Myofascial Massage

Myofascial massage: This can be an effective self-massage tool we can apply to ourselves to release restrictions & tightness that can form within our fascia. Which can contribute to painful conditions & affect our posture & overall physical functionality/well-being.

In its natural state, fascia is a complex three-dimensional web of free-moving structural tissue that constantly shapes & reshapes itself in response to our general movements & physical habits of holding, in addition to responding to how we manage stress & our emotions.

In its healthy state, fascia glides & moves seamlessly to distribute tension, maintain balance & stability in the body & assist with our flexibility & our joint mobility.

Use of massage balls or foam rollers

Self-massage techniques aim to target trigger points in the body & release tension in the connective tissues (fascia). The balls aim to restore the fascia, remove mobility restrictions, build tissue resilience & release tension in common areas of the body – head, neck, shoulders, arms, back, hips, legs & feet. For the best result, it takes only 30 seconds to 2/3 minutes at each trigger point. It feels like a deep tissue self-massage, & sometimes we can use props to add the massage – increase the pressure or decrease it to make it more comfortable.

We are affecting the whole fascia line/system using these self-massage techniques. For example, working with a ball on the front of the thigh can affect the fascia network & more distant body parts that run through the front body. Same as the back body/side-body/spiral through the torso. There is a TRANSMISSION EFFECT through the fascia network. Our FASCIA system looks chaotic, but it isn’t. It is part of a very efficient system.

The Benefits

Hydrates the tissues
Enhance tissues strength, mobility & communication
Restore motion
Injury prevention
Influence sensory nerves & body-wide intelligence
Improve neuromuscular connection
Eliminate pain
Physical, mental & emotional release
Self-healing capacity
Promote the flow of Qi/energy and blood circulation

When working with the ball or foam roller, we focus on specific trigger points within the body.
A trigger point – a variation of a similar deep tissue massage, we are using the ball to apply pressure into specific muscle spots, focusing on areas of tension & tightness. It is very gentle compared to a deep tissue massage & more superficial; we are trying to focus on stretching out the fascia right underneath the skin. When we apply pressure using the ball, the fluid/water is squeezed out of the tissues & then it is sucked back in when the ball is removed. It’s like squeezing a sponge over the sink & allowing it to fill again. This helps to improve the elasticity of the arteries, which results in better circulation.

We know when we are hitting the right trigger point when we have a balance of pleasure/pain. We should never complete the technique where it causes so much pain that you have to grind your teeth; this will cause the muscles to contract & only make them tighter. It should be a 3-5 ratio, where 0 is no pain, and ten is intolerable. You should feel refreshed & relaxed after the session.

Remember always to work mindfully & slowly, tuning in to the body’s sensations.

Dive deeper into self healing techniques including Myofascial massage, Myoyin & Acuyin, teacher development & all the fundamentals to the Yin yoga practice.

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