Fascial stretching is a wonderful self treatment technique that can result in permanent lengthening of the body's connective tissue, which has the ability to open the entire fascial web within the body allowing it to function optimally and dramatically increase health and quality of life. Fascia is the tough connective tissue surrounding not only muscle but every cell in the body from head to toe, like a giant spider web.  This fascial web provides support and flexibility to all structures of the body.  When the fascial system tightens down it can cause pain and dysfunction, therefore, using fascial stretching techniques daily can decrease pain, refine athletic performance,increase ease of movement, increase balance and overall daily functioning. The three primary ways that fascial stretching differs from traditional stretching is first the time component.  All fascial stretches are held a minumum of 90-120 seconds to allow release of the elastic and muscular component of the connective tissue but also release of the collagenous component as well.  Traditional stretching holding for 30 seconds , provides tempoary results and only affects the elastic and muscular components.  The second difference is fascial stretching incorporates the concept of active elongation to engage the fascial barrier where you feel resistance to the stretch by using the techniques of REACH, TELESCOPE, and ELONGATE the body part to engage the tissue along the entire length.  The third essential difference is the need to be consciously present throughout the entire process to focus on tension in the tissues, breathing into the restriction, noticing the release and elongating into the next barrier.  This results in being more focused and grounded in all aspects of life.  Below are some basic guidelines to stretching

• Let common sense be your guide.Seek a qualified medical opinion if you have questions about how your body responds to stretches.  Fascial stretching can be uncomfortable.  If necessary, back off on the intensity to a more comfortable level.  It is impossible to force the fascial system to let go.  The key is to wait patiently at each restriction/barrier for it to release.
• Don't consider stretching a warm-up. You may hurt yourself if you stretch cold muscles. So before stretching, warm up with light walking, jogging or biking at low intensity for five to 10 minutes.
• Focus on major muscle groups. When you're stretching, focus on your calves, thighs, hips, lower back, neck and shoulders. Also stretch muscles and joints that you routinely use at work or play. And make sure that you stretch both sides. For instance, if you stretch your left hamstring, be sure to stretch your right hamstring, too.
• Don't bounce. Bouncing as you stretch can cause small tears in the muscle. These tears leave scar tissue as the muscle heals, which tightens the muscle even further, making you less flexible and more prone to pain. So, hold each stretch for about 90 to 120  seconds to get the maximum benefit from the elastic and muscular component of the connective tissue but from the collagenous component as well.
• Don't aim for pain. Expect to feel tension while you're stretching, not pain. If it hurts, you've pushed too far. Back off to the point where you don't feel any pain, then hold the stretch. Remember to hold 90 to 120 seconds for maximum benefit.
• Make stretches sport specific. Some evidence suggests that it's helpful to do stretches tailored for your sport or activity. If you play soccer, for instance, you're more vulnerable to hamstring strains. So opt for stretches that help your hamstrings.
• Keep up with your stretching. Stretching can be time-consuming. But you can achieve the best benefits by stretching regularly, at least two to three times a week. If you don't stretch regularly, you risk losing any benefits that stretching offered. For instance, if stretching helped you increase your range of motion, and you stop stretching, your range of motion may decrease again.
• Bring movement into your stretching. Gentle movement can help you be more flexible in specific movements. If you're going to perform a specific activity, such as a front kick in martial arts, do the move slowly and at low intensity at first to get your muscles used to it. Then speed up gradually as your muscles become accustomed to the motion.

If you would like more information or are interested in joining a class, please call Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center in downtown Toms River, NJ at 732 223-9335

This is the second part of a brief explanation with John F. Barnes, PT the developer of the John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release Approach TM, a revolutionary hands on therapeutic treatment technique and approach. In this segment he describes Rebounding and covers some reasons why some people don’t heal.

If you have any further questions about Myofascial Release or how this can help you with your health issues please contact Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center for a FREE consultation at 732-223-9335

Myofascial ReleaseTherapy

Performed in the tradition of John Barnes, P.T., this Myofascial Release technique utilizes gentle prolonged holding techniques to release the fascia, promoting increased flexibility and range of motion, increased postural functionality and stability, increased circulation and decreased toxicity within the tissuse. Uniquely superior in addressing the following conditions:

• Women’s Health Issues
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Pain
• Migraines
• Traumatic Injuries
• Carpal Tunnel
• TMJ problems

Myofascial Release Co-Treatment

Same technique but two therapists are working at the same time to enhance the therapeutic process.

Therapeutic Massage

Utilizes traditional Swedish Massage techniques for relaxation and relief of muscular tension.

Therapeutic Retreats

Myofascial Release Intensive Retreat

(16 hours of treatment during a one week period)

* 10 Hours of Myofascial Release Therapy
* 5 Hours of Myofascial Release Co-Treatments
* 1 Hour of Therapeutic Massage

Myofascial Release Therapy Mini-Intensive Retreat

(10 hours of treatment over a 3 day period)

* 6 Hours of Myofascial Release Therapy
* 3 Hours of Myofascial Release Co-Treatments
* 1 Hour of Therapeutic Massage

Myofascial Release Therapy Daily Intensive Retreat

(3 hours of therapy in one day)

* 2 Hours of Myofascial Release Therapy
* 1 Hour of Myofascial Release Co-Treatments

Monthly Multi-Session Package
This is for the client who is serious about taking charge of their health and returning to a pain-free active lifestyle. We will offer $100 off pre-paid multi session packages for the client who comes more than 3x per month.

Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center is excited to announce the addition of their NEW Massage Therapist, Pepi Spurr.  Pepi has an extensive background in sports massage/deep tissue, pregnancy massage, and mastectomy scar release and has been practicing for over 15 years .  She is also one of the only massage therapists in Toms River practicing La Stone therapy.

La Stone therapy is similar to hot stone massage but it uses 54 hot stones, 18 cold stones and one room temperature stone and can only be performed by someone who is certified to be a La Stone therapist.  This is to prevent any insufficient training that can be a problem with hot stone massage.

La Stone Therapy is a trademarked style of therapy that uses both hot and cold stones to massage the body.  Although cold stones do not sound very relaxing, they actually have been scientifically and medically proven to have a beneficial effect and can bring relief to tired and sore muscles.  Alternating between heat and cold both stimulates and relaxes the circulatory system, which helps detoxify the body.  The heated stones bring oxygenated blood to the area of application , increasing lymph flow and metabolism , while  the chilled marble stones create a dramatic movement of fluids within the body by pushing away the unwanted congestion, inflammation and blockages.   In this way the use of alternating temperatures brings about healing, balance and rejuvenation.  This can also aid in the balancing of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energies.  The use of the alternating hot and cold stones , allows the therapist to penetrate and gently work the tissues at a deeper level than is possible in traditional massage.  This makes LaStone Therapy a very good detoxification program combined with Myofascial Release and an excellent immune system booster.

LaStone therapy begins with gentle stretches and swedish massage to warm up the body’s muscle tissues and then the therapist uses both the hot and cold stones as an extension of her hands while continuing the massage.  Stones of varying weight are also placed on the body’s key energy channels, including the seven main chakras.  Chakras are the openings for life energy to flow into and out of our aura. Their function is to vitalize the physical body and to bring about the development of our self-consciousness. They are associated with our physical, mental and emotional interactions.

The combination of La Stone and Myofascial Release therapy can help balance the bodies energy field, and enhance personal awareness.  During these treatment sessions, many clients report a release of stuck emotions which has led to relief from fatigue and irritability and a decrease in pain and tension throughout the body.  Clients often leave their treatment session in a deep state of relaxation.

Call Jersey Shore Myofascial Release center today at 732 223-9335 to book your appointment.

*****Don’t forget to check our facebook page for upcoming specials******

Give the Gift of Health to Yourself or the NEW graduate and Don’t forget Father’s Day June 19

$25 off all gift Certificate purchases

We are excited to be offering some NEW massage therapy services -

La Stone Therapy        (90 min)          $110    $25 off =   $85

Relaxation massage   (60 min)           $75     $25 off=    $50

Sports massage with stretching          $85      $25 off=    $60

Myofascial Release Gift Certificate  for One Hour session  $125     $25 off=  $100

This deal will not last long, so call us today at 732 223-9335

Jersey Shore – Fascial Facial

Not only do Myofascial restrictions create pain, limited range of motion and headaches, they can also speed the aging process internally and externally.  Years of habitual pain, grimacing, expressions, anxiety and gravity, tighten the fascia and deepen the lines and wrinkles in ones face and neck. Unresolved physical or emotional trauma becomes stuck on the subconscious level creating an unattractive appearance, a rigidity of expressions and deep wrinkles.  Myofascial release can improve, maintain and restore a more youthful appearance and vitality.

When the fascial system tightens down due to trauma, stress, and surgery it dehydrates our cells and begins to solidify the ground substance of our tissues.  This interferes with the cells delicate inner mechanism and limits the amount of oxygen, nutrition, biochemicals, hormones, information and energy that our 50 billion cells receive each day.  Recent research shows that debris, waste products and toxins that become trapped in the cell lead to the decline attributed to the aging process.  The goal of Myofascial release is to release the pressure on our cells so that the lymphatic system can detoxify our bodies more efficiently and enhance our function , health and appearance by rehydrating and rejuvenating the skin.  To find out more about fascial facials you can read the article written by John F. Barnes in the December 2010 article at www.LNEONLINE.com or give us a call at 732 223-9335 or stop by and see us at 248R  Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08731.

Most people have at least heard of the term “”body memory”” or ““tissue memory””.   John F. Barnes, founder of the profound healing art Myofascial Release, believes that it is within the intricate matrix of the myofascial, or connective tissue that holds this memory.  That this myofascial tissue is literally the “record keeper” of memory in the body/mind complex.

When trauma occurs, whether physical, mental, emotional or a combination of these, people respond with a flight/fight or freeze response.  It is this freeze response that MFR therapists believe is what holds us back from fully and naturally healing from a traumatic event.

Peter Levine discusses this at length in his groundbreaking book “Waking the Tiger” where he compares human responses to trauma with those more instinctive and primal responses of animals in the wild.
In Levine’s research, animals, when recovering from trauma, take the time for the body and mind to recover with very natural and normal reactions such as shaking, sweating and other methods of biologically processing intense events.  This is nature’s way of recalibrating the nervous system and convincing the being that it has actually survived and can go on about it’s life.

We humans however often thwart this natural process for a myriad of reasons.  MFR therapists believe one of the most important aspects of healing trauma is taking the time for the body to resolve it in it’s own natural way.  Often the person needs to revisit a literal position in 3 dimensional space in their body to “unlock” the traumatic event and process whatever debris was left behind—emotionally, physically or in a belief system.   We use the fascial matrix as a “lever” to harness and clear these debilitating memories thus updating the past to the present.   The trauma can then complete and resolve with remarkable ease once it’s shadow is released from the matrix of the fascia.

The therapist gently guides and supports the person through this process, never forcing, but listening and understanding that each person’s individual readiness is what directs the timing and ways the release occurs.  What this means is no one is ever forced to go in to something their entire being isn’t prepared to release.  This ignites the natural healing mechanisms built in to the system and is true healing at it’s finest.

Are you or a loved one returning from the War and suffering from symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, headaches, a sense of not belonging, depression, appetite disturbance, memory problems, etc?

Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center is launching the In One Peace Project– a once per month series of FREE treatment clinics for returning troops from the current War suffering from symptoms of trauma and/ or head injury.

We are highly trained therapists in the hands on therapeutic approach called Myofascial Release. We have up to 20 years experience helping clients resolve post traumatic stress, anxiety, pain and other related symptoms.For more information on the In One Peace Project please visit the website www.inonepeaceproject.org or if you know someone who could benefit from this treatment please call Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center at 732 223 -9335 to schedule an appointment.

I love working with children!  There is nothing like the innocence of a child as you begin to treat them with myofascial release. They instinctively know that this will make their body feel better. Children often will guide your hands to just the exact spot they need work on. They respond very quickly and allow their bodies to naturally unwind and heal. They do not hold back any emotional releases;if they want to cry,yell,or giggle, they will do just that and not worry what anyone would think!   I wonder what the world would be like, if as children, we released any restrictions that we came into this world with and we always listened to our bodies intuitive answers to heal itself?

There are many reasons why we treat children with myofascial release.  Birth trauma, falls, surgery with multiple scars, muscle imbalances,poor posture, muscle weakness, poor movement ability…all of these things can create imbalances in the body which make movement and overall function less efficient.   Research by Dr. Viola Fryman has shown that over 90% of newborns have some sort of distortion to their head or pelvis due to the birthing process. It was previously thought that these distortions would self-correct but more recent research proves this not to be true.   These distortions can create imbalances in the skeletal and fascial systems creating restrictions that can block physical and neurological development,setting the child up for problems later in life.

Myofascial release uses gentle techniques to produce changes in tissue and joint mobility,muscle length, bony alignment, muscle tone and sensory changes as well. It has also been shown to enhance social and language skills.  Myofascial release has been very effective in the treatment of children with:

• head injuries
• birth trauma
• cerebral palsy
• scoliosis
• movement dysfunction
• headaches
• trauma
• pain
• autistic spectrum disorders

Could myofascial release therapy be the missing link in your child’s treatment?

For questions about myofascial release for children or to learn more about myofascial release please visit our website www.jerseyshoremfr.com or contact us at Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center  248R Washington Street  Toms River , NJ 08753    732 223-9335

It is that time of year again when we are all outside enjoying the beautiful weather and we feel the urge to look our best and take better care of our bodies.  This often starts with wanting to loose a few pounds and this can become very frustrating if you have tried everything; all sorts of diets, supplements, exercise, fasting, and on and on and nothing seems to work or last.

John F.Barnes,P.T goes on to explain why there can often be a mind-body complex that makes it difficult to lose the weight.

What often happens is there was an event that occurred early on in our lives where there was an emotional or physical trauma which was overwhelming.   We tend to bury the feelings/emotions in the subconscious level.  This creates a trigger which can interfere with our ability to cope with the situation.  The mind/body then creates a mechanism by which it copes and it often can lead to problems with weight, alcohol, drugs, and any type of excessive behavior. Often times a compulsion develops because the body/mind complex is trying to anesthetize itself, so it doesn’t feel this inner fear or pain that came from a past event.

It seems that the subconscious can cause a person to carry excess weight, almost as a protective mechanism.  Once the subconscious has lost the fear from the past event, then the body can start to function normally again.  You don’t feel that urge to overeat and you go back to a more instinctual pattern of eating.  It can be likened to a pregnant women who instinctively eats something because their body is requesting (“craving”) it.  As the mind/body complex heals itself, you are able to go back to a more instinctive way of living where you are now eating the right food for yourself in the appropriate amounts.

There are many programs that are designed to promote weight loss and/or designed to help with compulsive behaviors. Though these programs are well intentioned, many of them are only providing coping strategies, and are not getting to the root of the problem.  So it’s not that you shouldn’t go through some of these programs, because they may benefit some people.  However, often times, Myofascial Release turns out to be the missing link, not only with pain and the restoration of motion, but also getting to the root cause of these compulsions that too many of us are saddled with in our lives.

Myofascial Release allows the person to safely reconnect with this information that is buried in the subconscious.  The mind/body then processes this hidden information and resolves the problem so it no longer has to cope.  Then a healthy, balanced diet, exercise, and all of the other complementary things that are important to us to be healthy, begin to work effectively for that individual.  In fact, through the Myofascial Unwinding ₁, we see many people after they have gone through their healing process, end up losing a lot of weight, without making any other major changes.  And at that point, adding exercise and a proper diet becomes more effective than it was previously. You are then able to return to a more balanced and joyful way of living again and eliminate compulsions and/or coping behaviors.

At Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center we offer a comprehensive program of myofascial release and  nutrition with the Kingsley Institute. What you can expect is to meet with a Registered Dietitian and nationally certified massage therapist to establish a customized plan. You’ll discuss your current situation, goals, times and specific actions needed for you to be successful. We will work with you to ensure you know what to eat, how much to eat,how to stretch and how to take care of yourself. Our programs are highly successful at weight loss and emotional release, boosting energy levels, decreasing medication,eliminating pain, looking better and improving your self-esteem.  We will be your personal advocate to ensure your successful journey to reach and maintain your goals.

₁ For more information about the process of Myofascial Unwinding please refer to the book, Healing Ancient Wounds: A Renegade’s Wisdom, on page 73.

(http://www.myofascialrelease.com/store/books.asp).