Not only do Myofascial restrictions create pain, headaches, and the symptoms of Fibromyalgia, but they also seem to speed the aging process internally and externally.
In my Myofascial Release I seminar, I teach therapists the importance of doing self treatment, so they can treat themselves and so they can also teach their clients to treat themselves. As the therapists take my advanced Myofascial Release seminars, those that take my advice of doing regular self treatment state that they look and feel younger!
Over the years from habitual pain expressions, grimacing, and gravity the fascia tightens and deepens the lines and wrinkles in one’s face and neck. Of the many techniques that I teach is the “fascial facial”. These techniques can provide a much more youthful appearance to your face and neck.
Obviously, the internal beauty of physiological health is also very important. The environment of every cell, the fascia’s ground substance, ideally should be fluid. Trauma and thwarted inflammatory responses tend to solidify the ground substance. This limits the amounts of oxygen, nutrition, biochemicals, hormones, information and energy that the 50 trillion cells receive. The pressure of the restricted fascial system is interfering with the delicate inner mechanisms of the cell. Recent research is showing that debris, waste products, and toxins that become trapped in the cell may be what can lead to the decline of the aging process.
I believe the solidification of the ground substance blocks cellular excretion and does not allow this and the toxins to reach the lymphatic system so they become trapped and cannot flush out to purify cells.
I believe that excessive pressure and dehydration of the fascia’s ground substance forces our molecules to tangle and stiffen with age. Cross links form, gluing the molecules together. Cross links stiffen our collagen and make our skin wrinkle. Chemists call this the advanced glycation end products, AGE.
The goal of Myofascial Release is to release the cross links and eliminate the pressure on our cells and their important environment.
Thanks,
John
For more information about Myofascial Release, you can now access two separate excerpts from the Fireside Chat with John F. Barnes, PT DVD on ‘You Tube’! Just click on the following links:
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWRuS9xAbMo
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWRuS9xAbMo>
Part 2
21 responses so far ↓
Joyce Patterson // Jul 30th 2010 at 2:42 pm
There is so much fear for many women when it is determined that there is anything “abnormal” in the breast region. And many feel they are at the mercy of mother nature and the medical community.
As has already been mentioned, the breast area is easily accessible and treated with self-treatment. I love to see the look on my female patient’s faces when they learn that there is something they can do for themselves to address breast issues. They are empowered to be more proactive in their own care and health.
Joyce Patterson, PT
Ann Udofia, DPT // Jul 31st 2010 at 12:54 pm
John thank you for writing about this topic. Often times my patients comment on how their MFR treatments have made them feel and look younger!
The ‘fascial facial’ technique is one of my favorite techniques and one that I perform with a lot of my patients. After performing this particular technique with a relatively new patient of mine, along with other great cranial and cervical-thoracic techniques John teaches at the MFR Seminars nationwide. My patient expressed her surprise on how heavy and exhausted her entire body felt of all of a sudden especially her eyes and face.
I explained to her as John does when this common response is shared during seminars: Your body uses up a whole lot of energy to hold onto these subconscious holding patterns, whether it’s in the form of toxins and waste products or emotional holding patterns. No wonder it’s so tired!
At her follow up session a week later, she expressed how much lighter and energized she felt. We also had a chuckle when her 4 yr old son said to her; “Mummy, Daddy is right! You don’t look like you’re mad at everyone anymore!”
This work is absolutely amazing. Thank you John!
Ann Udofia, DPT
Cliff of PT Health // Aug 2nd 2010 at 2:29 am
Hi John,
I’ve been interested on the subject upon reading this article. How can i look younger?
I am a 40 year old women ,i have just started walking and sticking to a good diet. I am not having a mid life crises but trying to make the best of myself ,i now have more time on my hands as all my children are now at school. Any tips or advice on looking and feeling younger or even feeling tip top.
Thanks,
Cliff
John Barnes // Aug 2nd 2010 at 1:58 pm
Dear Cliff,
Myofascial Release repeatedly allows us to look and feel much younger. What nutritionists and other advocates of vitamins and nutritional supplements, etc. may not fully understand is the role that the fascial system plays at the cellular level. One can eat a very healthy diet and take the best nutritional supplements, but the presence of fascial restrictions affecting at the cellular level can block nutrients, supplements, energy, oxygen, biochemicals, and hormones from reaching the cell properly. I like to use the analogy of pouring water over a stone: the stone gets wet on the surface, but not in the interior where it needs it the most. The following is a blog of mine titled, “Pouring water on a stone” and will help to explain this concept in a little more detail for you.
Pouring Water on a stone:
Recently Sheila Walker posted the following thread on hydration and posed this question to me:
“Dear John,
It seems we’ve become a society obsessed with the notion of hydration, as witnessed by the blooming bottled water industry. Seems as though, everywhere you go, you can see people with their water bottles in tow. Could you please share your thoughts on how relevant our fascial system correlates with cellular hydration and therefore how to improve the effectiveness of keeping ourselves truly hydrated?”
As Sheila has observed, everyone is walking around with their cute little water bottles, guzzling copious amounts of water. This is about as effective as pouring water over a stone. The surface becomes wet, but the water never penetrates to the interior.
The “stones” I am referring to are the collagenous restrictions of the fascial system that do not show up in any of the standard testing now being done. The “ground substance” of the fascial system, the environment of every cell of our body, should be a gelatinous to a fluid state. When we undergo trauma or a “thwarted” inflammatory process, the ground substance dehydrates. As the cellular environment, the fascial system, hardens it produces crushing pressure on the cells and blocks the flow of water, nutrition, oxygen, hormones, and/or medicine into the cell’s interior. These fascial restrictions also block the excretion of toxins from the cell.
So, unfortunately no matter how much water, nutrition, or supplements that you may take in, in the presence of fascial restrictions, it doesn’t get to where your body needs it the most. This is why I say, without Myofascial Release, the intention of drinking plenty of water is good, but it is as effective as pouring water over a stone! Myofascial Release enhances cellular function and internal health.
Myofascial Release has so many important principles and subtleties that it cannot be fully described on the internet. Taking a Myofascial Release seminar is the only way to truly learn Myofascial Release for the benefit of yourself and others. For more information about our seminars, you can click on the following direct link to our website. (http://www.myofascialrelease.com/fascia_massage/public/seminars_professionals.asp )
Thanks for your question!
Sincerely,
John
Aaron LeBauer // Aug 2nd 2010 at 2:53 pm
John,
You are so right. People who take care of themselves, especially using self myofascial release treatment techniques, do look and feel younger. Once the myofascial restriction is released, a person can move so much better, allowing for more pain free activities and exercise.
Thanks for a great blog post!
Aaron LeBauer PT, DPT
http://www.LeBauerPT.com
Abigail Buktenica LMT // Aug 2nd 2010 at 3:42 pm
I have found that my clients who drink water through out the day, post-treatment session, tend to have less therapeutic pain, in general, than the ones who do not. It seems this water is finally reaching the cells and cleansing away the toxins rather than just flowing through the body. This leads to less overall pain as treatment continues…
Abigail Buktenica LMT
Ami Kalisek LMT // Aug 2nd 2010 at 5:39 pm
John,
I love this part, Advanced Glycation End Products (AGE). Made me laugh. Seriously though, I often send people to look in the mirror after their treatments. There is so often a softening of features, an ease in the face that itself makes a person look young.
Did you say about the drag the entire fascial system puts on the dural system, that changes the shape of the skull? The internal attachments when pulled askew by tightness in our bodies, also affects our faces. And nothing makes a person feel as good as NO PAIN!
I am a 50 year old person, that doesn’t look (or act) anywhere near my age, thanks to this work. I move better than I did 10 years ago!
I appreciate reading your posts every month, the reminder of the power of this work is valuable.
Ami Wilson Kalisek LMT
McHenry Illinois
Jennifer Wiegand // Aug 2nd 2010 at 7:02 pm
Hi John-
After coming home from repeating Unwinding and MFR II, receiving the “Fascial Facial” and the many other techniques I feel lighter, younger, more energetic–really great at age 52!
Why am I am smiling? Because I feel SO good after receiving all that MFR. My energy is flowing better. I am more well hydratated (not feeling like I need to constantly drink water all day).
My clients and I are so grateful for JB-MFR… we know by our experiences we do not have to “rust out” as the years go by. We can become better than ever before.
It is so rewarding to watch the clients who come in with chronic pain-back pain, pelvic floor pain, headaches they’ve had for years shift into more active , happy, younger looking and feeling people after receiving JB-MFR.
People are able to finally sleep better many times after one session. That alone will make a person look younger!
Thanks, John for this wonderful healing work!
Renie Allen // Aug 2nd 2010 at 9:17 pm
John,
Thank you for bringing up the importance of regular self treatment- it cannot be expressed enough! One of the most valued principles of JFB-MFR is empowerment. There is no better way to get a handle on one’s own health and well being then through receiving MFR and daily self treatment! Committing to treat one’s self on a regular basis allows this work to reach much deeper levels. Spending time each day checking in with ourself to see what we need, listening to what our body is saying, and taking action through self treatment is a fool proof way to reclaim your body, mind and spirit!
Regular self treatment increases one’s awareness, allows for a better understanding of how the fascial system works and feels, and enhances the sessions that are spent with a therapist.
Thank you, John, for teaching me how to REALLY take care of myself!
Renie Allen, LMT
Maine
Sherri Koning, OTR/L // Aug 2nd 2010 at 10:16 pm
Thank you John for re-posting the
>>Pouring Water on a stone< <article. I have been looking for it for months. In prep for T4T I have been doing lots of extra self treatment, w/ lot's of extra water. I am hoping to decrease or be rid of Lactose Intolerance symptoms so I can help others to help themselves in these areas as well as IBS, allergies and distended abdomens.
Your rebounding class and Myofascial Healing Seminars provides us w/ excellent tools for self treatment. Jiggling is great and I have found it is easy to rebound yourself alone. It is so cool to remember your basic principals and work threw new learning experiences.
Good Medicine,
Sherri
Barbara Long // Aug 2nd 2010 at 10:51 pm
Dear John,
Thank you for developing and offering therapists a way to help so many by teaching us to feel! Sometimes extremely medically complicated people walk into my clinic and I wonder…for a moment…how can I help them!? Through my education and experience with MFR, I’ve learned to just put my hands on the tight tissues, feel, and do ‘the work’.
Over the past month or so, I’ve had the opportunity to use the techniques you teach in the ‘fascial facial’ with significant therapeutic benefits. My patient…with his 22 plates and 60 screws in his rebuilt face…is grateful for JFB MFR and tearfully expresses his gratitude for his pain relief each and every session.
Mike // Aug 3rd 2010 at 9:20 am
Hi John,
One of the many “side effects” I have experienced as a result of receiving MFR treatment, & doing my own self-care, has been a complete resolution of my seasonal, food & animal allergies.
I know that by opening up my fascial system, becoming more fluid & healthy, my inmmune system has been able to self correct. I no longer need any med’s to help manage my allergy symptoms, I can enjoy the fruits that I was not able to eat for years, and I can have 2 cats in the house without any issues!
I have also been told by many that I look much younger than I really am…I’m not sure about that, but I certainly feel that way.
My belief is that having an open & healthy fascial system is the key to just about all facets of good health – thanks for bringing this to my awareness, and helping me learn how to take care of myself & others this way!!
Best, Mike
Joyce Patterson, PT // Aug 3rd 2010 at 10:53 am
It seems to me that there are two responses to MFR that can lead to someone looking and feeling younger – the structural/physiological changes that John talks about here, but also the reconnection to one’s essence.
I am currently working with someone who shared that she is allowing pictures of herself to remain on her camera instead of deleting them because she looks “so much better” than she used to. It’s not so much a physical change, but rather a glow about her and in her eyes.
Frances Nicolais, LMT // Aug 3rd 2010 at 11:39 am
I just want to add a plug for the benefits of self-treatment and feeling young. I generally start my day with self-rebounding (FUN!) and I generally end my day with an hour or two of self MFR treatment, followed by 2 large cups of herbal tea. These two lifestyle changes have dramatically improved my overall health (no allergies anymore, either!), well-being and sense of being 20 years younger. Thank you, John.
Tara Carrington // Aug 3rd 2010 at 3:26 pm
Dear John,
I love the Fascial Facial. It feels so good, and works wonders with relieving the tension and tightness and effort we hold in our faces without being aware of it. (Like Mom always said, “if you keep making that face, it will freeze that way!”)
There is something else I really love about the Fascial Facial.
One of the huge insights I have gained through your training is to be open to the way our bodies are speaking to us in metaphor. When I assess each of my patients, I observe not only the details of physical restriction, but also the big picture of what the body is doing. Does it look as though she is being punched in the solar plexus? Does it look like he is entirely avoiding attention to one side of the body? Does the function of someone’s standing position appear to be an effort to fight falling backwards? So often, metaphor speaks with a high degree of accuracy regarding the person’s inner struggle.
The Fascial Facial can be such a powerful way for people to make that connection. As fascial restrictions in the face release, it gives the person the opportunity to feel what you have called “the mask” loosen its grip and be pulled away…the mask that the person has used to disguise their true feelings, to fit in, to hide behind…and with this awareness comes insight into how some long-held belief systems may be affecting authentic self-expression.
Thank you John for teaching us ways to become aware of how true we are being to ourselves, and ways to empower ourselves and heal.
Tara Carrington M.S. OTR/L
Florida
Teresa Miller PT // Aug 3rd 2010 at 4:45 pm
Dear John,
There is so much in the news today about detoxifying our bodies to eliminate the toxins and other substances that get trapped in our bodies. What you are telling us makes so much more sense. Open up the body with Myofascial Release and the body will, at the cellular level, rid itself of these unwanted by-products . No wonder we look and feel younger after receiving Myofascial Release.
Thank you for teaching us the ultimate rejuvenation therapy.
Teresa Miller PT
Omaha
Marilyn Karim, OTR/L // Aug 3rd 2010 at 5:20 pm
Dear John,
I feel like a walking testimonial to this principle of rejuvenation through MFR. Giving and receiving this therapy has transformed me from an aching, arthritic, stiff, tired person into a flying machine. Life is so full of fun, adventure, productive activity, and ease of movement, most people don’t guess my age (66). My favorite part is having an active private practice where I can share this marvelous therapy with so many and, in the process, give them better lives and new hope, too. Thanks for what you have given us and the world.
Cliff of PT Health // Aug 4th 2010 at 8:20 pm
Thanks John..I was delighted and feel your presence with your answers. I will go to this blog “Pouring water on a stone” and read about it.
Lisa Ganfield // Aug 5th 2010 at 9:01 pm
Hi John,
I just wanted to add that the first time you worked on my face, I went back into an experience when I was 8 and fell off of playground monkey bars onto my face.
I could feel the dirt and wood chips in my mouth and nose. To this day, I am grateful for self treatment and the treatment of great therapists. It has been a lifesaver !
Love,
Lisa Ganfield
Patrick M Fuller LMT // Aug 18th 2010 at 2:38 pm
Thank you! your article has inspired my newest continuing education experience.
Jeann Brick // Sep 22nd 2010 at 7:45 am
Dear John,
I am a massage therapist in a spa where beauty and youthful appearance are the focus of the clients. I include myofascial techniques I’ve learned in your classes in every treatment I give. Most clients have never had MFR before and are amazed at the well-being they feel after their “massage.” It’s so rewarding for them, and for me. I’m excited to continue exploring using more of your work in this traditional setting. Thank you, John.
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