Stress is like being overloaded and then forced to carry-on as if everything were ok! IT IS NOT OK!!!!  Stress, we all have it. According to Dorland’s Medical Dictionary, the definition of stress is: a forcibly exerted influence; pressure; or the sum of the biological reactions to any adverse stimulus: physical, mental or emotional. It can occur internally or externally. It disturbs the organism’s homeostasis (or state of balance and wellbeing). Stress is also the stimuli that produces these reactions.

Stress is usually something we instinctually move away from not towards. In today’s society with it’s technical demands, we are in a constant state of stress. Stress comes from many places: traffic, relationships, work, and even home. It seems to be ever increasing and all around in the form of car emissions, production plants, cell towers, and electrical screens. Internally our bodies are polluted with toxins from food modifications, poor nutrition, and metabolic imbalances that lead to disease. I could go into great detail on this but I am sure we can each identify with the fact that the internal and external stressors have risen exponentially in the past 25 years.

Can Myofascial Release (MFR) Help?

Yes, by sheer definition. Stress implies that something is imposed or forced upon us that is not wanted. According to the Oxford Dictionary: RELEASE means to allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free; allow to move, act, or flow freely; allow information to be generally available; and remit or discharge a debt.

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So what is bugging you? Do you perseverate on it? Does your mind play the same record over and over? Are you trapped by physical or emotional restrictions, mind sets, habitual belief or movement patterns, emotional or physical pains? What would it take to be free of these stresses and return to a healthy active lifestyle?

Albert Einstein said something to the effect of: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.”

Do you feel insane sometimes, or so out of control with all the stress in your life? Does it make you feel crazy? Are you trapped, or restricted? Do you contract your body and tense up your muscles in the presence of stress? Do you have knots in your stomach?

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Myofascial Release, specifically, the John F. Barnes’ Approach can help!  In the word wellbeing there are two words: “well” meaning favorable or good (or dare I say spring of provisional source) and “being” the state of existence. So then Well-being or Wellness would be a state of favorable or balanced existence. Think of your life, your being, your existence, as one of flow. Flow has an ease to it, an energy, and a liveliness. It is vital to life, unrestricted, unhindered, and moving. This energetic flow is necessary for all life. Dead things don’t flow, they don’t move and they are not animated with life. Flow is moving, going places, growing, cleansing and renewing itself in cycles all of the time. What happens when a restriction (say a river dam) is put in the way of a flowing river? The flowing water slows down on the other side, becomes stagnant, pressure builds up on one side but gets no where, and overall growth and renewal are stunted.

~Flow has to find another way~

It is like constantly being frustrated by detours. Does this ring a bell? In the JFB Approach to MFR, one of the main principles is: “We never force, we never injure.” This method is gentle, safe, and effective!   Force = Stress in my opinion. It feels intrusive and unwanted. No one likes to be forced to do anything. In MFR our goal is to Release, allow, and remove restrictions so that there is a fluidity to both your vital energy and your dynamic movement patterns.

Imagine a water hose. It is turned on at the source, but nothing is coming out the other end. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. there is a kink in the hose

2. the valve is closed because you have it on a splitter

3. it is clogged with ice or sediment

4. someone is standing on it

MFR is like taking the burden off, releasing the pressure valve, unwinding the kink, thawing the ice, and allowing the water to flow freely from the faucet through the hose without restriction. This then allows for a shift from a state of force, effort, and pressure to one of ease, flow, and output. MFR naturally reduces stress in the body by releasing myofascial restrictions. Many clients and patients leave our sessions in a state of total relaxation, feeling refreshed, renewed, and empowered. Sometimes the burdens we place on ourselves are from poor habits of the body and mind, old programming from traditions, or just a general lack of awareness. MFR helps one to become more aware of this vital energy and life flow, where the restrictions are, repetitive and persistent patterns that prevent it, and how to release them.

John F. Barnes, PT  is frequently heard to say, “Without awareness there is no choice.” When we are in the skilled hands of an MFR Therapist in an individual, hands on session, we are safe and allowed to go into our feeling space, and the awareness of what our mind-body is saying is revealed. It is always speaking to us via the fascial voice to bring us ultimately into homeostasis (a state of balance). This is why when we have pain, our body is talking to us.  For more on this read:

Pain: Ask don’t mask 

When we are aware, we can make the choice to stay the same (insanity) or allow a change and give ourselves permission to shift to a healthier state of being. Listen to your body, it is like your vehicle on this Earth. It is with you all the time. If  feeling stressed inside or out, is not working for you, it might be time to enlist the help of an experienced MFR Therapist who will safely guide you to the flowing ease of a pain-free and active lifestyle.

Results 360 Myofascial Release Therapy is located in Baton Rouge, LA providing Wellness Sessions and Physical Therapy Services. Please contact us at:

www.mfr360.com/contact/

If you need help finding one in your area go to: (look for your state or country tab)

www.mfrtherapists.com