*This article is a translation of one I wrote while I was practicing in Japan.

I would like to report on the progress of N’s Session 5.

Before beginning Session 5, I asked for feedback on the previous Session 4, which marked the start of the Core work. N commented, “Unlike previous sessions where I could feel gradual changes in body sensation immediately after the session, leading to a new, improved sensation in daily life after 2-3 weeks, this time I couldn’t feel any noticeable changes.”

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Core sessions may not produce the same immediate, impactful changes as earlier sessions, and it can take longer to feel the effects. N seemed to have experienced this difference in session characteristics firsthand in daily life.

Continuing from Session 4, we confirmed that the main concerns were still the tendency to slouch during work and rounded shoulders. With this in mind, we began Session 5.

Connection with the Upper Limbs

In Session 5, we extend and activate the Core, building on Session 4. We continue the approach from the pelvic floor to the abdominal cavity and the area in front of the spine.

While the main focus is on connecting the legs and upper body, particularly through work on the psoas (the muscle connecting the lower back and legs) and the diaphragm, it’s also important to consider the balance with the arms and hands for effective work.

In N’s case, we started by smoothing the movement of the carpal bones (wrist bones) and the interosseous membrane of the forearm (the membrane between the two forearm bones). We then balanced the fascial chains from arm to pectoralis major and from arm to latissimus dorsi.

Balancing these fascial chains from hand to chest and hand to back at the beginning makes the subsequent approach to deeper parts of the body even more effective.

Abdominal Cavity Twist – Psoas and Diaphragm

Next, keeping in mind the connection from the pelvic floor, we approached the abdominal muscles and the deeper psoas muscle.

For the abdominal muscles, we worked on the connections with the ribs and pelvis. For the psoas, we focused on the connections with the diaphragm and legs. Only by working on these connections as a unit can we effectively promote Core activation.

In N’s case, while the stiffness on the inner side of the left shoulder blade had disappeared after Session 1, the left ribcage was still slightly pulled downward. This was caused by a twist in the left psoas, which in turn caused the left abdominal muscles to pull on the ribcage.

During the treatment, despite working on the psoas and abdominal muscles from the front, N reported feeling “a sensation of stretching from the buttocks to the back of the thighs.”

Generally, tension or twisting in the psoas can lead to tension in the diaphragm, which may result in habitually shallow breathing without realizing it. If you find yourself only able to take shallow breaths during work or unsure how to take deep breaths, the true cause might be tension or twisting in the psoas.

The Cause of Slouching and Rounded Shoulders?

After addressing the abdominal cavity, we moved on to the thoracic cavity (chest area).

Unlike the abdominal cavity, the thoracic cavity is well-protected by bones such as the ribs and sternum. To support vital organs like the heart under the ribs and sternum, it is covered with numerous tendons, ligaments, and membranes that protect the internal organs.

Due to the abundance of bones and ligaments, years of habits and unconscious patterns can become ingrained as poor posture.

In N’s case, in stressful work situations, the shoulders would round forward, the back would hunch, and there was a feeling of slight emotional withdrawal.

For N, there was notable tension in the fascia and periosteum, particularly from the collarbone to the fourth rib, as if the chest and shoulders were rolling forward.

Using one of Rolfing’s characteristic techniques of simultaneously working from both front and back, we stretched the ribs, sternum, organ-supporting ligaments, and the erector spinae muscles and spine on the back. While working on the left side, despite focusing on the area below the collarbone and upper ribs, N could feel the stretch extending all the way to the soles of the feet. N commented, “This feels like a really important point for me.”

When N stood up after the session, the posture was strikingly slender and upright. The upper body, which had been somewhat rounded, was now elongated upward, and the shoulders, which tended to roll forward, settled into a good position.

N reported feeling a comfort never experienced before, naturally sensing a feeling of being pulled upward from the top of the head.

Through Sessions 4 and 5, by thoroughly promoting Core activation, we were able to effectively stretch the chest and back areas where deep-seated habits tend to settle. This resulted in the observed postural improvements.

N commented, “I’m surprised this is only halfway through. I’ve already felt significant changes in my body after just five sessions, so I’m really looking forward to the next five.” N left with a comfortable gait once again.

Session 5 serves as a summary of Session 4, marking the midpoint of the Core sessions and the entire 10-session Rolfing series. Although it’s a Core session, it’s often a session where clients can feel a new sense of their body.

N has progressed very smoothly to this midpoint, and I’m looking forward to seeing further changes in the coming sessions.

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