Before we can know how to heal the fascia, it is important that we understand what it is and how it affects our body. We are also going to discuss the types of Fascia, and introduce you to this amazing community we have found that is teaching us how to heal our body through fascial maneuvers. And of course, an invitation to join this amazing and supportive community. 

Fascia . . . What is it?
Fascia (Latin meaning ‘band or ‘bandage’) is a form of connective tissue that lubricates, organizes and binds the structures within the body. The body is supported by a thin connective tissue casing that surrounds and holds all organs, blood vessels, bones, nerve fibers, and muscles in place. Fascia contains nerves that make it highly sensitive, similar to skin, in addition to providing internal structure. In times of stress, it tends to tense up.

Although fascia looks like one sheet of tissue, it’s actually made up of multiple layers with liquid in between called hyaluronan. It’s designed to stretch as you move. But there are certain things that cause fascia to thicken and become sticky. When it dries up and tightens around muscles, it can limit mobility and cause painful knots to develop.

Fascia has gained attention in the fields of holistic medicine, bodywork, and movement therapies in recent years because of increased interest from research scientists. The study of the fascial system is providing insight into human anatomy, enhancing our understanding of physical pain and its connection to the body, mind, and emotions. The interrelationship between mind, body, and emotions is fundamental to ancient healing practices.

There are 3 Types of Fascia:
Superficial fascia is a fatty layer located directly under the skin, while deep fascia surrounds individual muscles and groups of muscles. Visceral fascia, on the other hand, is mainly present in the abdominal cavity. When it comes to bodywork, the focus is primarily on deep fascia, which is dense connective tissue that surrounds and interweaves with muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels in the body. The fascial layer functions as a protective wrap around our inner body parts, serving as a network of support and structure for the body. Fascia, the often overlooked connective tissue in our bodies, is made up of collagen and ground substance, just like the important players such as ligaments, tendons, cartilage, bone, and fat.

The fascia system plays a key role in muscle movement by functioning smoothly when relaxed and supple, allowing for unrestricted movement. Deep fascia contains nerve endings, including nociceptors, proprioceptors, mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors, and thermoreceptors, which respond to pain, movement, pressure, vibration, chemical changes, and temperature fluctuations. The fascial system is considered an interconnected secondary nervous system that transmits energy and information throughout the body. By considering this, we can begin to comprehend how pain in one area of the body can sometimes radiate to other seemingly unconnected body parts.

Fascial tissue is capable of independent contraction and relaxation from the muscles it surrounds, making it responsive unnoticed stress. Various factors such as physical or emotional trauma, scarring, inflammation, lack of movement or over-use, poor posture, can result in a thickening of the fascia, reducing its flexibility and causing restricted movement, unhealthy holding patterns, and pain. One way to experience this effect is during our nighttime sleep. The body remains motionless. The fascia typically undergoes a thickening process. When we wake up in the morning, our bodies may feel less flexible, prompting us to stretch. Thickened and contracted fascia in certain areas of the body can lead to chronic pain and restricted movement over time.

Fascia is responsive to emotional states and retains emotional memories. Eastern healing practices, including Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, have recognized the connection between the body’s tissues and emotions for a long time. There is growing scientific evidence supporting the idea that emotions like sadness, anxiety, pain, and past trauma can be stored in the fascia.

The role of the fascia is to provide a supportive system of “Tensegrity”. The term tensegrity is a combination of the words “tension” and “integrity”. Tensegrity describes the function of the connective tissue in stabilising the skeleton. Without the fascia, our bone structure would simply collapse to the ground as skeletal bones actually float freely and separate from each other rather than being neatly stacked on top of each other. When the fascia is healthy, strain is distributed evenly throughout the entire structure, keeping the body up-right, flexible and pain-free.

How to Heal the Fascia?

A painful neck or backache may be attributed to tired muscles or stiff joints. But these symptoms can also be caused by a part of your body you probably haven’t heard of: the fascia. Unveiled only recently, this intricate web of tissue has been quietly orchestrating every single one of your movements, yet somehow remained in the shadows of medical exploration.

Healthy fascia is characterized by its smooth, slippery, and flexible nature. Factors that contribute to the gummy and crinkled texture of fascia, known as adhesion, include:

  • A lifestyle of limited physical activity (too little movement day after day)
  • Repetitive movement that overworks one part of the body
  • Accident, Surgery or injury or Big-T or small-t trauma that can go deep into the fascial tissue.

Treatments aim to alleviate pain by targeting tight fascia and muscle fibers to promote relaxation. Treatment options for this condition may include pain relievers, physical therapy, and injections of medication into trigger points. At Three Tree Wellness, we offer alternative methods for healing the fascia that are less invasive. The owner, Shari, has recently been learning about fascial maneuvers and their impact on healing the fascia, which has shown powerful results alongside traditional massages. We are continuously learning about the factors that can cause tightening of the fascia, such as stress, dehydration, and poor eating habits.

At Three Tree Wellness, our goal is to introduce a new method of healing the body through fascial maneuvers to the community. Currently, we are working on developing an educational system and class for this purpose. If you would like to stay informed about latest news and classes we will be offering at Three Tree Wellness Center, simply sign up for our newsletter at https://www.threetreewellness.com/about-three-tree-wellness-center .

You can also check out Human Garage, https://humangarage.net and if it resonates with you, join us there, but again, be sure to keep an eye out, and sign up for our newsletter so you will be the first to know when we will be offering live classes.  At Three Tree Wellness, we are constantly exploring innovative ways to promote healing and well-being. When we discover something that truly makes a difference, we can’t wait to pass on the benefits to our clients and community!