Balance Rolfing & Massage Studio

Over 50? You need your preventive maintenance at Balance Rolfing!
I’ve been working with Richard since I moved to the Hudson Valley more than a year ago. I’m a long time rolfing proponent; rolfing is deep work, and I credit it with relieving two long-​time sports injuries that I have suffered sporadically for more than 25 years (ex-​Rugby player).
I now see Richard a few times a year for regular tune-​ups which pay off in preventing neck and back pain as I am a «knowlege worker» who spends a lot of time in front of a monitor. I also do a lot of biking and hiking.
Richard is extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful about the the human body and will spend time understanding your particular structure before he begins his work. He embodies the care, skill and thoughtfulness of the best rolfers.

After many months of neck pain, I finally experience relief! What a interesting feeling to work without that constant pain. I’m very thankful for Richard and his knowledge and work.
My experience started after dissatisfaction with progress at the chiropractor. My neck pain was not getting better, the chiropractor kept telling me to come back and if I didn’t come he blamed my pain on not being there. I wasn’t too sure…
I contacted Richard after my pregnant wife had work done by him after slipping on ice and hurting her hip. After rearranging my appointment with him a couple of times because of my work, I met him at his Red Hook location. I met him in a clean, well-​stocked office/​gym which he rents once a week. Richard was friendly and put me at ease. After initial paperwork, we got started.
Richard asked many questions about my neck issue, discussed work habits and a possible incident that could have contributed, and carefully considered my answers. He watched me walk around the office and then I got on the table.
Apparently, Rolfing is about working on the fascia in the muscles, the tough stringy stuff in a steak that isn’t fat but isn’t meat. Richard used very long manipulations, like 45 seconds, to assess and move different parts of my neck. He made sure I wasn’t in too much pain but was definitely directing a great deal of strength.
I was really impressed with Richards knowledge, intuition and observational skills. He assessed and worked on my neck, where I thought the issue was, but also worked on my upper ribs and told me about how much each part of the system influences the other parts and how everything is connected.
For 2 days after my session, which lasted more than an hour and a half, my neck was aggravated, something was different and felt worse but different… I was a little worried but also felt like maybe I had been through something significant and my body/​neck was recovering from the event.
It was true. It had been a big event, the aggravation went away, and now my neck feels better. After many months and visits to the chiropractor, the work that Richard did was significant. It’s been two weeks, and wow. I’m really glad I went.
I still feel thankful that Richard listened to me, didn’t tell me what he thought happened but kept asking questions until he understood as fully as possible based on what I said. I didn’t feel Richard presumed or pre judged or jumped in to add to or finish my story. And he really paid attention to what he felt from my body. He was thinking deeply the whole time. I was really impressed.
So… If you have an issue, whether chronic or injury related, I recommend talking to Richard and getting him to work on you.