I can't believe I forgot one of fascia's big likes yesterday (What fascia likes, what fascia don't likes)!!
Fascia likes to move!
More specifically, fascia likes to slide and glide. Fascial layers are continually moving as we move (and we never stop moving, even when we are in very deep sleep we still move). The layers are constantly adjusting to the forces and pulls in direction being placed on the body, constantly aiming to create a place of overall balance and equilibrium within the body. In order to slide and glide well the layers need that juiciness that I have mentioned before (How Spongy Are You?), or else they become sticky and start to adhere to each other.
Once they stick then the movement changes. Get ready for another fascia analogy! Imagine that you are pulling sliding two layers of cling film over each other with a light lubrication between the sheets. They will have some kind of connection and energy exchange (possibly in the form of static), but will move quite freely from each other. Now imagine that you have stuck a tiny bit of glue at one point between them. When the glue first goes on it is wet and slidey and then as it dries it becomes harder and more sticky until the two sheets are stuck firmly together at that point. They cannot now move so freely and pulling one will affect the overall movement of both. This is like an adhesion of fascia, or those dehydrated and stuck nooks and crannies I have mentioned before.
Now, imagine that the glue you used has some special property and when you rolled it (respectfully with something smooth and soft!) the glue became less sticky and hard and reverted back to the consistency it was when you first squeezed it out of the tube. The two sheets start to move apart and eventually they can slide and glide away quite happily again.
To get rid of the last little bit of stickiness you'd probably move the two sheets apart and make sure they could move quite easily again. You wouldn't leave them as they were for the glue to re-harden and stick them back together again, after all that rolling you'd done.
Guess what? Just like fascia! ;-)
The rolling rehydrates the sticky adhesions. The body like to move gently after fascia release, in order to allow the adhesions that you have softened and freed up to fully release. It also allows the body to create new pathways in the neural system from being able to move more freely. By this I mean that the body learns that it can now move through more range or with greater ease and flow where previously it could not. In a sense it creates new memory and your body will remember it can move like this as opposed to believing that it is still restricted.
As with rolling, be respectful to your fascia. Do not ask it to go on a 15 mile run or some kind of intense aerobic or strength training session after a rolling session and expect it to take it all in! Be curious with your movement, and FEEL where you can now move and how this balances over all within your body. Try moves you regularly do and feel the difference. Try some moves you don't usually do and see what happens. Just don't try too hard! Slow and smooth, just like using the rollers or balls. Go back to my programme of movements (Move With Intention) which cover all the general fascia lines.
You can just move and fascia will release. You can just roll or release fascia manually. But for me, the most powerful and longest lasting combination is to put the two together.
So, rock and roll, or roll and rock, dude. They go together.. ;-)
Til tomorrow.....
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