"I had the pleasure of cycling to my last Rolfing treatment with Barry today. This week was the first time on my racer since September 2006. Thank you for everything, this process has literally given me my life back."

Hello Barry and Bridget,

From the young age of three I have been active in recreation and sport; and as a young adult decided to pursue a career as in some health related field.

On January 12, 1992 I was involved in a motor vehicle accident which was life changing in every way. Prior to the accident I was in pursuit of a career as a national coach for cycling. There are two requirements: (1) Academic, and (2) Athletic.

The academic requirement could be obtained through a national program called the National Coaching Certification Program; and the athletic requirement was to represent your country at a major international event - PAMAM Games, Common Wealth Games, Olympics or World Championships. Academically, I was in the program and actively coaching with Certified Level 2 with Theory at Level 3 (maximum level was level 4), as well as I was enrolled at SFU in Kinesiology. Athletically, I was competing nationally and internationally (USA) and was making gains to achieve my goal.

As a result of the accident, I had exhausted all types of therapy - physio, physical, chiropractic, and massage - but had little success regaining pre-accident functionality. I had to accept the fact that I probably would never regain that level of athleticism and would have to find another career choice.

I had to look for another career and I had looked into Massage Therapy, Computer Technologies to name a couple of them. I chose computers.

Some time after the "accident", I heard about someone providing Rolfing from Vancouver Island over a two seek period or something; but I could not afford at that time to go. About the time I was enrolled in Electronics and Computers Technician courses at VCC, I attend my first session with Barry.

I recall the moment after my first treatment when I release that as a result of the first treatment my foot was restored (increased one full size) to it pre-accident state, a size 8.5. That was a revelation!

The rest was history.

As before the Rolfing sessions with Barry were invaluable to my health. After being in IT for more than 10 years; and the last year working 6-7 days a week, between 80-100 hours of OT, I was suffering the ill affects of this industry - forty pounds over weight and not enjoying life. I decided to make a change for the better, for my health.

I left IT last year late July, and started hiking and to take care of myself. By mid to late October I lost over 30 pounds. In the process of hiking I slipped one day and as result of bracing myself I injured my shoulder girdle (long head of triceps, subscapularis, teres minor). I went to several massage therapists but to no avail. Finally, I called on got to see Barry. And started with, the "express" version of the treatment. Each session I was coming out it with a realization that the semi-active, semi-sedentary life style caused from last several years of IT really negatively affected my body and wellbeing.

De ja vu: from a very young age I had been active in sports, and my sense of well being is closely tied to my physical being. I came to the realization that my new career choice should be Massage Therapy, a venue to promote health, well being through the caring practition of the "touch therapy". Here I am full circle again back to the "Y" in the road and being able to choose the other route.

My intent is to pursue the massage therapy and once a RMT to specialize into myofascial work - may be rolfing. Since it has restored my being, my life, and future.

I can not put words together to adequately thank Barry for being my first "Rolfing" experience. But simply and sincerely, "thank you Barry!"

Always a believer,
J. Forsyth

Six weeks ago I conclude my course of ten 1 1/2 hour Rolfing sessions with Barry Davison.  Though the experience was painful at times, I found that Barry was always aware of my needs and thresholds. This man is a true healer.
Walking away from each session I felt like I was hardly touching the ground.   I am constantly amazed at the freedom from pain and stiffness that I now enjoy.  Even my posture and the way I walk has changed.
These Rolfing sessions, and the classes that Barry gives as part of the package, have been a great source of renewal and healing for me.   

I injured my back when I was 14 and after suffering in pain for many years and trying several different types of massage, acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic, somatics, brain gym, physio, TFT, MDR, vitamins, minerals, pain relievers, diets, and a list of other things I can't even remember the name of, I finally discovered Rolfing. I've been active in sports all of my life but in the last few years was unable to participate in anything athletic. Actually it was getting difficult to move at all. Walking up and down stairs was becoming awkward, even showering myself was painful when trying to reach up and down and around. I was beginning to resign myself to the middle-aged mindset of the slow impending decline and fall of a once active but now ever more and more limited lifestyle. I finished the advanced series with Barry a few months ago and, though it may sound hard to believe, at 47 I'm in the best shape of my life. I recently took up skiing again, after a 6 year absence, and after a few warm-up runs, I decided I'd brave the moguls. I was shocked and elated!!! If anyone was around to see me they would have thought I must be "off of my meds", as I was, at one point, laughing hysterically with tears of joy streaming down my face. I couldn't believe the power I now had in my legs!! I used to get outmuscled by moguls but now I was outdoing them. In years past after my first day back on the hill I would be stiff and sore for a couple of weeks and was bedridden for a week after one such a day. This time, NOTHING!! No pain, no stiffness, just ..... well.... bounce. I feel like a kid again. Do you remember bouncing around?
   Healing happens in stages after Rolfing. Today I went to the gym for my workout and I'm always bending to the right to see if the mobility is back ( I haven't been able to bend over to the right since I was 30 without scary pain). I bent over today and waited, but, nothing. I had to cover my face with my towel to hide the tears as I uttered a silent..."thank you Barry". I'd been in pain for so long that I'd forgotten what it was like to live without it. Now I remember, and now I can LIVE again!! So, once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you Barry! Everyone needs to get out of their own way and go and get Rolfed.

  Mike Lombardo