We are proud to offer the same renowned technique that is also being practiced at prestigious facilities such as the Hospital for Special Surgery, John T. Mather Hospital and other acclaimed small and large practices around the world!

The John F. Barnes’ Approach is effective in producing results that last. Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions. It is the ultimate therapy that is safe, gentle and consistently effective in producing results that last. Touching patients with skilled hands can be one of the most potent ways of effecting positive change.

Often Myofascial Release (MFR) is covered by insurance. Please contact your insurance carrier and find out if MFR, procedure code 97140 or Massage Therapy, procedure code 97124 is covered when given by a Licensed Massage Therapist. If so, let us know so we can discuss the proper paperwork needed.

• Clients need to wear a 2-piece bathing suit or sports bra, or shorts and a tank top.
• Please do not have on any lotion, perfume or cologne.
• The session will take place over (not under) a sheet, so that the therapist can note your body’s response to treatment

• A postural analysis will be done and may be the deciding factor on where to begin treatment. You may feel like stretching or moving (un-winding) which is normal and encouraged. As the tissue lets go, very often an issue, physical and or emotional, will release as well.
• You will often feel sensations (the fascial voice) in other areas. The fascial voice may be heard as discomfort in a different area, a bubbling sensation, heat, cold etc. Please inform the therapist. Communication is the key to success

• Progress will continue after the session; the fascia will continue to release hours to days after the sessions.
• Please make sure to read the Home Care Instructions that will be emailed to you when you make your first appointment /orientation.

First time only clients are eligible for this extremely valuable healing package. Three session package is strongly recommended for everyone beginning their MFR healing journey. It is designed to familiarize you with receiving MFR and includes a postural evaluation / analysis and orientation, three hours of Myofascial Release, and a complimentary Self-Treatment Tool

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!

• Perform two or three myofascial stretches between treatments (may not be given until 2nd or 3rd visit). Hold the stretches for at least 90 seconds – 5 minutes or more. It is better to do one good MFR stretch that goes deeper into the barrier then 2-4 stretches that don’t release the fascia.
• Focus on body awareness (perhaps with music, books, guided mediation or your workout routine.)
• Note any daily activities or sleeping positions that may be exacerbating the pain (Ex. Elbow resting on the windowsill of the car, your position in front of a computer, sleeping on the same side all of the time, etc.) Build an awareness of stress factors that may be influencing the condition.
• Please notice any other changes that may take place such as better sleep, better dieting, better attitude, reduction in constipation, reduction of heart burn, etc. MFR reduces restrictions in all areas of the body and it even goes down to the cellular level! Releasing restrictions can effect nerves, blood vessels, muscles & more!
• Attend other therapies as required or needed and last by not least … Hydration! Hydration! Hydration!

Although it is unlikely, some people do go through what is often referred to as a “healing crisis. ”after any session and this healing crisis can make you feel quite sore, achy, uncomfortable in your own skin, etc. Any discomfort you might experience is what we call therapeutic pain, not injurious pain. It is a sign that your body responded to the treatment, and that is what we’re looking for. It will not always happen, but it is possible when we first start treatment, or even during the course of treatment when we access new tight areas or get deeper into key restrictions. In addition, it is not uncommon to experience agitation and seemingly unrelated symptoms. Please do not try to mask this with Advil, bathes, etc. The symptoms need to work themselves out. This is a massive reorganization of cells which can be scary, uncomfortable but necessary. If you have any concerns, please call the office. You may actually feel worse then you did prior to MFR. This is often the storm before the beautiful calm. This is referred to as a Healing Crisis or Healing Response. There is a lot of info on this on the internet and we also recommend the book What’s In Your Web by Phil Tavolacci. He has a wonderful explanation of the Healing Response in Chapter 9.

The number of sessions that one would need is very individual. Everyone responds differently to MFR. Many feel changes in symptoms after a couple of sessions while others require a number of treatments to achieve their state of well-being. Clients are encouraged to have a follow-up session as soon as possible after the initial visit to continue the progress made during the first session.