STRETCH TO SLEEP

I can't believe that we have hit the end of February already. February has been my busiest month yet for FST and I have had a very satisfying few weeks of therapy delivery. A number of factors have influenced my satisfaction levels.....
1) Word of mouth has provided me with a boost in client numbers - it's always great to hear "John told me about how you helped him with his hip issue....I wonder if you could help me...."
People only spend time talking about a therapy if it has really worked for them - and it has been plain to see over the last few weeks, that Fascial Stretch Therapy has been a welcome addition to the therapies offered in West Cork.
2) I have seen a really wide range of issues over the last month from old injuries, to niggling pains, to individuals who didn't know they had anything up until they got up off the table and felt so much better - one comment was "Oh my God, I havn't been able to do that since I was a teenager....". But you will have to come for a session to find out what 'that' was!
3) I have had a huge amount of positive feedback regarding the therapy. One client, who we will name Marie, told me that she thought that the rounding of her shoulders and her bad 'shape' (referring to the position of her shoulders and upper body posture) was hereditary. After 3 sessions (2 upper body, one lower body) , Marie is standing straighter and taller than she has in her whole life. She is no longer getting pains along her shoulders and she can sleep through the night now as she no longer gets the pains in her arms and shoulders from lying on her side. Marie has been seeing me for six weeks and while I have given her a selection of exercises to do at home, she does find it difficult to find the time to do them.
This is a very common problem, and working in fitness, I hear this every day. This is why group exercise can be so productive. Find a gym that will let you block book your week of classes for a set price - that way, your schedule is planned out for the week and you are more likely to get the work done!  Remember that any therapy that you receive - be it FST, deep tissue massage, osteopathy or Active Release Technique, must be followed up with an effort on your behalf to maintain the effects. You must contribute to your own wellness!
One client has returned to me 3 weeks after his first session saying that the tightness in his calves had returned and that once again, he was having to cut down on his marathon training. Bearing in mind that this very fit gent is running in excess of 40 miles per week, I asked him if he had integrated the stretch programme I had given him, into his training week. When he sheepishly said that he hadn't, I did mention that I would be delighted to stretch him twice a week for a nominal fee..... I think he got my point after this. Of course, it would be fantastic for me if nobody took control in the management of their own mobility - but it wouldn't be so fantastic for their finances!

Finally, now that I have started therapy every Monday in the GAA complex in Ahamilla, Clonakilty, I am able to take early morning sessions and late evening sessions and everything in between, so many more will be able to benefit from a fulfilling nights sleep after a relaxing session of FST from me ;)