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Different practitioners have different takes on MFR, but generally speaking it is a style of bodywork that involves working with fascial restrictions or trigger points (AKA knots). We all have them, from both activity and inactivity, and we all have unique patterning based on what we do or don’t do with our bodies. Muscles have memory, and I have a talent for finding adhesions and performing soft tissue manipulations to release the muscle(s) and surrounding tissues that are tight, contracted, dehydrated, or otherwise tangled up, allowing them to go back to neutral and function as they were made to. Though the work can be intense at times, relaxation massage techniques are mixed in, so we ease into it and the work becomes less intense with time. The end result is a feeling of spaciousness and freedom in the physical body, with decreased pain, increased mobility and range of motion, and a potential reduction in injury risk.

Fascia is a web of soft tissue made up of mostly collagen that covers, protects, and interweaves everything beneath the skin: joints, organs, muscles, etc. Fascial work involves releasing restrictions in different kinds of soft tissue at varying depths to assist function of the musculoskeletal system and create a sense of well-being.

Athletes, yogis, desk workers, new moms, fitness junkies, or anyone with chronic pain, tension, or old injuries. Folks with good muscle tone who use their bodies a lot. People who have received massage for years but leave feeling like it didn’t quite do the trick. Anyone who knows they like “deep tissue”. Anyone who wants to feel better.

The frail elderly (as opposed to active seniors who have kept their vitality and strength). Young children. Folks with weak muscle tone (very thin, very flexible, or with very little muscle tissue). Anyone who knows they do not like intensity or pain of any kind. Anyone who cannot or will not take a deep breath. People looking for a quick one time fix, who are not willing to do the homework or at home self care that I might recommend.

*Sorry, but I am no longer doing side lying prenatal massage. 

*If you are not sure whether any of this applies to you, I would recommend you give it a try and we will work together to see if I am the right practitioner for you. If not, I will refer you to someone who might be better suited to fit your individual needs!

Nerves are normal when you’re trying something out for the first time, but you’re in good hands. Nearly everyone who walks through my door is hooked after one session. Though I have a reputation for performing intense work, we will always stay within your window of tolerance. Sessions start and end gently to give your body time to adjust and soften. You’re encouraged to speak up if you need a break and I will be paying close attention to how your nervous system is responding. Though it can be spicy at times, subsequent sessions are less so, and repeat clients report that the aftereffects are worth it!

Intervals between sessions is highly individual, but I typically recommend about three sessions spaced 3-6 weeks apart to start, to get you to a place of maintenance. After that, you may be able to stretch sessions out as far as eight weeks, or you may prefer a rhythm that works better for your unique body. Waiting more than three months to receive another treatment is like starting over again.

If myofascial release involves compression, cupping is myofascial decompression. Stubborn tension in the body occasionally responds better to the latter, so I will often incorporate cupping into a full length session. Fire cupping is the OG cupping method. A flaming alcohol soaked cotton ball creates a vacuum of heat inside the cup so that it sticks to your body. While it can be spicy, it is not painful and there is no burn. Suction can be adjusted to suit your comfort, but most folks find it very relaxing. Cups work along the meridian systems of the body, assisting the flow of chi (energy) and clearing blockages in the subtle energy channels. On a physical level, they pull from up to four inches below your skin and draw toxins, dead blood cells, and metabolic waste into the bloodstream. The marks you see are not bruises so much as they are hickeys– and the intensity of the color is a reflection of how much junk is being recycled into the shallow capillaries beneath the skin. The marks and color that cups leave get less intense and fade faster with consistency.