What is a session like?
Certified in Reiki and Myofascial Release Technique (MFR), I bring both modalities into each session to create a powerful experience that promotes the release of trapped pain, stored trauma and suppressed emotions in the physical body. What does this mean? It means I use a combination of intuitive energy clearing and fascia manipulation to relieve your body of the weight or pain it’s been carrying.
Each session I facilitate is unique and client driven. I never come into a session with an agenda or plan. Instead, I listen with intention and allow your body to guide and show me where and how it needs to be supported.
Unlike traditional massage therapy or chiropractic work, fascial release work consists of long, intentional holds. There is no cracking or adjustment of bones and there is no deep muscle massage. Instead, the practitioner uses continuous touch to gently manipulate and release the fascia. While still incredibly relaxing, a fascial release session will often focus on one or two targeted areas, instead of massaging the entire body.
During the session, clients undress to a comfortable level (ideally loose fitting shorts, tops, sports bra, etc) and lay on a massage table for the duration of the session. Depending on the session, clients will likely spend part of the time on your back and part of the time on your stomach.
Most importantly - don't forget each session is YOUR healing time! While I'll be the one facilitating and holding space, you are in the driver's seat. Feedback is welcomed and appreciated so please speak up. This is your healing experience and I hope for you to feel empowered throughout the entirety of our time together.
What is fascia?
Fascia is the connective tissue that connects your muscles to your bones.
Per John Hopkins Medicine:
Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in place. The tissue does more than provide internal structure; fascia has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin. When stressed, it tightens up.
Although fascia looks like one sheet of tissue, it’s actually made up of multiple layers with liquid in between called hyaluronan. It’s designed to stretch as you move. But
there are certain things that cause fascia to thicken and become sticky. When it dries up and tightens around muscles, it can limit mobility and cause painful knots to develop.
One small “kink” in the fascia casing can result in pain and restriction in multiple areas of the body; it’s a ripple effect. The purpose of an MFR session is to release those knots and, therefore, alleviate pain and restriction.
What is fascial manipulation?
As described by John F. Barnes, founder of the MFR technique:
Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. This essential “time element” has to do with the viscous flow and the piezoelectric phenomenon: a low load (gentle pressure) applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic medium (fascia) to elongate.
Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc).
