Reviews
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 East Bay Area end of the week and weekends (Berkeley/Albany area.)
I’ve always had trouble with my posture, anatomically one hip bone is 3/4 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!
~Laura Fuqua
I am a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist and have experienced a wide array of alternative therapies. And so I consider my self a picky consumer when it comes to these things. I have had multiple knee injuries and suffer from arthritis in both knees. Tom has taken me completely through the Rolf ten series and in my mind he is the reason I have avoided knee surgery.
His work is very intelligent and his presence is non-judging and patient. He is inquisitive, creative and obviously excited about the work and seems to have an extensive background in manual therapies and movement related subjects. As a fellow therapist I am assured by his experience and feel safe in his hands. I highly recommend seeing Tom for pain or improvement of functional movement!
~Mia Burmester LAc
I recently completed my 10-session rolfing series with Tom and am Yelping 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 Goodsell
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 Physical Therapist
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!
~Erica Borgwardt
Oh wow, I just had another session. Whoo! I feel fantastic. If you really need someone who understands pain, try Tom. I just recently lost 80 pounds, and some parts of my body will never be the same, but Tom doesn’t judge. Thanks, Tom!
~Suzanne O’Kelly
Tom Richards has an amazing skill with Body-Work. He has combined the knowledge and experience of being a CMT, a degree in Kinesiology, and years of Wingchun (martial art) study, to approach being a certified Rolfer with an intuitive view of the Human body. In short, HE KNOWS YOUR BODY.
Before ever seeing Tom I had completed my 10-session Rolfing series with a gentleman who has been practicing for 35 years. The work that Tom did was not only comparable in terms of the physical work, but he also surpassed the seasoned professional with knowledge of the body’s construction.
In your search for a good Rolfer, look no further than Tom Richards. He is the answer to your Bodywork needs.
~Jon Draffan
I’m a capoeirista (a Brazilian Martial Art) 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.
~Daniel Irby
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!
~Pierre D.
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.
~Matt K. Yoga Instructor
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