FAQs

What is fascia?

Fascia is a specialized system of the body that has an appearance similar to a spider's web or a sweater. Fascia is very densely woven, covering and interpenetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as, all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one continuous structure that exists from head to toe without interruption. In this way you can begin to see that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater.

Fascia plays an important role in the support and function of our bodies, since it surrounds and attaches to all structures. In the normal healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. When one experiences physical trauma, emotional trauma, scarring, or inflammation, however, the fascia loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted, and a source of tension to the rest of the body.

What is Myofascial Release?

Connective tissue, also known as "fascia", is one of the most ignored aspects of the human body by modern day medi- cine. Fascia holds and supports all body systems in place three dimensionally creating a soft tissue structural environment for all of the systems to function together.

What is Jin Shin Jyutsu?

Jin Shin Jyutsu is a Japanese healing art that works with the energetic body through light touch. Simple, yet powerfully effective at relieving daily fatigue, stress or chronic ailments. It has the benefit of providing a state of deep relaxation while revitalizing the energy of the body.

How do they work?

Fascia is both a system and a structure. It is a continuous fiber network that is the communication system of the body. Its intricate pathways maintain the integrity of our structure, deliver nutrients and store information. Wherever the fascia is impacted, the ability for the body to transmit and receive information is compromised.

If those compromised areas are left unaddressed, over time that will begin to deteriorate the overall health of the body.

On a functional level, touch connects and integrates the communication systems of the body. Touch acts as a jumper cable to jumpstart the process of eliminating the dis-ease that is working against the health of the body.

Myofascial Release: The gentle sustained pressure of MFR actually melts collagen in tight restricted tissues changing it from a thickened dehydrated state and allowing it to return to a natural gel-like state. As this happens, restricted connective tissue can then be permanently stretched resulting in pain relief, enhanced range-of-motion, relief of internal pressure, and a sense inside the body of comfort and spacious- ness.

Jin Shin Jyutsu: The base foundation of our cellular structure is energy. When the body’s energy becomes compromised or blocked, disharmony can arise resulting in pain, stress, fatigue, emotional irregularities, etc. Jin Shin Jyutsu has the ability to connect to the body’s core energy through touch, removing the blockages within the energetic system. By addressing disharmony at its core level gives the body an opportunity to find lasting positive change.

What can these modalities treat? Is it just for pain relief?

MFR and JSJ take an integrative approach to healing. Their intent is to treat the whole system (mind, body, soul) to create effective change. In addressing the whole of a person some of the “side effects” are relaxation, deeper connection to themselves and a sense of peace to name a few.

Here are some common areas of pain that MFR and JSJ are wonderful at addressing: adhesions, back pain, carpal tunnel, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, disc problems, fibromyalgia, headaches, infants/children, jaw pain (TMJ), migraines, myofascial pain syndrome, neck pain, neurological dysfunction, painful scars, pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, sciatica, scoliosis, sports injuries, whiplash, women's health issues

If you have any questions about whether or not your specific health concern is treatable, click here to send an inquiry. If I am not able to help you I will happily refer you to someone I think will be a great fit.

How should I prepare for a treatment?

Myofascial Release: Please have clean, dry skin the day of your appointment and refrain from applying lotions or oils to your skin as this renders myofascial techniques less effective. For the postural assessment and many treatment techniques, it is best for the client to wear shorts and a tank top.

Jin Shin Jyutsu: Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing is recommended. Also recommended to not have a heavy meal right before, treatment more effective when the digestive system isn’t full.


What can I expect during a session?

Myofascial Release: Each Myofascial Release Treatment session is performed directly on skin without oils, creams or machinery. This enables the therapist to accurately detect fascial restrictions and apply the appropriate amount of sustained pressure to facilitate release of the fascia.

Memories can become locked within the fascial system from what is known as your body’s tissue memory, and can oftentimes manifest themselves in the physical pain that you feel. With the help of MFR, the physical and emotional content of any injury, literal or symbolic, may be addressed in a safe and gentle way and environment. Once your Myofascial Release treatment plan is underway, your progress can be significantly accelerated by a home self-care program

Jin Shin Jyutsu: When you receive a Jin Shin Jyutsu session, you lie face up, fully clothed on a massage table. Only gentle touch is used to open specific energy pathways in the body. There are no needles involved, and no tissue or bone manipulation whatsoever. Most experience a deep sense of relaxation and may even fall asleep during the session. Clients are given self-care instruction at the end of each session. The benefits of Jin Shin Jyutsu are cumulative, so five or six sessions are recommended initially.

How many treatments will I need?

Typically I work with people for 60 minutes on a weekly basis, and with time, reduce our frequency to bi-weekly. Each session cumulatively builds upon itself so allowing the time to receive, process and integrate the work is important.

One of the wonderful things about the application of these modalities is how individualized each treatment is. Everyone’s bodies are different and will react differently to Myofascial Release and Jin Shin Jyutsu.

While immediate symptom relief is normally experienced every session, lasting benefits are generally experienced after 3-4 sessions. We will work together to create a treatment plan to help set expectations and work with your treatment goals.

How long do the effects of these treatments last?

Every person reacts differently. Some people find complete relief from symptoms with only a couple treatments. Other issues require a longer course of treatment. We will discuss your individual treatment plan once we see how your body responds.


Do you take insurance?

I do not accept insurance however at client’s request I can provide a Super Bill to be submitted to insurance. Clients will need to check with their insurance to see what portion of services are covered for out-of-network benefits.

If knowing what your insurance will cover impacts whether you’d pursue therapy with me, please call your insurance company before contacting me to learn about your out-of-pocket expenses.

How do I know which therapeutic service is right for me?

I believe it is important to find the right healthcare practitioner. Schedule a free phone consultation to see if we are a good fit.