Rolfing Melbourne / Your first session
Your first Rolfing session
Knowing what to expect makes the first visit easier, so here is the whole thing laid out: how to prepare, what happens in the room, and what comes after. No surprises is part of the service.
Monday · Tuesday · Friday · Clifton Hill
Preparing takes five minutes
- All sessions run 60 minutes, first sessions included.
- You'll receive an email with a New Client History Form after you book. Filling it in beforehand means we spend the session working rather than writing.
- Most people work in their underwear, as they would for a massage. Some prefer shorts and a singlet or comfortable clothing they can move in. Either is fine, and we work at whatever level you're comfortable with.
- On Mondays and Tuesdays there is reception at the clinic. On Fridays there is no reception, so please arrive close to your appointment time and I'll meet you in the waiting area.
- If you're coming by tram, train or car, the clinic page has entry, parking and transport details.
The practice room is on the second floor and is reached by several stairs. If stairs are difficult for you, contact me before booking and we'll talk through whether the space will work for you.
What happens, step by step
What's going on, how long it has been going on, what you've already tried, and what you want from the work. Your history matters here: old injuries, your work, your sports, the things your body does all day. This is where the session's direction comes from.
A quick look
Standing and walking, briefly, so I can see how your structure organises itself as a whole. This takes a few minutes and shapes where the hands-on work starts.
This is the bulk of the session and where the change happens. You'll be on the treatment table while I work slowly and specifically through the connective tissue, following what your structure presents rather than a fixed routine. The depth is worked with you, never on you, and your feedback guides pace and pressure the whole way. It shouldn't be something you grit your teeth through.
You stay an active participant. I'll often ask you to move or breathe in a particular way while I work, because tissue change holds better when your nervous system learns to use it. I'll tell you what I'm finding as I go, in plain language, so nothing about the hour is mysterious.
Back on your feet: standing, walking, noticing. We compare against what we saw at the start, so we both know what changed rather than assuming. This checking is built into how I work, and it happens within the session, never just at the end of a series.
Before you leave, I'll tell you what I found, what I think the work can do for you, and what I'd suggest, which might be a short series, occasional sessions, or in some cases another practitioner altogether. Where useful, you'll take away one or two practical things to notice or practise. There is no automatic ten-session program, and you'll never get a hard sell in this room.
How you might feel
People respond differently, and anyone who tells you exactly how you'll feel afterwards is guessing. Common responses include feeling lighter or taller for a while, moving more freely, noticing your body more than usual, or feeling pleasantly tired the same evening. Occasionally an area that was worked feels tender for a day or so, similar to having exercised.
There is no elaborate aftercare ritual. Move normally, notice what's different, and if anything about your response surprises or concerns you, contact me and ask. Part of what you're paying for is access to a straight answer.
Cost and payment
Sessions are $160, first sessions included. All sessions run for 60 minutes.
Payment is made at the end of the session, by cash or card. There is an EFTPOS machine at the clinic.
Rolfing is not covered by health fund rebates, so there is nothing to claim back and no concession rate.
If you need to cancel or move an appointment, please give at least 24 hours notice. Cancellations inside 24 hours, and missed appointments, are charged the full session fee of $160. The booking system lets you reschedule yourself up until the 24 hour mark.
Ready when you are
First Rolfing sessions are available Monday, Tuesday and Friday at the Clifton Hill clinic. Book online, and if you'd like to talk it over first, get in touch and ask.
Book your first sessionStill deciding? Read what Rolfing is or find the Clifton Hill clinic. Questions? Get in touch.