Myofascial Release
Myofascia is a form of highly flexible, tough and dense connective tissue. It surrounds, supports and protects our muscles, bones, nerves and organs. It covers the entire body, like an uninterrupted piece of netting, flowing from head to toe and from the outside to the inside of the body. It adapts to the tension and demands placed upon it, however when fascia becomes traumatised or damaged, it can become tight and restricted and cause a number of problems including:
headaches, muscle pain and spasms, chronic back/neck pain, breathing difficulties, sensations such as numbness and tingling, poor posture, reduced flexibility and many more.
What causes fascia to become unhealthy?
Inflammation, trauma such as a fall/accident, injuries, scar tissue and habitual poor posture, to name but a few. Damage to one area of fascia can effect other more distant areas in the body, even years later.
Myofascial Release is a very effective hands-on body therapy, which can directly change and improve the health of fascia in the whole body. The purpose is to break down scar/damaged tissue, relax the muscle and fascia and restore good posture and movement. The therapist focuses on softening the deep tissues of the body in a gentle and patient way to provide effective relief.
A treatment lasts 60 -90 minutes. The client remains in their underwear and is covered in towels. You will be asked to lie in various positions, as the body is treated in a 3D way. The therapist intuitively palpates the tissue, feeling for areas of restriction. These areas are then treated with the therapist's hands softly sinking into the tissue, following the tissue into a stretch, holding and waiting for the area to soften or release. During a treatment you may find that the therapist spends time in one area for 5-8 minutes and that the pressure is very light, only a few areas are treated and that each session is different. This is all normal in Myofascial Release Therapy. You may feel deeply relaxed during and immediately after treatment.
My teacher, author Ruth Duncan, was privileged to be taught and trained by John F Barnes, the leading authority on Myofascial Release. You can find out more about him and how fascinating Myofascial Release Therapy is by clicking below.