WHAT IS FASCIAL STRETCH THERAPY AND WHY DO I NEED IT?

Hi folks,
It's been a while since I've blogged here - I took some great advice and started working ON my business as well as working in my business.....and I'm really starting to see the benefits.
The great news is that I now have a new base to work from where I can deliver everything that I have to offer. From interval training which is designed to blast fat whilst improving your fitness levels hugely, to Pilates and its condensed counterpart 'Core Blast'. Core blast is a 30 minute abdominal blast incorporating some extra exercises to target the bum, legs, arms and to raise the heartrate to improve cardiovascular fitness. Pilates, as we know, is a technique used to help us to improve strength whilst encouraging increased mobility through movement and stretching. This is where my main interest lies - so many people cannot use their bodies at the most basic levels due to years of built up joint strain and tension. Lack of mobility often results in pain, stiffness and finally injury, but fascial stretch therapy can help to eliminate these symptoms and reverse the effects that age and overuse have on the soft tissue around our joints. As one client said recently after a session "I came to you with hips that felt like they were full of leaking sand bags, I couldn't get out of a chair without grunting. Now I feel like I'm floating....I've been searching for lower, deeper chairs to test out my 'new hips' and even after 2 weeks, I still have no aches".

How is FST different to regular stretching?
Unlike stretching that attempts to isolate and stretch specific muscles, fascial (pronounced fash-al....nothing to do with your face!!!) stretch therapy (FST) targets fascia, the connective tissue found in, around, and between joints. To stretch the fascia, a certified FST therapist gently pulls then moves the legs, arms, spine, and neck in a smooth motion at various angles to remove pressure between joints, release joint-lubricating synovial fluid, and improve flexibility of muscles. The function of muscles cannot be separated from the movement of fascia - this is where most people go wrong with their stretch programmes as they target individual muscle groups. After an initial session with a therapist, it is much easier to maintain flexibility and continue to improve through self stretching.

So what exactly happens during a session?
During a session with me, the client will lie comfortably on my massage table with neck and knees supported. Depending on whether we choose to do an upper or lower body session, I may start by taking your leg or arm and gently mobilising the limb through a specific sequence. I will continue to mobilise whilst gradually increasing the range of motion of the limb. The client should feel a good stretch sensation but should at no time be in pain.
How will I feel after a session?
After just one session, you should immediately feel freer movement in the area that has been stretched. This may be from the middle back through the entire lower half or it might be a specific area that was targeted, such as a frozen shoulder. You may also feel very relaxed and clients often report that they get a really great nights sleep after a session.

To celebrate moving to my new room at Clonakilty Rugby Club, I am offering FST for JUST 35e. This offer is available until the 20th of JUNE and spaces are limited - so if you want to try out this wonderful therapy - give me a call (Fiona) on 087 3841233.
In the meantime - enjoy the West Cork sunshine :)