Published on: March 17, 2019
Last updated: March 22, 2020
I started seeing CJ at Lymphworks in for myofascial release in 2008. A novice to myofascial release at that time, I had no idea how much more beneficial this technique is than regular massage.
What is myofascial release you ask?
Well, let's start with an answer to something more basic.
What is fascia?
Fascia is the webbing that connects our tissues and wraps around muscle (hence the term myofascia) and bodily organs (visceral fascia) and connects skin to underlying tissues (superficial fascia). If you've ever had a surgery, the doctor had to move through your fascial layer to reach the tissue or organ that needed repair or removal.
Tightness in the myofascia due to postural misalignment or trauma can result in pain within the body or in my case, tingling down my right leg (due to my hips being slightly misaligned). I'd been to a western medical doctor already and having found no Western Medicine answer to my malady, I resorted to alternative medicine.
What to expect during a session
During my first myofascial release session, CJ gently pulled one leg lifting it up and then down, and I could FEEL the release in my hip. You see, myofascial release is kind of a combination of traditional massage and something else... physically pushing and holding an area to feel the connective fascia release beneath the hold. Gently pulling, pushing, or rotating a limb to get release in a joint. And, here's the thing about myofascial release...
the effects are lasting.
Like most alternative medicine treatments, it's not a one and done fix, but the fact of the matter is that if you commit to treatment as often as you need it (once a week or once every other week in the beginning), over time, your fascia is trained in a way so that postural problems are corrected and fascia at points of trauma remain opened instead of tightly bound.
It is possible to reduce the number of myofascial release sessions to once monthly and then once every other month and then gradually (if you're one of the lucky ones like myself) to NOT need a practitioner's maintenance at all (I practice yoga one to two times weekly and also conduct my own hip release exercises on an as needed basis to maintain the correction).
For more about myofascial release, check out the article here: Yoga Journal Article about Myofascia
And, if you're lucky enough to live in the Fort Collins area, check out Lymphworks for myofascial release.
About the Author
Brandy's a formulation scientist and self-proclaimed health geek who loves hiking, gardening, bird-watching, and body boarding.
Her struggle with acne during her teens and 20s led to a holistic and healthy approach to skincare, embracing skin as an organ to be loved and cared for rather than a canvas to wage war on.
Since 2008, she's been developing all-in-one products for a simple routine at home, & Rain Organica started when her backpacking friends asked for a portable skincare routine to keep their skin healthy & happy on and off the trails.
You can try Rain Organica for yourself with The Essentials Kit, a complete skincare routine in just 3 steps.
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