The Art of Myofascial Release

The practice of myofascial release is both science and art.  Having knowledge of the body and its intricate systems is important.  Awareness of diagnoses and their related symptoms and precautions increases safety during treatment.  An understanding of the interconnectedness of how the brain affects the body and the body affects the brain is key.  This knowledge along with training and experience creates skill.  A skill to feel tissues and movement within the body.  This is where the art begins.  Listening with your hands as well as your ears.  Communicating with the patient and encouraging them to share what they feel.  Helping them to listen to their fascial voice.  We often begin a session where the client feels the most discomfort which may be pain or may be tightness. Everyone describes what they are feeling differently. After each release, the client is encouraged to share what they felt. Sometimes they feel sensations such as tingling, warmth or pulling in areas of the body away from where we are working.  This is the fascial voice.  It is the body sending a signal telling us to work there. If they don’t feel the sensation I use my skill and senses to determine where to go next.  This is based on a combination of my knowledge of the body and where I felt the lines of pull in the body during the previous technique.  After treating people for 25 years I have learned to appreciate the uniqueness of each person who trusts me with their body and mind.  I am continually amazed at how the body speaks to us and guides the work.