Our bodies are truly amazing! Did you know Fascia is the connective tissue between your skin and your muscles? Well there is a lot more to it than we used to think.
There are sheets, or trains, of fascia throughout your body. Fascia is made from collagen fibres that wraps around every structure in the body including muscles, bone, nerves, artery, veins, organs, heart, brain and spinal cord.
Fascia has been described as a liquid crystalline matrix. Fascial fibres are hollow tubes filled with fluid that have the ability to conduct light, similar to fibre optics. Consequently, they can relay information to the brain faster than nerve impulses! So, it seems that it’s capable of transmitting energy, electric signals, at speeds that far exceed the capability of our nervous system. Fascia has been referred to as a “superconductor of energy” by quantum physicists. It has been claimed that the fascia is the most important form of communication in the body. Responsible for hundreds of thousands of actions each and every living cell in our body must take in order to maintain healthy function.
Fascia can store and release kinetic energy. In a fight or flight situation, fascia can clamp down on blood vessels and nerves, slowing down potential blood loss and dulling potential pain sensations.
In its healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy, able to stretch and move without restriction. In the event of physical or emotional trauma, scarring, or inflammation, the fascial system loses its elasticity and becomes a source of tension in the body. Ultimately, pain and restricted motion result. There are three different layers of fascia, including superficial, visceral and deep.
Bowen Therapy naturally addresses fascia by working on the superficial layer. We stimulate this layer at precise points on the body through a series of moves. The slack in the skin is gently moved over the underlying tissue or fascia, and if we remember that not only is all fascia connected together, but it can send information to the brain faster than a nerve impulse, then we can start to understand the tremendous healing power present whenever we perform a Bowen move. We are stimulating the entire body with each move.