Boost your results by working with your fascia
Author: Meagan Roback, RMT
Have you ever had a practitioner work on your wrist and then you get off the table and your hips feel amazing - and they never touched your hips? Maybe not those locations specifically, but ever wonder how working or focusing on one part of the body can alleviate the pain or discomfort in another?
It’s all about fascia.
Alongside with joints, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, muscles and the skeleton, fascia is a fibrous tissue that keeps everything connected, separated, supported and nourished. I see it as your anatomical web of possibility for a number of reasons:
It’s far reaching: it’s everywhere in your body from the top of your head to the bottoms of your feet. Because it links everything physically, I have seen how working with one part of the body has a significant ripple effect in other areas. Even better, working with one area may be painful or not conducive for my client, but working with their fascia means that I can still get to their underlying issue, somewhere else in the body and alleviate that discomfort.
It’s progressive in nature: the human body is beautifully designed in layers, where each layer has different needs at different times - but they all work together. By attending to the needs of each layer and fascial line systematically, I have had the opportunity to literally watch each client unwind at the speed and intensity that is ideal for them. The absolutely best part - once a client opens the door to change (whether consciously or subconsciously), even after a prolonged absence of treatment, their body continues to shift into a more natural alignment ideal for them.
It’s highly effective: I’ve seen some pretty amazing postural changes in my clients, often significant changes after one or just a few visits - of course, provided self-care/after care instructions are being followed. I’ve also seen some amazing results with individuals who are very active and put a lot of strain on their bodies from running or working out vigorously.
It doesn’t "require" deep pressure: Although at times deep pressure is used - on an as needed basis - the beauty of fascia is that you don’t have to put so much pressure to cause pain or discomfort. Treatments tend to be more enjoyable for the recipient because they are getting the results without being bruised or having to hold their breath from the pain of too much pressure.
It takes the whole body into account: The foundation of my treatment philosophy is working with the whole body. I love hearing the amazement of my clients, when working with their feet can alleviate their back or neck pain, as an example. I get to work with a different part of the body and help balance the "problem" area without even touching it in some cases.
It helps connect in other ways: I’ve also noticed working with the fascia has several non-physical positive outcomes for my clients as well. The mind/body/spirit connection is real, and working with someone's posture, having them stand up tall, has a trickle effect on their mental and emotional well being as well - think of how we carry ourselves and how that relates to what we think and/or feel.
I could go one and on about all the things that I love about working with fascia. If you’re curious about how I can help you, you can book a registered massage appointment here.
Special note: if you are interested in taking a more active role and cost effective approach in working with your fascia, I highly recommend checking out some fabulous and seasoned practitioners who are well versed in working with fascia, and they offer both virtual private sessions and virtual group classes:
Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. The content provided is for informational purposes only. Use of the content provided on this blog post is at your sole discretion.