Myofascial Release

     If you were going to play chess, but were missing some chess pieces your chances of success would be negated. Agreed? The Myofascial philosophy provides the important information (the missing pieces) that we need to provide the ultimate care for our clients and your ultimate success.

     We have to be cognizant that the anatomy of humans and animals that we learned is inaccurate. Our training was incomplete – missing pieces – due to the fact that the fascial system was either not included in our education or what we were taught was obsolete.

     The Myofascial Release therapist uses their proprioceptive awareness to ascertain where the fascia has lost its fluidity and has solidified; where there is restricted motion within the system; where there is a bio-energetic blockage that is leaking thermals and creating vibrations that are out of synchrony with the whole.

     To gain a better understanding of the importance of Myofascial Release, read the comments from experienced Myofascial Release therapists on my previous blog “Copy Cat” Myofascial Release Courses  and read my latest article What is a Myofascial Release Therapist- Part I. Assessment and treatment of the fascial system is performed through the feel of the anatomy by highly skilled myofascial release therapist’s proprioceptive awareness.

     A myofascial release therapist doesn’t just feel with their hands, they also feel and perceive with their minds!

     Myofascial Release will give you the missing pieces to become a winner, enhancing everything you do personally and professionally!

Sincerely,

       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 

Part 2

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

     To find us on Facebook, click on the following link: www.facebook.com/myofascial.release

So John, er, Mr. Barnes,

    The work of yours that I have heard about is perking me into a bit of a chat.
My only experience in a myofascial release class was not with you or your group but it was SO painful that I left it feeling unloved and certain that the work was not for me. You speak of things that do interest me, our intuition, water, emotion etc. What is your experience with the Trager Approach?

Virginia

Virginia,

   The Trager Approach is excellent.   Myofascial Release is the “”missing link” in this and other forms of therapy, massage, energy work, and it can significantly increase your effectiveness. 

    I have been teaching Myofascial Release seminars for well over 30 years.  As you may have noticed, “Copy Cat” Myofascial Release courses are popping up and these courses do not teach the same principles or techniques that we do.  They teach what we call the old form of Myofascial that is forceful, mechanical, and very painful and only produces temporary results.    Many of the theories of these courses are based on information that has been obsolete for over 70 years!

   My Myofascial Release principles were developed from my personal experience with pain. My theory of Myofascial Release is explained in detail in my monthly column titled, “Therapeutic Insight”. To learn more, you can click on the following link to read the first Therapeutic Insight column. 

http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=6745&catid=62&title=therapeutic-insight-the-myofascial-release-perspective

   My approach to Myofascial Release is safe, gentle, and produces consistent results in reducing pain, headaches, and fibromyalgia symptoms.  The goal of the Myofascial Release therapist is to return the individual to a pain free, active lifestyle. 

    Thanks for your comments.

Sincerely,

John

Author : Jennifer Lang, PT, MS

This is not really a comment but a call for advise. I’ve been wanting to gain more knowledge in MFR techniques and feel that there is a disconnect in the PT community on which technique to use and where to receive your training. When I was a student I received “on the job training” on MFR techniques from a PT with nickname of “thumbs of steel”. This seemed like an ineffective approach; however, I didn’t know any better at the time. Now that I’ve had time to work with many various populations I want to learn a non-invasive effective approach to MFR. I’ve look at many MFR courses and John’s is the most expensive. I don’t mind spending the money if the result is worth the investment. I don’t want to waste my time or money–I will not be getting reimbursement for whichever course I choose. So, I would like to call on the PT’s that are reading this thread. Can you discuss how taking a JFB-MFR course has affected your approach to the PT profession and how effective it’s been for you? Thank you all very much for your comments.

     It has been found that every tubule of the fascia, even down to the tiniest of levels, has a hollow core through which fluid flows.  Information, in the form of light and sound, travels within that fluid in the form of various wave lengths and frequencies.  This is the fundamental communication that basically keeps us alive and functioning properly.

     Myofascial restrictions at this level may have a significant negative impact upon our health and the functioning of our cells and wellbeing. Lynne McTaggart, author of “The Field”, states, “In healthy individuals, the quantum light is highly organized. It may be that all illness is a kind of scrambling of the frequency of this energy. In effect, their light is going out!”

     Myofascial Rebounding (http://www.myofascialrelease.com/fascia_massage/public/seminar_details.asp?ProductID=46)  is an extremely helpful assessment tool and treatment that allows our bodies to decrease pain and restrictions on an impressive scale.  The increased rhythmic vibrations and frequencies transform our scrambled quantum light into resonance, which enables our bodies to release restrictions on a large scale.

Sincerely,

       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 

Part 2

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

     To find us on Facebook, click on the following link: www.facebook.com/myofascial.release

     Myofascial Release is the leading edge of a paradigm shift that will be massive in how we view and treat the human body.  The traditional model of reality (a paradigm) has turned out to be incomplete and terribly flawed.  I thought it might be helpful for us to examine a number of myths that we were taught to help us make this transition into a higher level of healthcare and results for our clients.

Myth I

     Traditional science’s erroneous view that the connective tissue is just an insulator was proven wrong back in 1941.  Instead, the fascial system is a three- dimensional liquid crystalline web that conducts information, energy, oxygen, nutrition, biochemicals, hormones and all that is essential for life.

     Our body’s communication system relies on water. A 10-percent change in water content of the soft tissue can trigger a million-fold change in charge transportation along a protein. The speed necessary for information and energy to instantaneously spread throughout the body makes reliance on biochemistry alone insufficient.  The false and obsolete information (that the soft tissue of our body is an insulator), is still being taught in all medical, dental and therapeutic schools in the country.

It’s time for a change!

Sincerely,

       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 

Part 2

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

     To find us on Facebook, click on the following link: www.facebook.com/myofascial.release

     Other approaches attempt to release fascia are linear protocols that are rough, mechanical, painful and only provide temporary relief.  Confusing therapeutic protocols with reality has caused many people to erroneously view humans as two dimensional, linear objects.  The map or protocol is not the territory! 

     Our bodies are over 70% fluid. The fascia is the container of and transport medium of the fluid in our body.  The fluidity of the fascial system is also the transport medium for the vibrations of sound and light to flow for cellular communication.  Trauma, surgery, thwarted inflammatory responses and unresolved emotional trauma tend to dehydrate the fluidity of the fascial system blocking the important transmission of light/sound for proper physiological function.

     My Myofascial Release approach is a gentle, sustained three dimensional pressure into myofascial restrictions that provides lasting results.  You may be interested in the following link that explains the unique and effective myofascial release principles that I have developed (Myofascial Release Approach: Part 1).

Sincerely,

       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 

Part 2

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

 To find us on Facebook, click on the following link: www.facebook.com/myofascial.release

     When I was a young boy, I stumbled upon a conversation about a distant aunt. Their voices were in a “hushed” tone. My sense was that they were embarrassed about her behavior. She had experienced a nervous breakdown!

     I never knew what a “nervous breakdown” was, but it sounded very serious. As I have grown as a therapist, I have experienced many situations that have given me a better knowledge of these so called “breakdowns”. Some of the elements expressed by my aunt’s behavior during her “nervous breakdown” sounded similar to the mind/body’s capacity for self correction.

     When pain, fear, and/or stress build to a certain threshold over time, our body begins to shake in an effort to rid itself of the excessive energy that has become trapped. Unexpected tears erupt and our body quivers with powerful emotions. Our society has taught us not to trust or express our emotions. Thus, we attempt to shove them down deeper and deeper. Over time this exhausts us, we don’t sleep well, we become irritated, agitated and easily “triggered” by others and events.

     For centuries, there have been stories about people who started to shake, cry uncontrollably and loudly express themselves. As a result, authorities slapped “straight jackets” on those individuals and threw them into a mental institution for weeks, months or even a lifetime, when Myofascial Release and Myofascial Unwinding could have restored peace and equilibrium to their lives. Today, the “straight jacket” is Valium or some other tranquilizer. How sad. Drugs can be helpful in the short term, but long term usage can numb the mind and make one’s body lifeless. Drugs numb our feelings and inhibit our body’s natural capacity of self correction.

     Another unfortunate example of how traditional therapy vainly attempts to just treat the superficial aspect of a problem, a symptom. Restrictions in the fascial system are the cause of many symptoms that you and our clients suffer with. It is now well known that Myofascial Release contributes to the reduction of pain, headaches, and the symptoms of Fibromyalgia and can also restore our natural, tranquil mental and emotional well being.

Sincerely,

       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 

Part 2

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

     To find us on Facebook, click on the following link: www.facebook.com/myofascial.release

Investing in oneself for personal growth and healing is sometimes a difficult decision for therapists to make for themselves.  What is it that makes therapists as a whole tend to put themselves last on their own list?  We as therapists encourage our clients to seek treatment to help them feel better.  Often, the response is a lack of time and money. 

 On the surface, that just may be so, but what lies beneath the surface?  Do we deserve to feel good, to feel joy in our lives?  Do we deserve to experience the same freedom of movement and pain free lifestyle that we strive to help our clients achieve?  What would life be like without the struggle? 

 I encourage you to live by quiet example and consider the possibilities of your own healing through Myofascial Release.  We see, time and again, therapists who have waited for years to make the commitment in their own healing, wondering why they waited so long.  This is one of the underlying principles of Myofascial Release. ”We can only take our clients as far as we are willing to go ourselves!” 

 My Myofascial Release Seminars and Treatment Centers are breaking records!  The word of the effectiveness of Myofascial Release is spreading across the country like wildfire. 

 Clients are referred to our Myofascial Release Treatment Centers from around the world when traditional therapy, massage, medication, and/or surgery have failed to produce lasting results. 

 Every January and February, we offer a discount on the cost of therapy for those whose finances are tight.  The Paoli Myofascial Release Treatment Center is offering a 30% discount off our Intensive Treatment program and Therapy for the Therapist program to anyone who mentions this post when registering.

 This special courtesy applies to you, your clients, as well as family and friends.   

 To schedule, call Andrea Stauss at 1-800-327-2425, extension 3.

 Dare to “feel” great and to welcome joy into your life!  What you put out there will eventually come back to you.  As a New Year’s resolution, I encourage you to…..Dare to be great! (To read the Therapeutic Insight article titled, “What makes a New Year’s resolution fail”, click on the following link: http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=8373&catid=62&title=therapeutic-insight-the-myofascial-release-perspectivewhat-makes-a-new-years-resolution-fail)

Peace and Joy in 2011!

 Sincerely,

                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

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU>

 To find us on Facebook, click on the following link: www.facebook.com/myofascial.release

Enhance your beauty! Increase your income! You might be interested in the post below that was on our chat line. I thought that you might find it helpful.

John was asked to contribute his expertise in the ‘Les Nouvelles Esthetiques and Spa’ publication whose theme for the December issue was Unwind from the Holidayswith services and treatments that de-stress, detox and rejuvenate the mind and body.

‘Les Nouvelles Esthetiques & Spa’ is a gorgeous magazine that has an international network that spans the globe; this 57 year old publication was established in Paris in 1952 and has grown into a state-of-the-art publication with a world-wide reputation.

The father of the current Editor in Chief had attended seminars with John in Sedona in the early 90’s and always spoke highly of John and his Myofascial Release Approach. When their magazine was featuring an issue on enhancing the body, face, and mind they immediately contacted John to showcase his Myofascial Release Approach.

Your female patients will love the esthetic appeal of the December issue and as a bonus John explains how Myofascial Release can enhance your internal and external beauty.

We suggest that you purchase this beautiful magazine for your waiting rooms at www.LNEonline.com. You can also view John’s article Fascial Facial Unwinding for a More Youthful Appearance by clicking on Free Digital Magazine.

If you are interested in learning more information regarding the latest research on fascia, I suggest reading my recent Therapeutic Insight article titled, “The Myofascial Release Perspective- 50 Years Ago.”  To access my latest article, click on the following link: http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=10100&catid=62&title=therapeutic-insight-the-myofascial-release-perspective50-years-ago

Sincerely,

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 link:

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWRuS9xAbMo

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

To find us on Facebook, click on the following link:

www.facebook.com/myofascial.release

//

Our brain is a fascial sponge with specialized structures imbedded within it. 

The following quotes are from Dr. Carol Davis, DPT, EdD, MS, FAPTA the editor of a  wonderful book titled, Complementary Therapies in Rehabilitation: Evidence for Efficacy in Therapy, Prevention, and Wellness, (3^rd Edition) ₁ (http://www.slackbooks.com/ctr).  Carol has been researching the latest articles about fascia, as well as some previously published information, for an update of her chapter on myofascial release for a well known neurological textbook she has contributed to.

    Fascia has been hypothesized to play a role as the seat of consciousness in the body/mind system. (Oschman, J. Energy Medicine- The Scientific Basis. 200. Churchill-Livingstone)  As one example, there are 10 times as many connective tissue cells as nerve cells in the brain. Previously thought only to provide support and nutritional pathways to nerve, the latest brain scan research indicated glial cells “light up” during certain brain states, particularly emotional states. They have been shown to play a role in regulating neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, thus thought to play a role in helping to regulate mood.(Koob A. The root of thought: What do glial cells do? Scientific American, Oct 2009)

     I would highly recommend Carol’s book, Complementary Therapies in Rehabilitation: Evidence for Efficacy in Therapy, Prevention, and Wellness, (3^rd Edition) . Dr. Davis continues to study and write about fascia, and has written an important book that features up-to-date research on Myofascial Release and many different therapeutic approaches. It covers the latest research on the fascial system which I think you’ll find fascinating.  She can be contacted at cmdavis@miami.edu

Sincerely,

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 link:

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWRuS9xAbMo

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

To find us on Facebook, click on the following link:

www.facebook.com/myofascial.release

   Most of you know of my love for animals.  Myofascial Release can substantially reduce their pain and enhance their motion.  There is a new movie that just came out that I would highly recommend to everybody called “Secretariat”, who was the greatest racehorse ever.

    The movie is very inspirational, beautiful, and the visuals are incredible watching this powerful beast in action. The story is one that we can all relate to and is about a very strong woman who is responsible for Secretariat’s success. She went through every imaginable adversity. Her determination, tenacity and will broke through all the resistance. 

   Secretariat became an amazing racehorse and went on to win the Triple Crown. The last part of the Belmont Stakes race in New York City is considered the most difficult part because it is so long. Secretariat was known for speed, but they did not think he had any endurance. It is exciting and inspirational to watch his final race.

   Secretariat was neck and neck with one of the top horses in the world and about three quarters of the way around the track, all of the other horses were becoming exhausted.  Then all of a sudden, Secretariat takes off and sprints to the end!    Usually in a horse race against the top horses in the world, a horse is lucky to win by a nose or a length or two, but Secretariat took off and passed the finish line winning by 31 lengths!   This was thought to be impossible and his record has never been broken. I think it is a very beautiful, touching and inspirational movie that you would all enjoy.

   For those of you who have animals at home or that own or work with horses, Myofascial Release can be very beneficial for animals.  Animals are very intuitive and often will become an active participant in their own treatment, by “guiding” the therapist in certain ways. Sometimes animals will lean into your pressure more or often times they will place an area of pain that they have under your hands.  Working with animals can be quite fascinating and can be a wonderful learning experience for the therapist and can be extremely therapeutic for the animal.

  For a true story of how Myofascial Release has helped racehorses and other animals, go to my most recent Therapeutic Insight article titled, “Equine Myofascial Release ”.  To access the article, go to www.massagemag.comand then click on the techniques tab on the left of the web page.  Then click on Therapeutic Insight:Equine Myofascial Release, title to read the full article.

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 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4QrvlwtBOU>

To find us on Facebook, click on the following link: www.facebook.com/myofascial.release