What is Fascia?

Catherine
2 days ago
2 min read

...and How to Keep Your Fascia Hydrated...

Let's dig into a juicy topic I love researching. Fascia!

What is fascia & myofascial release?

John’s Hopkins defines fascia as a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in place. The tissue does more than provide internal structure; fascia has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin. When stressed, it tightens up.

A visual I like to compare fascia to is an orange segment. The thin membrane around the fruit of the orange is like the fascia around the muscles and organs of the body. Fascia looks like one sheet of tissue, but it’s actually multiple layers with liquid in between called hyaluronan.

Fascia is designed to slide & glide as you move. But there are certain things that cause fascia to thicken and become sticky. When it dries up and tightens around muscles, it can limit mobility and cause painful knots to develop. Stretching muscles but not addressing fascia won’t get to the root of stiffness and pain.

Head to the Roll & Release channel in the on-demand library and give your fascia some love.

These guided sessions use simple tools to melt tension, improve mobility, and help your body recover faster so you can move (and feel) your best. A few minutes of release can truly change everything. You'll see one of my favorites from the channel below.

Cath's Pick - My favorite class from the channel

This is a rolling sequence for the glutes performed with two yoga balls on the mat. This sequence can help release tension in the hips and lower back and improve mobility in the hips.