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Myofascial Release

Fascia is an extensive network of connective tissue that lends support to every structure in your body. It is an intelligent, fluid matrix involved in every movement and life process within your body. When the fascia becomes restricted due to injury, bracing against pain, poor posture and even emotional stress, the fibers can exert a great deal of pressure on surrounding cells and tissues, resulting in pain.

In traditional medicine we have been taught to compartmentalize dysfunction. If you have a headache, the problem must be in your head and neck. In Myofascial Release (MFR), we take a more holistic approach. Knowing that the fascia is a network of interrelated tissues, like the fibers in a spider web, we know that a restriction in one area of the body may influence a seemingly unrelated part.

Where did Myofascial Release come from?
MFR is the life work of John F. Barnes, a renowned physical therapist. John suffered a debilitating back injury in his 20s and ultimately healed himself with techniques we know of today as MFR. When I took John’s MFR1 seminar he said, “I noticed that when I was holding the areas of pain for longer amounts of time, that was when I noticed the most improvement.” As he experimented with the technique, he started to notice that by applying firm, but gentle continuous pressure, it seemed to give the body a chance to release and “unwind.”

Part of being an MFR practitioner is developing enough sensitivity through my hands to “listen” to the body. As the body senses safety, it can then relax and release. This is at the heart of this therapeutic treatment, and why I believe in it so much. This is natural healing at its best.

How does it work?
I place my hands on the body and let them settle softly into the tissues. Next, I apply gentle traction or compression. Then I “listen” for a series of subtle releases that will manifest in your body in a variety of ways.

Some people feel a tingling or a twitch in a muscle, warmth, or even experience spontaneous movement. The important thing is just to experience whatever is happening. Being able to connect into your own experience is part of the process. The body knows what it needs to do.

As your practitioner, I ground myself into the experience and then observe how your body responds. This gives me important clues about the best course of treatment for you. I will ask for your feedback, which is also an important part of the process.

Why do I believe in it?
We have two of the greatest healing tools in the history of the world right at our fingertips: our hands. Our sense of touch is just another way to communicate with the body and effect change.

How long will it take to see results with MFR?
With a few consecutive weeks of treatment, you may notice significant shifts. I let your body’s response to treatment guide me in the type of touch I use and the places where I lay my hands.