a practice which helps me find centre and grow. I hold a diploma in fine art, play the flute very badly, and I work as a freelance dancer. The academic, physical and emotional demands of my background and my personal interests are all useful in helping me to help you during our Rolfing sessions.

We find strength in realising how gravity affects our bodies, there is no use in fighting it or being submissive to it. I give my clients the space to explore this relationship, and understand their challenges so that we can work on finding freedom together. Before, during and after treatment, I am available to discuss concerns or thoughts.

What to expect from your Rolfing sessions

TESTIMONIALS

“I was treated by Hayley in 2017 for a fear of heights. In all honesty, I didn’t expect much as I had had a crippling fear for over a decade. But Hayley seemed certain Rolfing sessions could help ease some of the physical symptoms. So I took a chance and to say Rolfing has changed my life would be an understatement. Last month I did a zipline through the jungle upside down. I now fly without sedatives. And I don’t freak out every time I go up steep stairs. Hayley is a Rolfing practitioner with a true gift and I will be forever grateful for everything she as done for me”

— Claire Summers, Digital Nomad

“Hayley is both intuitive and scientific in her approach, she is expert at what she does. Rolfing has helped me be pain free and at one with myself in so many ways. I would recommend it to anyone as an essential self-investment. ”

— Roxanne Griffiths, Norwich

“I found my Rolfing session with Hayley to be invaluable. Suffering with knee pain, in the first session Hayley showed me a technique for mobilising my knee with minimum effort. I have since been applying the technique to other body movement and find it most effective. She has also improved my gait and the way I move so my body looks and feels lither. ”

— Naznenne Sparrow, London.

“I came to Rolfing after suffering with migraines resulting from emotional trauma. Hayley is very respectful when working with highly sensitive emotional material. After my first session I came away, already feeling the benefits.”

— Emma Chromik, London

“Hayley combines solid knowledge of her area of expertise with a sensitive and discreet therapeutic approach where the particular needs of individual clients are paramount.”

— Jennifer Conway, Bellac, France

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Working with you

Supporting and guiding someone through the Rolfing process requires much of the compassion and understanding more typically associated with therapy. Part of being a Rolfer is a commitment to openness and lack of judgement, I take this seriously and enjoy the privilege of working with those who come to me.

More about Rolfing

The philosophy underpinning Rolfing is that we all have an optimal alignment based on our unique bodies and the effect that gravity has upon them.

The closer we can operate to efficient alignment, the less likely we are to encounter injury, tiredness or stress, promoting freedom and well-being.

The practise was developed in 1960s by American bio-chemist Dr. Ida Rolf, who says;

“Strength that has effort is not the strength we need, we need the strength that is the result of ease.”

Contact/book

Would you like to make friends with your body?

Would you like to walk, breathe and move more freely?

Would you like to have more energy?

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