The One Rule of Effective Fascial Release - And Why Massage Doesn't 'Release' Fascia

// 2023 CHANNEL UPDATE //

I’ve moved on from Mobility Mastery (self fascia release) in order to focus on teaching Kinetix, my method of root cause discovery for pain and dis-ease that involves partner fascia release as a “diagnostics” (and regeneration) tool. Kinetix is a complete scientific methodology that I teach to friends, partners and professionals alike inside The Kinetix Academy.

My other primary focus will be the launch and growth of a new podcast and Substack community called The Human Freedom Project.

// NEW CONTENT ON YOUTUBE //

Sometime in 2023 I will return to YouTube with HFP podcast episodes and content created to help you know and understand yourself as a whole organism made of body, soul and spirit. This content will feature the Kinetix methodology, pain science, fascia secrets I’ve learned from 15+ years in private practice, neuroscience and evolving beyond the brain, trauma and the body, and more! I’m excited to go on this new adventure with you.

*********** // VIDEO DESCRIPTION // **********

For a DEMONSTRATION of compress and movement based fascia release, I recommend watching any of my free fascia release videos.

The quad and hip flexor fascia is my #1 pick for helping alignment and structural issues from head to toe, because of the role this fascia plays in pelvic instability and glute inhibition.

WHY IS FASCIA RESISTANT TO CHANGE?

Fascia is almost as strong as steel. Fascia has its own pain receptors and it can contract independent of muscle tissue. One of its primary jobs is to protect us. Protect us from what? From impact and direct hits to the body, from mechanical stress which could injure our bones and joints (mechanical stress is anything from jumping and running to standing on your feet all day), and from potential threats to our vital organs if we were ever attacked while unconscious (this is the primary reason fascia can contract independent of muscle tissue, but other reasons include to move LYMPH fluid and rid the body of toxins).

WHAT MUST YOU DO TO RELEASE FASCIA?

When I talk about compression and movement, I'm talking about an outside force (such as a foam roller, lacrosse ball or a foot as in Kinetix - my method of fascia release that involves stepping on people) compressing the fascia and muscle tissue to the BONE; then, the movement needs to come from the muscle and fascia of your own body. If the outside force is trying to push in with the intention to manipulate and change the fascia, the fascia is likely to go into protect mode, especially if it's intense. And trying to change fascia with muscle force is like trying to mold steel with your bare hands!

WHY IS IT UNLIKELY THAT MASSAGE 'RELEASES' FASCIA?

As I mention in this video, I was a massage therapist trained in the Thomas Myers style of myofascial massage. I was also trained to do orthopedic massage, trained not to use oils or lotions but my bare hands instead because that is what remolds fascia. I did massage for a year, and was frustrated that the results we achieved in session never lasted. I myself was in pain, went through massage school with very skilled instructors and never got out of pain using massage. It wasn't until I started stepping on people that my clients got out of pain, and they were getting out of pain in 1-3 sessions. The method I learned initially is a form of fascial stretching, but I modified it into a compression and SHEARING method that actually 'releases' fascia.

When I use the word "release" I mean it quite literally. You can touch fascia with massage, you can contact it, you can massage it, knead it, go over knots and adhesions...but it doesn't shear apart under your hands. It's almost impossible to control the amount of weight (compression) necessary to change fascia with your hands. You can absolutely change fascia with massage, but it's RARE. It takes a very skilled therapist who knows what they are doing, and it takes and educated client who knows how to breathe and let the process happen without protecting (tensing up).

[ryanrhodes]

The key is movement! Get out of bad muscle memory to feel relief.
Every Day! If you hurt, get moving and stretching. You wont get better by sitting still.
If you use it wrong or dont use it, you loose it✌

[TaraBW]

Myofascial Release and cupping affects the fascia.
Both used in massage therapy

[marnim]

Thank you for sharing your experience. As a massage therapist highly trained in myofascial release, I was really disappointed in your video. You were absolutely correct in that a Swedish/relaxation massage will not do much to change the fascia. It takes skill and training to learn to release fascia, but a massage therapist can absolutely change the fascia, you just need to find the right one.

[marial]

I’m surprised to see people so upset over her video, but I can understand, the problem is that this is quite complex and she could probably talk for hours! I really appreciated the video and completely understand and 100% agree with her. I have found working on my own body that when I find the “tension point” through meditation-guided body awareness I will hold it there and then “find” a trigger point belonging to that web of tension and press, and simultaneously very slowly move that area in the different “lines” of tension. The movements have to be very subtle or else I will “step out” of the line of tensions. Anyways, I believe science will one day make drugs for healing fascial inflamation (yes it will become recognized as an organ and as such monetized). I also have my own theory, that some people have “hyperfascia” so their fascia tends to grow abnormally really fast if they get injured. Then there’s the spiritual connection to fascia... I’m not a masseuse or PT or anything medical I’m just fascinated by fascia (I guess I have a fascial fascination haha). I think the fascia “hold” information that if we could one day use an imaging device to visualize would revolutionize healthcare. We could see where on the body there are fascial constructions and inflammation and adhesions all that. And also see how a person “holds” their body to diagnose mental illnesses.... potentially... or gain on insight on a persons mental or physical status. I’ve almost thought about going back to school to study fascia. My pt said I respond really well to myofascial therapy, I literally experience profound healing from 1 session, so much that I almost felt like I was on drugs when I left and my forehead felt like it was melting. I think good therapy like this causes the body to release certain chemicals, but the person also needs to be receptive to it. One last thing, when I feel profoundly relaxed (something that rarely happens inside my body as I have a condition that I WILL heal from I don’t even like saying what it is because it gives the “disease” more power) so when I feel profoundly relaxed inside my body (like my muscles have finally “let go” I become magically aware of all my fascial constrictions... it’s like a deep part of my brain turns on.. that healthy part before this disease that intuitively knows proper body alignment without any cognition just pure feeling... and then I will feel the fascially constricted places all at once as I become aware of “two layers” in my body, the “defective” fascial body “suit” and my pure “energetic” (neurologically connected to health and correct body alignment that we “know” is right from birth) body that is far more profoundly experienced than the fascial body suit... it’s like a light turns on and I realized that my fascia is just a “body suit” that I am wearing... I am not my fascia. The key or rather the journey is to integrate this fascia body suit into my “energetic” suit, and to do so I need to break the fascial deformities/restrictions. Because what I feel when I say fascial body suit is more like “restricted” fascial body suit. Once the restrictions are gone the fascia is no longer something separate from my naturally aligned body state (or energy state or neurological equilibrium whatever you want to call it).

[manfredg]

@Elisha I am watching this video in 2023. It’s amazing. I see lots of value in it. Also the fact that you respect your time and make it short enough to convey your experiences

[goldmundbyrne]

This is incredibly useful - I’ve totally been telling people that with careful, gentle breathing and movement with daringly, gently, patiently focused intent, you can very slowly, over time, move your fascia. I had a massive injury 15 years ago that i’ve been gradually improving, for some time - using this philosophic approach. Just subscribed after seeing this one video - I hope I find more things on the subject when I have time to come back

[VolcanicLioness]

I've told that my body responds beautifully to any form of holistic healing. I think the main reason why is because when a practitioner is working on me, I tell myself "okay, this is healing my body, this is healing my body" throughout the whole session. And it always works!

[josephestatico]

As A massage therapist that works with the fascia daily, and has helped many a client by releasing it, your video is very miss leading and only your opinion. As long as you take your time and follow what the body tells you, you can change and free the fascia to release chronic pain and restricted ROM.

[patriciacrawford]

I must say that this is the most informative and interesting comments section I've ever read on yt... thanks to everyone who posted on this informative video 🙏😊

[marcdimarc]

YOu do not have to generalize your point about massage.. there are different techniques in the massage field that address the fascia..

[carminecavaliere]

She is correct that compression and movement is the key, just a massage would not create that, unless there is movement like elishe says i have noticed improvement in my hips in under 2 weeks so far, i find it also takes commitment with the fascia

[mikefocus]

Releasing fascia is one of most common parts of massage!!

[kittendivine]

I can't really imagine what compression+movement would look like versus the other methods. I would like to see practical demonstrations and visuals.

[Lucyelle]

I am new this this and so glad to have found out this video from 7 years back. At 3:20 she talks about how pain can change when we engage all the bodily and mental systems involved with fascia. Looking forward for more

[Spinachtiger]

Misleading title. You gave nothing and I disagree about massage. It has helped me immensely.

[leoneranger]

Makes sense. Thanks for the explanation- very useful!

[domenicakuwait]

Thai massage and Shiatsu work because they are based in the 12 meridian (electromagnetic path) system. The energy flows, fascia releases when one knows keypoints on the meridian systems. Trigger point therapy is like a 'western' version of using the meridians. This might be what she is trying to explain not knowing about meridians or just not thinking people would understand.

[feenixrose]

Yes! I agree with your analogy. I have been a massage therapist for 18 years and it is my opinion that sustained stretch (to heat up adhesions in the fascia) with compression and active skeletal movement is key to affecting change in this myofascial webbing, which can be achieved with certain kinds of massage techniques but for most approachs to massage, in addition to the relaxation effect is the blood and lymph fluid boost of movement within the body. I think of massage like giving the inside of the body a "bath". An internal cleanse of the body and mind. I am also a yoga instructor and I utilize myofascial release techniques in the yoga class format.

[juancarlosgonzalez]

This makes sense to me.
Try doing Tai Chi or any other internal art for a couple of years and see for yourself how much time and repetition it takes fascia to truly undergo significant change.

With that said, I don’t think she’s saying massage therapy or myofascial releases are useless. Just that if you want long lasting change, perhaps you need to put a little work in yourself to preserve that change instead of hoping someone else will do it for you.

[awakenasleepsheep]

I just FOUND YOUR CHANNEL. You never realize how much you USE SOMETHING UNTIL YOU HURT IT!!! I have had many accidents and will benefit from this very much!!! Bless you and yours. I am now a new subscriber now. Thank you so much!!! 🙏❤🇺🇸😊