Thank you! Yes, it is L4/L5 instability. The action of pressing the feet into the floor activates the transverse abs- we covered that in isolation for about 5 minutes and I understood. & yes, he said it is going to get more complicated later.
I was just practicng when I got the response reply email from your post. It feels nice on my lower back. But I have been practicing now without contracting the glutes- it does stress the back more. I googled rofling and got a paper called " the Plevic Lift Themes and Variations" that talks about rolfing- it said do not contract the glutes.
So then I WILL contract the glutes- but only by what ever happens naturally (which is quite a bit!)
Thank you very much gcoe! That is intersting to know that Rolfing has been discredited- thank you so much for that because i just emailed a person in town who gives rolfing lessons and I was wondering why my PT had not said it was rolfing- I was loosing trust, so a BIG thank you for that!!!! Makes me feel much more confident in my PT. Also, I really like that it is evidence based. I am very conservative. I don't even want chiropractic adjustments for example.
so as far as glutes go- contract naturally but that is not my focus. That is what I will conclude. Thank you!!