Myofascial Release

“Mr. Barnes,  My name is Olga, and I am almost done with my Massage AS degree from Keiser University in West Palm Beach, FL.  I am working on a research paper on Myofascial Release.  I admire your contribution and passion for what you do.  My question is, what advice can you give to new graduates that are entering into the massage field?” Thanks, Olga

Dear Olga, John has been giving seminars “back to back” for the last few weeks and has been unable to answer your question.  I am posting your question on the blog so that other Myofascial therapists may give you some insight.

Thanks,

Melanie Henderson, MS, PT

Physical Therapist

Paoli Myofascial Release Center

    The fascial system, the nervous and circulatory systems, snowflakes, lightning, crystals, river networks, and maybe the underlying electromagnetic vibration of all structures in nature may have “fractal” characteristics. 

     Wikipedia defines a “fractal” as a rough geometric shape that appears similar at all levels of magnification.  The fractal’s properties of self-similarity are terms coined by the mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot in 1975. 

     The word fractal was derived from the Latin “fractus” meaning fractured.  Why should we care?  Because all of the different health professions taught linear principles.  So what?  Our bodies are not linear!  Our fascial system is nonlinear and requires very different principles that when added to massage or bodywork, will greatly enhance your results. 

    Myofascial Release expands our ability to help others by exploring deeper dimensions of the human experience: Fractal geometry, non-linearity, complexity, and chaos theory.  This is an exciting time to be a therapist.  We are at a “tipping point”.   

     Before we go into more depth of these important concepts, it would be interesting to hear your comments or questions. 

John