Fascia Release Work
Fascia is the connective tissue that links every tissue in the body. It is one continuous structure that exists from head to toe without interruption, covering and interpenetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. In this way you can see that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater. There is no separation of parts when we view the body through the fascia system.
By engaging with the fascia, holding it, and moving WITH it at a slow and steady pace, the tissues can soften, melt and unwind back into their ideal location and motility. The body knows how to get back to it's place of comfort and homeostasis. My hands palpate for the fascial restrictions, hold them, and feel how the tissue wants, and needs to shift in order to create a more harmonious, and open feeling in the body. Since it is a continual sheath of tissue, opening up one restriction can unwind, and smooth out another side of the network, and efficiently open up the pathways in between the two, creating a broader spaciousness in the body.
Fascia plays an important role in the support and function of our bodies, since it surrounds and attaches to all structures. In the normal healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. When one experiences physical trauma, emotional trauma, scarring, or inflammation, however, the fascia loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted, and a source of tension to the rest of the body. Trauma, such as a fall, car accident, whiplash, surgery, or just habitual poor posture, and repetitive stress injuries has cumulative effects on the body. Fascial restrictions affect our flexibility and stability, and are a determining factor in our ability to withstand stress and perform daily activities. But, when properly cared for, it can be restored, softened, and integrated back into a comfortable, expanded, nourished system.