What does a session look like?
A session starts with getting to know you, your history and what you hope to gain from coming for a treatment. Treatment then begins with taking time to land, by connecting with the space and completing a body scan to encourage a sense of settling, prior to connecting through touch.
Fascia varies in density, so fine and weblike it cannot be seen, while in other places it forms thick, layered sheets, chords or webs that are incredibly strong. I therefore uses a variety of techniques to meet individual needs: cross-hand stretches, skin rolling, light touch, deep three dimensional stretches, pulls, focused rebounding, shaking or rocking, following the tissue’s release and connection with other parts of the body, as a guide to where the treatment goes.
Fascia requires us to work differently to how we work with muscle and bone in massage. Fascia needs time to respond to touch, so work is slow and gradual. No oil, or very little oil is used. Hands are placed gently in holds on the body to connect with the fascial system, via sustained gentle pressure. The process cannot be rushed or forced, as the body will resist if too much pressure is applied. Typically a hold will last for three to five minutes, sometimes much longer. Your unique body dictates the pace. Fascia softens beneath my hands and tissues slowly change. As a therapist I follow my intuition to move with the tissue or change pressure appropriately to follow where the body is expressing release or need.
As the fascia is continuously connecting disparate parts of the body to each other, we look at the pain you are experiencing in the context of your whole body. We always consider how an area of discomfort relates to body parts that maybe far away from the injury, or pain site. These areas may in fact be at the centre of the difficulty you are experiencing. My work is therefore led by your body. Due to this, the effects of Fascia Informed Bodywork have the potential to be more profound and longer lasting than just working with muscle and bone.
I will always encourage you to take time to get up after a session to allow you to check in with how you are and begin to process the journey your body and mind have been on during treatment. Your body may feel quite different.