Anna Collins

Ever met a Rolfer before? We hadn’t, until we met Rolfer extraordinaire Anna Collins. She’s a rare gem indeed; a specialist in The Rolf Method of Structural Integration, a revitalising manual…

Ever met a Rolfer before? We hadn’t, until we met Rolfer extraordinaire Anna Collins. She’s a rare gem indeed; a specialist in The Rolf Method of Structural Integration, a revitalising manual therapy created by a certain Dr Ida Rolf dating back to the 1940s. An appointment with Anna will see your fascia (the connective tissue that envelops your muscles, ligaments, bones, organs, nerves and blood vessels) loosened and made more pliable, so that tension is released and tissues can function more smoothly and effectively. If this all sounds a bit technical, that’s because it is, but let us explain…

Firstly, you don’t need to be injured, in rehab or having a crisis to be eligible for a course of treatments with Anna, but you do need to go along with an open mind and remember to wear some underwear (each appointment is conducted in your undercrackers). Believe us, baring almost all will ensure that you both get and see results from your Structural Integration session, as Anna takes a series of photos at the beginning and end of the treatment (this is an optional element, but is very helpful for tracking progress). Our after photos suggest that Anna quite possibly has magical powers; our posture was verging on the commendable, hips aligned and we looked a good few pounds lighter. How did we get here? Via some pretty intense ‘rolling’ over the skin and some lengthening limb bending. If it sounds torturous, we promise it isn’t, but it’s no aromatherapy massage either. Not only do Anna’s mean-business moves leave you feeling more balanced (and somehow taller), but she can also get to the root of pain and niggles when others can’t. Long-standing injuries can cause your body to ‘overcompensate’ and shift balance or disturb natural movement, and Anna is a pro at realinging and fine tuning anything that’s out of whack. Her freeing techniques often help to boost self-esteem- with a post-Structural Integration stature anyone can take on the world.

Anna recommends a course of 10 sessions to reap maximum benefit from treatments

Contact Anna here. She practices at various venues acros London, including The Light Centre, Grace Belgravia and Como Shambhala.