Myofascial Release

In my years of exploring different massage modalities, working with the fascia has been by far the most effective for long term change and pain relief in the body.

I am trained in the John F Barnes Myofascial Release techniques. In this modality, I am working with both the muscles (myo) and the fascia that surrounds them. Fascia is essentially all of the connective tissue of our body; a continuous web which surrounds our whole body underneath the skin, but also every single muscle, muscle fibre, bone, organ, nerve, tendon, joint…even down to every individual cell. For a long time it was simply ignored by scientists and even thrown away during dissections, however thankfully, now we are starting to recognise the vital role it has in the tension patterns and physical form of our body.

A very common response after getting up from the table is ‘I just feel so much lighter!’, and to feel great freedom in your body movements.

SESSION FEES

1 hr £60

1.5 hrs £80

2 hrs £100

2.5 hrs £120

3 hrs £140

1hr is to focus on one or two particular areas, 1.5hrs upwards full body. In the longer sessions I can also include energy healing and/or womb and abdominal massage. Each session will start with a short consultation to determine your needs and where I will work.

As with any therapy, having multiple sessions over a period of time (1-4 weeks spacing) is the most effective way to receive the full benefits of this work.

I’m more than happy to offer concession prices if you’re on a low income or are a single mother, as I want this work to be accessible. Please get in touch and we can see if we can work something out.

How does myofascial release work?

Myofascial release is well known for being effective at treating locked muscles, physical pain, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. This is because where there is chronic tension and strain, the fascia thickens and hardens, irritating the nerves passing through it and making movement more difficult where it has tightened, dried out or there are adhesions. Also, all nerves and blood vessels run through the fascia, so if it is tight, the associated tissues will have poor nutrient exchange. This leads to toxic metabolic waste products building up, aggravating pain receptors and causing inflammation, especially combined with how the nerves can be overstretched in this instance too. This can create more muscle tension and further limit mobility, as the fascia is involved in holding the twists of body movement and rotations in our joints.

The myofascial release techniques help to stretch, loosen and rehydrate the tissues so it can be more supple and resilient, and restore glide to the nerves and sheaths of the muscles.

Myofascial release is working directly on skin without oil, and typically involves slow, sustained pressure in long holds (90 seconds to 8 minutes) stretching the fascia, waiting for, rather than forcing, it to release. Depending on what your body needs, I may also do some soft tissue shiatsu-style and trigger point work over the blanket to warm up the body and settle you into the session.

During the long holds, I am waiting for the pressure and heat to cause a biochemical reaction within the fascia, which scientific studies have shown causes the release of several hormones into the body which deeply support immune system function and also the removal of signalling proteins which build up during ‘fight or flight’ responses. The release of interleukin 8 in particular is highly anti-inflammatory, meaning that this hands-on therapy stimulates the body’s own natural self-healing mechanisms.

“That was incredible, I can’t believe it! I’ve spent so long feeling crooked through my shoulders and hips and after one session I’m standing straight again. You have such wise hands, like old hands, very confident and sure. Thank you!”

— Matt —

FASCIA FACTS

  • If you removed everything in your body except the fascia, the fascia would stay exactly the same shape as your body. Not just collapse! This means it is responsible for the shape of your body, for where the tension and movement patterns are, and for how your body holds itself up in relation to gravity (your posture). It is sometimes referred to as the ‘organ of form’.

  • The fascial web can produce a tensile strength of 2,000 lb per square inch! It is this fascial strength that holds the body together, maintaining its shape and enabling movement… or creating excess continuous strain on the body (and therefore pain, chronic fatigue etc.) if the fascia is stuck, tight or dry.

  • Fascia contains 6x more nerve endings than muscles and communicates information 1000x faster than the biochemical/neuronal signalling. This makes fascia incredibly sensitive to change and makes it a communication system in its own right - one that works incredibly fast to communicate feelings before they are registered consciously

Close up images of fascia

LISTEN here to fascinating podcasts all about the wonders of fascia and power of myofascial release therapy:

https://theadultchair.com/podcasts/test1/

https://mythicmedicine.love/podcast/lindsay-courcelle

Find on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

You’ve probably seen fascia before if you cook meat - it’s the see-through gelatinous stretchy film which you might observe between the skin and muscle of a raw chicken. It’s rich in strong collagenous fibres, stretchy elastin fibres, and high in water content, acting as a viscous filmy web which holds and transmits an enormous amount of tensile force as we move our bodies through daily life.

Fascia, Emotions and the Nervous System

Myofascial release can be very powerful for releasing emotions, as it works with the memory stored within the waters of our body: our living matrix of quantum information travelling around the viscous fascial web.

Fascial techniques also work directly with the nervous system due to the high density of verve endings in the fascia. This can support down-regulating the body out of ‘fight or flight’, or up-regulating out of ‘freeze response’, increasing the nervous system capacity to function as it’s designed and respond effectively to your environment. This can help you to both be able to ‘calm down’ from anxiety to relax and deeply rest, and to access more energy within yourself as your body is no longer using energy fighting the tension and strain produced by the fascia.

It is incredibly effective for releasing trauma from the body, working with both the nervous system and emotions, and allowing space for the fascia to ‘unwind’ the chronic tensions and patterns that it has been holding, bringing freedom back into the body, mind and spirit.