Myofascial Release

I did my first course of Myofascial Release in 2006, which was inspired by the 10 part recipe as taught in Rolfing. Even thought it was effective, my poor fingers were struggling and the pain level clients experienced was also too much. I thus only used it sporadically within a massage treatment. 

 

Then in 2008 after having been given their leaflets at various occasions I met Ruth Duncan of Myofascial Release UK at CAM expo in London and enrolled on their level 1 course. 

 

This is the indirect and a much softer approach and I was blown away so much that I did all their courses and even went to the USA to study with the founder John Barnes.

With this approach, a gentle and sustained pressure is applied to the restricted tissue. Its skin on skin. After a minimum of 90-120 sec the tissue will start to change and a subtle lengthening release can be felt. This release is followed to the next barrier etc and after a few releases the tissue will feel softer and more flexible. This will take the pressure of pain sensitive structures such as nerves and blood vessels, helps to rehydrate the tissue and allows for better alignment and mobility of the joints.

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In 2013, I came across a book written by Noah Karrash, a Rolfer who developed his own approach to body work. The title was “Meet your body” and I devoured the book.  Even though I did a one day course at the time and had treatments from Noah, it was not until this March/April 2016 that I did two of his intensive CORE courses.

This approach to MFR is through clothes and requires a lot of client participation as in breathing, moving specific body parts and giving feedback.

Noah sees the body as a 6 pointed star (arms, legs, head and tail). When there are restrictions in the Core, the points get pulled in and everything tenses up. Releasing the Core has a big positive effect on the body.

 

 I find it so important to be aware that everything (muscles, bones, organs) in the body is connected through the connective tissue (fascia) and surrounded by it and also how important it is to breathe into the painful or restricted areas.

 

The fascia/ connective tissue of the body is a very important area of the body to work on and can have long lasting good results.