Fascial Release
Myofascial Release and Unwinding
Today a lot of my work is focused on enabling you to move more easily and alleviating your pain and discomfort. Your posture may start to improve too.
I encourage movement in my work with you by guiding and reassuring.
This hands-on work is Myofascial Release
The treatment
Initially, and in confidence, prior to the hands-on treatment we’ll have a consultation in person or through phone or Email.
This will cover how you feel and move on a day to day basis and how any restrictions may have happened
My work is gentle, slow and sustained. The restrictions need time to release. You’ll probably feel the heat of my hands as your soft tissue begins to ease.
I listen to your body’s feedback. This is known as “listening touch”*.
As the release happens there is a feeling of melting and gliding of the tissue. The most powerful will occur in moments of apparent stillness.
I combine myofascial release with simple movement, unwinding ** and breathe work
*Listening touch is the ability to tune into the tissues, sense the restrictions and be patient.
After the treatment
You may feel looser right away. Mild tenderness can happen for a day or two and that is completely normal. Drink water. Most importantly, from my point of view, listen to your body. What is it saying to you? I need to rest, I need a walk. Be kind to yourself before life takes over again.
How many sessions do I need?
It depends on your goals and how long you’ve had the issue and what the route cause is.
Hopefully you’ll feel some change after the first treatment. However, long-standing patterns do best with a short series of hands-on combined with simple movement.
What is fascia?
Fascia is a tough web of connective tissue continuous throughout the body. It holds us together. It wraps around our muscles, bones, nerves and organs. It helps everything glide and work together. It has been described as a 3 dimensional body stocking that envelops each nerve and every structure of the body: the tiniest nerve has its own fascial sheath.
When fascia gets tight or stuck through stress, trauma, both physical and emotional, injuries, surgery, or even long hours at a desk you can feel stiffness, pain, discomfort , and restriction in movement.
In its normal hydrated healthy state fascia has the ability to stretch and move without restriction but due to postural imbalances, accidents, emotional trauma, or repetitive strain issues. As fascia is continuous throughout the body a restriction in one part will affect every other part as it has huge tensile strength and can exert enormous force and be a major factor in pain issues.
If you’re not sure whether fascial release is right for you, and would like to know more, please get in touch and we can have a chat.
**Unwinding and Trauma
John F. Barnes is an internationally recognized physical therapist, lecturer, author, and the leading authority on Myofascial Release.
John Barnes’ approach to unwinding
Fascia is affected by either physical and or emotional trauma.
Emotional Trauma will cause fascia to dehydrate, stiffen and harden just as much as physical trauma.
When both are present memories and emotional responses are encoded in the fascia in the exact 3 dimensional position in space the client took when the event took place.
If these responses are not resolved the mind-body will continue on its way as if the event was still happening. The body takes on holding or bracing patterns as if still living or anticipating the event. Emotional responses will be released when the mind body reassumes the position in space in which the fascia has locked away the responses. The cognitive mind and the unconscious mind will often prevent the body from assuming that position in space again on order to prevent release of the trauma.
When the client’s mind-body is aware that healing is imminent or possible and trusts the practitioner the client will spontaneously move until the position is attained. This is unwinding.
