Please read this thoroughly prior to your orientation. This will allow us to spend our time together discussing your specific care. We have found that clients that come in well prepared do much better with their sessions so please, take the time to read through this for yourself and for me, as well. In addition, the videos offer a visual learning experience and are an important aspect of MFR. Watching them would be appreciated. Thank you, Marla
Sessions are between 55 and 60 minutes and may include about 5 minutes of talk time and will always include a brief postural exam. If you have booked a
Total Postural Exam please expect to be here for a total of about 90 minutes. If you want or feel that you need longer sessions,
please plan on booking them quite a bit in advance.
Fascia encases every cell. Research has now discovered that it does more than help us keep our shape. Since these fibers are so extensively integrated into our system, fascia is involved in every motion we make. Not only can it move independently of our muscles, it has a powerful sensory capability that responds to stress. Bracing due to pain or discomfort is counterproductive therefore it is very important that you let your therapist know if your discomfort goes over a level 7 out of a 1-10 scale. In addition, we now know that fascia binding and restrictions can cause a multitude of symptoms in addition to muscle aches and pains. Please note how you are feeling regarding all your conditions during your treatment and your course of MFR.
Fascia in its larger form becomes tendons and ligaments. Please note in the diagram, the Latissimus Dorsi muscle. Notice that just this one muscle covers so many areas! It originates on the ribs, goes to the pelvis bones, wraps around most the back and then inserts into your arm! Note the large fascia it connects to and yet people very often don’t understand that back problems can cause arm problems or how fascia in one area can effect fascia in another area!
Unlike medical massage, there is no attention to focused areas. MFR is a full body treatment. Imagine that you are holding a bucket of water. After a while, your arms and back will ache. We can address those aches you are feeling or we can have you put down the bucket of water (the cause of the ache) MFR is based on the cause, not the pain.
Medical Massage is passive on the part of the client and it can be interpreted when you are on the table that the therapist is there to help “fix you” When having an MFR session you will notice a Therapeutic connection, a Share- Journey together, almost like a dance! It requires feedback from you regarding the pressure and the “fascial voice”
Very often when we are doing MFR, you will “hear” the Fascial Voice. It can be heard in many ways such as a deep stretch, seemingly unrelated areas will become uncomfortable, there may be pain, discomfort, burning, heat, cold, tingling, bubbling, agitation, emotional feelings, twitching, breathing changes, sweating, shivering, unwinding, and a feeling that you want to stretch. If you don’t hear the fascial voice, inform your therapist. They may or may not decide to move to another area.
We will be looking for a Vasomotor Response from your MFR treatment. A vasomotor response is when a restricted area becomes red. This is the result of the fascial elastin fibers separating and the ground substance yielding and returning to a more fluid state, resulting in an increase in circulation. This is why it is very important to only wear shorts and a small top or sports bra.
Unlike medical massage, the sooner additional sessions, the better in order to facilitate breaking habitual holding and bracing patterns of the fascial network. Post treatment – Please see the article on Home Care
How many sessions? It takes as long as it takes to “soften a lifetime of fossilized tissue”, but you will probably feel a difference in 1 to 3 sessions. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions or voice any concerns to your therapist! Good luck with your MFR journey and thank you for allowing us to be part of it!