Rolf To Evolve

Amazing! In 1 session he totally cured me of my pregnancy-​related back pain — which a chiropractor and physical therapist thought I would have to «manage» for the rest of my pregnancy. And it never came back! Highly recommended!

Tom has been very helpful for me in correcting an injury I had during a fall in yoga where I twisted my body and was not the same after a year of other body work/​chiropractic and physical therapy.
This was my first experience with Rolfing and I found it very very helpful because of its targeted approach. I am the type of person who would do one session and if it didn’t help significantly (!), I’d duck out and mysteriously disappear not making another. But this I signed up for 3 after the first one and here is why I did:
Tom works for a long while directly on the spots you need as opposed to wasting time on parts that are not in need. I am a big fan of deep tissue work because I enjoy targeted work on release (he can go as deep or lightly as needed for your tolerance). I have had a lot of different types of body work and this got to all the places bothering me AND a few I didn’t recognize until Tom found them (including something in my ribs and abdomen that had constricted my movement on one side). I can appreciate now how a successful Rolfer doesn’t need you to confirm the spot but can assess the location of stagnation by feeling the subtle tightness in areas and areas where there is lack of tone due to the muscles being restricted (yes ladies, I did notice a reduction in cellulite when bloodflow was improved to some areas although I am sure Tom wouldn’t advertise this as a side effect). Since I have a background in Traditional Chinese Medicine, I noticed a connection to points. I am not sure if this was part of Ida Rolf’s original plan but I found it helpful for me in referencing when I got home after a session. Finally, my yoga practice has gotten closer to normal since I have worked with Tom. Something important to me since after my fall I honestly felt like I «healed wrong».
I feel much better now and look what I learned all about Rolfing during this process!

Tom is a very talented rolfer. He is adept at his work because he takes it seriously and puts a lot of heart into it. In the 6 sessions I’ve had with him in the past couple months, I’ve never sensed any flightiness or detachment during our session, and being a bodyworker myself, I’m critical of this in others, but he’s always right there with ya the whole time! I appreciate his focus and care, not to mention the extent to which he truly understands how the body and it’s plethora of systems work.
His interest in and ability to help my heal my pains has been awesome, and I’m so glad that I’ve had the good fortune to work with him. On top of all this, he’s super good about staying in touch, replying to emails & phone calls, and being flexible for appointments.
And although rolfing is generally more pricey than other types of bodywork, he maintains really fair rates and offers packages.
I’d recommend him to anybody wanting to receive effective, affordable bodywork :)

I have seen Tom at Rolf to Evolve through the 10-​series and found it extremely helpful. Tom has a great knowledge of the body and I saw improvements after each visit. The rolfing modality that he works with is quite different than any other form of bodywork I’ve experienced. He’s helped me break through structural patterns and regain optimal health. I highly recommend a session, or a series, with Rolf to Evolve!

I completed the 10 sessions with Tom in January 2012. I refrained from writing a review then because based on my experience, any body work done (right), immediately leaves you feeling good. I forced myself to wait for a year.
A year has now passed and I am happy to report that I am still feeling great. Maybe not as great as when I had just completed the 10 sessions, but only because I have not done my part to maintain all the good work Tom has done.
I had had lower back pains for more than 10 years, and in recent years, the pain had moved to the mid-​back as well as my shoulders and neck. Waking up was a pain because my muscles were stiff and constantly tense. It hurt when I ran, no matter how good my shoes were. I had difficulty breathing and felt tired easily. My knee specialist advised me to stop running altogether.
After rolfing, I started running again. I shocked myself when I ran 15 minutes non-​stop, without shortness of breath and absolutely pain-​free. In fact, I didn’t want to stop as I felt like an extremely well-​oiled machine. So I didn’t.
I’m still running today and am loving it. I try to do the exercises that Tom recommended, and it has been especially helpful after a long day’s work in front of the computer. I am more conscious of my posture, and try to maintain a good posture. I no longer need a massage every fortnight so I’ve saved a lot more money compared with my total investment in Tom. I am eternally grateful to Tom, who was always professional, kind and sincere. Needless to say, I highly recommend Tom Richards and would definitely visit him if I am ever in the Bay Area again.

TOP SECRET ALERT:
I can be a greedy little hoarder of all discoveries magical and healthy (initially anyway, then I tell everyone I know!) and I can now write this glowing review after my Rolfing 10 session completion with Tom.
oh btw he is in the Bay Area end of the week and weekends (Berkeley/​Albany area)
I’ve always had trouble with my posture, anatomically one hip bone is ¾ inch higher than the other and standing straight and strong has always been something I’ve had to think about to do. In recent years, I developed chronic pain in my Achilles Tendon. My life was limited in how far and where I could walk (stay away from stairs and hills). Being off balance also made me feel uninspired, anemic, grouchy, and tired.
I found Tom after meeting/​speaking with other Bay Area Rolfers and he was a good match. He is methodical, strong, physical, kind, insightful and open minded. I saw him from the Fall of 2010 to Summer 2011, in which my posture and frame feels natural and good again. He really helped with pain relief for my ankle.
Here is how it went for me: Worked at a studio off Solano Ave, safe and peaceful. Rolfing is a bit like art, Tom looks at you walk and says, «I’d like to work on that side of your ribcage» or «Let’s free up your neck today». You are in various positions, on a massage table, standing, sitting, while literally your body is lifted and moved around according the the underlying connective tissue. The NYT said it was like Extreme Yoga, but it’s actually crazier than that. My body changed, I had a longer neck, could take deeper breaths, and felt good. You will get crazy bruises but they go away, Tom works on refining the structure of your body. Each session is 90 minutes and he is priced very reasonably.
So, if you have a sports injury, chronic pain, and are interested in a holistic but very physical method to improve your posture (my reasons), I highly recommend Tom Richards and his Rolf to Evolve Practice.
I kidnapped Jon K. and took him to Tom and I am sure he had his own and probably much different experience with Tom. All I know is he loved it and kidnapped Greg K. and took him to Tom. Let’s keep the momentum going!

Tom has already made an impact on my chronic pain and restrictions in the two sessions that I have had with him. I’m a massage therapist and have a highly tuned sense of what is going on in my body, and Tom’s assessments and treatments are spot on. He’s done a great job of addressing multiple systems– nerves, connective tissue, and muscles, while also coaching me in the motion and use of my arms, hands, and core. I feel very confident in Tom’s approach to bodywork and I am so grateful to receive work from him.
I am very picky about bodywork, and Tom is one of the best.

Oh geez! This guy just keep getting better. My back started to hurt last month, and somehow, Tom just knows what to do. Really pleased. Thanks!

I did a full 10 sessions with Tom and have since been back to him for tune-​ups. I was suffering with searing/​stabbing pain in my right sacroiliac joint after incorrectly practicing Durvasana (a yoga posture that consists of placing one foot behind the neck and standing up). I had an 80% reduction of pain and was practicing yoga again after just four 90 minute sessions with Tom, and by the end of the 10 sessions was at almost 100% reduction pain and transformation in my yoga practice. Apart from the therapeutic aspects of the sessions they were highly edifying as Tom shared his extensive knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology with me, helping to apply it to yoga practice. He also gave me simple exercises to perform at home in order to retrain muscular movement patterns and aid in long-​term recovery from the injury. I highly recommend Tom’s services.

I went to see Tom in late 2009. I’d been suffering from chronic back pain for about 3 years, but it had been getting progressively worse. I had trouble washing my feet in the shower, and decided that enough was enough. A college friend recommended Rolfing, so I thought I’d give it a try.
It’s been about 1 year since I completed my Rolfing sessions with Tom, and I’m still mostly pain-​free. I combined Rolfing with some core strength training at Urban Fitness in Oakland, and the results were almost immediate.
Honestly, I expected this thing to be a waste of money. I was completely wrong — but happy to admit it!

I’m a capoeirista and have had a few nagging injuries over the years. Tom has helped me to better understand my body and that has allowed me the ability to get back out there training with confidence. I’ve found good results both, as I say, with Tom’s ability to teach me about my body, and also with his abilities to free up trouble spots and thus improve my body mechanics. I recommend Tom to anybody looking to learn more about and to get more out of her or his body. Lastly, I like Tom’s attitude. He’s focused, intuitive, and puts me at ease– that counts for a lot on my book. I’ve had five sessions and plan to go back for several more.

I didn’t do the 10 series, but did have Tom work on some chronic issues I’ve had. I recently started exercising a lot more (running and cycling) which was great but… it seemed like some muscles (especially calf) were not working as smoothly as they could. I also had some trouble with knee pain. Tom worked with me to free up the bound muscles, and also helped me work on my gait. I can now run pain-​free for many miles, faster and with less effort!
I also have had trouble with my neck for YEARS (I think from using a messenger bag instead of a backpack) and he really helped with that, which NO ONE else has been able to do anything about.
Tom’s a great balance of professional and personable– he really knows his stuff but is also patient and a great explainer. I think you could find a massage for less per hour, but this is totally the next level– really investing in your long-​term health and making serious changes. Absolutely worth every penny!

I recently completed my 10-​session rolfing series with Tom and am Unilocaling about it because it was a profound experience. I sought out rolfing to complement physical therapy I am doing for an injured hip and calf. I have certainly experienced physical changes in my body from rolfing – more flexible, better posture, less stress – but more than that, I feel like as a result of my sessions with Tom, I have new knowledge of how my body works, how I hold myself, and honestly, just a much better outlook/​attitude about my physical health.
Each session focused on another area of my body – and each time I walked out of Tom’s office, I felt different, better, taller, and lighter on my joints. After almost every visit one or more people told me I looked «great» or «healthy» or paid me some sort of related compliment. The benefits are motivating, one reason I was reluctant to see the sessions end.
The relationship with Tom was interesting – it was very professional, but trusting and intimate as well. I walked in really apprehensive (heard all kinds of rumors about rolfing that didn’t hold up in my experience) and finished the series trusting him and his skill completely. He worked both deep and superficially, but always in a way I could tolerate. He was like a sculptor who was molding and improving my structure in real time.
Like with many healers and therapeutic relationships, I don’t know as much about him as he does about me, but what’s clear is that he has a mastery of the body and is very present in his work, so it felt like he was completely there to help me. He is expert at delivering care aimed at serving each of his client’s best interests. I felt like it was a privilege to be one of his clients and I’d recommend him to anyone.
Finally, I put my body through a lot of stress and strain as a new triathlete, and while I am making progress toward being injury-​free, I am not there yet. Tom has been instrumental in helping me make significant improvements and I expect more changes to occur for the next several months based on my sessions with him. These physical and emotional results of our work together are so moving, it’s got me looking forward to when I will be going back to him for maintenance work/​massage in the future.
Cindi

I did a rolfing series with Tom Richards, Certified Rolfer, a couple of months ago. It appears to have been the catalyst for some profound
changes in my body. I have since lost 16 pounds. I feel more ease in
my body. I am more flexible and certainly a lot more healthy. I feel
that I learned about my body as result of these sessions with Tom. I thought the sessions were incredible and recommend Tom highly.
Simon Gibson PT
Montclair Physical Therapy & Wellness