The interview with Vivian Gettliffe from Rolfing Plus
Thanks Vivian for taking the time for this interview. How long have you been working as a Rolfer?
I have been a Certified Rolfer for about 10 years. In 2019, I became a Certified Advanced Rolfer.
How many employees and customers do you have?
I work as an individual provider, so no employees. I typically see around 8 to 10 clients per week. With the demand, I can sometimes get quite booked out. However, in these unusual circumstances of the coronavirus I am of course not taking any clients at present.
What are the common issues you usually deal with?
The majority of my clients come to me because of chronic pain, and a smaller number come because they want to change their posture. Rolfing structural integration works through the lens of alignment. I don’t focus on my clients’ specific symptoms or pains, but rather seek to affect their alignment, helping their bodies to release compensations and imbalances that have accumulated over a lifetime. This invariably helps them to recover a sense of well-being and relaxation. Most of the time, the chronic pain issues are either completely resolved or vastly improved.
How does Rolfing structural integration affect the day-to-day life of your clients?
I work strategically with most of my clients over several months, usually a total of 10-15 sessions. Over this time, they are aware of their bodies changing significantly. I am also helping them to become aware of holding, postural, or movement patterns that are affecting their bodies, and most of them find that with their increased awareness, these patterns begin to change, so that it is possible for them to live and move more comfortably day to day.
How do you provide your services and what types of clients do you serve?
I work from a lovely, bright studio that is nonetheless very private. I take a thorough history of each client, and look at their structure before beginning the touch portion of our work. Then I work with the client manually for about an hour. My techniques involve touch, pressure, and tissue manipulation, but also passive and active movement. Afterwards, I work with the client in standing for 10-15 minutes as a kind of re-education, helping them to become aware of old patterns and explore new ways of being and moving that will serve them better.
How do you ensure the quality of your service?
I am passionate about my work. For that reason, I don’t overbook. I take only the number of clients that will allow me to provide the best possible service. Also, I allow adequate time for solid communication with my clients. I want to hear everything that they have to tell me, as their subjective experience provides important clues that will help me to develop the best strategies for achieving our goals. Finally, I don’t limit my work to the bodywork only. It is important to me to provide my clients with the movement and patterning experiences that will allow them to keep the benefits of the work on into the future.
You operate in an extremely competitive market environment – what do you see as your edge compared to your competitors?
My clients’ lives are changed by my work, and they let others know about that. When people come to me, they are getting more than just a bodywork session; we are collaborating on helping their body to become a resource, not an impediment, to their life. My motto is “Make room in your body for your life.” I think that resonates with people.
Are there any special offers planned for 2020?
Everything is a bit up in the air right now with the Coronavirus. I look forward to life returning to normal. I know that there will be a lot of people out there who will need some help in order to recover from the stress of this crazy time. I am eager to serve when the time comes.