Govinda Bader Rolfing

Govinda helped me with my displaced rib. He was fast and effective, carefully maneuvering my rib back into place. I have been to see him twice and hope to return soon. He also helped relieve tension in my arm/​wrist/​hand. He uses his feet to massage you — it may sound strange, but it works!

I went to Govinda while recovering from a spine injury. I was also tight and sore in my hip flexors, hamstrings, calves. I had never experienced Rolfing. My first session with Govinda was amazing. He was sensitive, listening to my reactions to the varying amount of pressure so I felt safe. I started going once a week and after a couple months my whole body felt more nimble, energized and pain free. I was able to participate fully in a professional fitness conference in a way I never thought I would. I can’t say enough good about Govinda and his Rolfing.

Went to a rolfing session about 2 years ago and still remember how amazing it felt! I highly recommend Govinda! I can’t wait to go back when I am in the area again!

Govinda’s ability to work as an attentive body worker and Psychotherapist is a rare find. His attention to body and mind provides a very healing experience.

Govinda is one of the best body workers I’ve worked with. As an active dancer I’ve had many injuries and put my body through a lot of stress, and he really knows how to work with both injuries and areas of tension. He does a particularly good job of helping to realign stuck joints and loosen up tight areas of fascia or muscles. I would highly recommend him to anyone, especially those who need firm pressure or have alignment issues.

Whenever I tell my coworkers I’m going off for a rolfing session, they think I mean ROFLing and start giggling like fiends. But I tell them rolfing is no laughing matter, especially when Govinda is involved.
If you’re a certified desk monkey with a 9-​to-​5 that keeps you slouched over your desk (like me), it will do you a world of good. It’s incredible what damage poor posture can do to the body, and I consider seeing Govinda doing my due diligence to give my body something back. I always walk out of his office feeling an inch taller, with any ribs that might not have been properly aligned when I entered an hour earlier popped back in place.
Govinda also doubles as my therapist — and I wish he’d set up a Unilocal page for that so I could give him another five stars. He’s been a listening ear for years during our rolfing sessions, so it was a natural progression. As one of the most level-​headed people I know, he’s destined for an excellent second career healing people from the inside the same way he does on the outside.

I have been going to Govinda for rolfing over the past 3 years and he is one of the few body workers I have ever seen who can really work out those stubborn knots. A combination of an intuitive touch and a unique method that uses his feet allows him to apply firm, consistent and focused pressure to really dig in and chase that tension away.
I would recommend Govinda to anyone suffering from back pain, hip pain and especially neck and shoulder issues related to keyboarding.

As a 67 year old hiker /​climber Govinda Badar keeps me fit so I can do what I love. After years of chronic shoulder and upper back pain, Govinda Badar was the first person to discover the cause which was due to a displaced rib. After work with him I am pain free. His unique technique using his feet, makes body work with him the best I have ever had.

A combination of the best chiropractic session combined with the greatest deep tissue massage = Govinda Bader
Govinda has saved me from two surgeries. My lower back and left shoulder. He has relieved the pressure in my low back. I am not 100% yet but my back continues to slowly improve.
Regarding my shoulder pain, I was told by an ortho surgeon that I need surgery to repair my left shoulder that was injured in a bicycle accident two years ago. During that time I have had 4 injections. On my first session with Govinda, I was informed that my shoulder pain was a result of a rib head that need to be reset. I left the first session with my shoulder repaired and I haven’t had a single issue since.

The only reason I would not write Govinda a 5-​Star review is because I want to keep him to myself! He’s great and his methods are highly effective. I’m not sure what he does but I always feel better and for longer than with traditional massage or even sometimes chiropractic.
And no, it’s not painful.

After trying chiropractic, osteopathic, acupuncture, and many different types of massage, I had finally concluded that I might need to go the surgical route to deal with my 5-​years recurring neck injury /​pain. When telling a friend of mine, she asked, «Have you tried Rolfing?» I decided to try one last thing and found Govinda’s page here on Unilocal.
When I went in to see him and described my symptoms, right away he said (with a calm confidence), «You won’t need surgery. If it’s what I think it is, I’ve seen this problem many times. You likely have a rib that’s out of place.» For the first time in years, I actually felt hopeful. He then added a disclaimer, «What I’m going to do to treat it is not really what would be considered ‘Rolfing’, but I think it will help. I’ll have to get my hands on you and see if I’m right.»
He was right. Within the first 15 minutes of the session, he had realigned the rib. First, he worked with me to determine exactly which rib seemed to be out of place, by putting pressure on different ones until he found the one that sent a sensation both up into my neck and down into the base of my spine. Once he found it, he had my lie on my back, face-​up, and opened up my rib cage from front to back. Then, he had me lie on my stomach, face down, and he worked the rib back into place (side-​note: it made quite a cracking sound, but was not particularly painful). When I sat up straight, I had full mobility in my neck _​without pain_​for the first time in years. Amazing! For the rest of the session, he did a combination of Rolfing and his «barefoot method» on different parts of my body. Much of it was intense — what many would describe as painful. For my part, I’d call it incredibly intense sensation.
After a few days went by, Govinda emailed me to check-​in on me; he seemed genuinely concerned about how I was feeling.
Not only would I recommend Govinda to people experiencing this kind of pain, I have a hunch that with his years of experience and intuition, he may be able to help people with a wide variety of things. In fact, I plan to send my wife to him to deal with some back pain she has been feeling.
Check him out. He seems like the real-​deal.

Govinda’s Barefoot Method ought to be renamed The Healer’s Method. His is the kind of bodywork you need when restricted tissues give way to a restricted life; when chronic pain limits movement and mobility in ways that become physically and emotionally unbearable.
I have been battling perhaps one of the worst cases of plantar fasciitis (in both feet) for quite some time. I have tried everything — The Graston Technique, Ortho-​Bionomy, Yamuna Body Rolling, deep tissue massage, and orthotics, among a handful of other podiatric interventions. Nothing worked. In a final attempt to try one last modality, I began to read about Rolfing and its ability to bring lasting correction to the fascia. My search led me to Govinda’s site, and as early as our first session together, I could immediately tell that I had found a practitioner who could help me.
If there is one person in the world who wants your pain to go away more than you do, it’s Govinda. During his sessions, you can tell that he is connected to you by a deep and healing intent. He is extremely attentive, patient, and knowledgeable. He listens to your symptoms and implements a treatment plan that is made just for you. His composure and grace is contagious. In the aftermath of his bodywork, your energies, just like your fascia, are re-​educated and realigned. You move, think, and feel better. There is a sensibility about your tissues — a renewed synchronicity between the body and the mind. I believe this to be the precise difference between rolfing and other types of bodywork, which, in the hands of the right practitioner can bring about lasting correction and relief.
A few weeks ago, I awoke to a bout of extremely painful TMJ pain. Everything from the shoulders up was in complete agony. I could not move my neck from side to side, had excruciating head pain, and my temporomandibular joints were so swollen that I had trouble brushing my teeth. When I went to see Govinda (on a Thursday), he began working on all the areas affected by my TMJ pain. I went home and slept like a baby that night. On Friday I awoke to significant relief. By Saturday I was able to chew without any discomfort, and by Sunday the pain and inflammation was completely gone!
One session at a time, Govinda is putting me back in touch with my favorite sports. His goal is to relieve your pain, to make you more functional, and to restore balance in your entire system. If you are looking for amazing bodywork that combines creativity and integrity, set aside some time to spend with Govinda. Your body and spirit will be grateful for it!

It should be known that Govinda cannot be classified in the same category as other rolfers. The traditional rolfing method, although effective, pales in comparison to Govinda’s very unique barefoot technique. The biggest difference is the targeted and tactical approach that Govinda takes as opposed to the full body work you will receive from other practitioners. Not that Govinda doesn’t work your whole body… because he does… but he spends the appropriate amount of time on the areas most concerning to you at the moment. There is nothing worse than barely being able to turn your neck… and the rolfer spending 30 minutes on your feet.
If you are contemplating trying rolfing for the first time… don’t over think it… just do it! It is an AMAZING practice and provides a level of relief that is unprecedented by anything offered under traditional western medicine. I have had repeated pain and injuries associated with Crossfit exercises, and rather than pop ibuprofen compulsively and ignore the issue like the majority of people, rolfing provides relief that is immediate, long lasting, and sends you along the path of attaining balance, symmetry, and peace!
It is important to note that rolfing, unlike most western medicine practices, is not perpetual. Depending on the severity of the issue, you may be seen for 1, 3, 7, or 10 sessions… but rest assured, you are not being swindled by Govinda and he will determine how much work needs to be done to get you moving again.
I have recommended rolfing to all of my family and friends and it has amazed me how many people live with pain on a daily basis with out any resolve or even aspirations to solve the problem. GO AND SEE GOVINDA! However irrelevant you think the issue may be, drop him a line and see what he thinks. You will be surprised just what ailments rolfing can address. Also, he is a very skilled nutritionist and dietician so don’t be afraid to ask about your diet. He was able to make some recommendations that have drastically improved my overall well-​being.
…lastly, don’t be a baby. It doesn’t hurt that bad at all :)

It sounds cliched to say that Govinda changed my world, but I consider him one of the biggest contributors to my current happy state. I found him via Unilocal three years ago, was suffering from chronic back pain (bike injury over 15 years ago) and had also been trying to get pregnant for approximately 4 years. I didn’t know much about rolfing, but the physical therapy and massages for my back weren’t helping much and my sense was that deeper work might help.
During my first experience, Govinda asked me about the bike accident, pointed out that a few of my ribs were out of position, popped them back in… and pow, I began to convulse. It was slightly terrifying, but incredibly cathartic. We think I was releasing trauma held in my back from the accident, held for 15 years. I went home, slept for 6 hours in the middle of the day, slept the night through, and woke up the next morning feeling so incredibly different. I continued to see Govinda over the next 6 months.
I became pregnant shortly afterward.
Govinda has a great sense of humor and a wonderful way with people. He is intuitive in ways that made me appreciate intuitiveness.

Govinda Bader was referred to me by a friend. I was pleasantly surprised by his technique and intuitive touch. I recommend him to anyone needing therapeutic bodywork.
My experience was more than just a routine feel good massage. He pinpointed areas where I had ailments and performed an amazing skill of focus to that area and actually remedied the problematic area through his healing touch.

Govinda’s style and technique are just plain excellent. I’m a life long athlete, have used some massage and shiatsu sporadically over the years. Generally, I have had trouble finding practitioners who are deep and strong enough. That’s no problem with Govinda. He does deep tissue, using his heels and elbows often, mixing in some other-​type adjustments where necessary. But it’s not just strength. He likes to interact, likes to find out your health background as well as what’s bothering you right now. Seriously highly recommended.

Seriously, I was scared to try rolfing… all I could imagine was that it would be a very painful experience, which would be ongoing for at least ten weeks. I had been putting it off for years and as the time passed my back + shoulder pain just kept on getting progressively worse. A few months back I bit the bullet and because of the recommendation of my massage therapist — I chose Govinda!
Govinda is great. The sessions are intense, but not painful, and his process/​style is all about being in communication with what your body is feeling/​experiencing. The huge noticeable differences for me are: (1) my ability to stand in the same position and not have shooting pains in the back, in addition to that (2) a lightness, feeling almost effortless, when I walk. I stand taller and straighter, I never knew these sensations were possible.
If you’re afraid to try rolfing, like I was… there is nothing to fear, rolfing is not painful and in the end you feel as light as a feather walking out of your sessions! Give Gonvinda a try, he’s fantastic!

I LOVE Govinda’s technique. It is so different form any type of bodywork I have ever received. He has unraveled much of my tension and realigned me in a way that is far superior to deep tissue massage. It is a pleasure to work with him. He brings a unique and results focus to my treatments. Highly recommended!!!

Rolfing with Govinda has been full of pleasant surprises. I initially checked out Rolfing to address pain in my neck/​shoulder area. I had my own ideas about the source of the pain, which turned out to be off. The actual source was dislocated ribs, which Govinda happily popped back into place! His method of structural stepping is very effective and I feel an overall sense of tranquility in his presence. I have learned a lot about my body and it’s «default» structure, and where my body needs attention… and through his work I have developed new somatic awareness.
Govinda occasionally dons the ‘counselor’ hat — when the moment calls for it — offering profoundly wise insight into life situations. Ultimately, he’s very plugged in to our plight as humans and the challenges that bring us to see practitioners in the first place. It’s all relevant and I found this very helpful indeed — at no extra charge!
Go check him out, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

I went to Govinda after a back surgeon recommended I give rolfing a try for helping manage my pain with herniatic discs & degenerative disc disease. With yoga on my own & weekly sessions with Govinda, in 6 months I was back to being me. Pain-​free! The yoga helped a lot but I definitely plateaued… and couldn’t get back to 100% pain-​free. Govinda brought the goods. Check it:
Govinda’s approach (with a strong nod to thai massage & asian acupressure) is unorthodox and extremely creative, which is great for that moment in life when you realize that the orthodox way, the traditional way of doing something… just isn’t going to work anymore. Plus, he tracks with the mind-​body connection flow. Half-​shrink, I say. And he’s reasonably priced. 8 – 10 sessions and you’ll stand straighter, you’ll be more aware of your body’s ebbs & flows, and your pain & pressure points will recede. after that, it’s about fine-​tuning your body to feel better-​than-​right.
Net: Lots to love with him, and nothing not to.