Introducing our NEW "Physio Restore"class and how it can benefit your body.
Physiotherapist Claire Denton explains the importance of lengthening your fascia.
A lot of us suffer from decreased range of movement and physical limitations in our bodies. Sometimes that can be from joint stiffness, pain, inflammation, muscle length, fascial restriction or a combination of all.
Now, I’m sure many of you are familiar with most of the terms used above but have you heard of fascial restriction? Probably not… until more recently fascia has been an overlooked structure in our body that plays a major role in holding us together.
So what is Fascia?
Fascia is a fibrous tissue that connects every cell in the body. It forms an extracellular, 3D web that holds us together, penetrates and surrounds body tissues, including muscles, blood vessels, bones, nerves, organ tissue and so on.
Fascia is primarily made of the following:
· Elastin fibers, which allow changes in the body
· Collagen fibers, which are incredibly tough and provide strength and support
· Ground substance, which is fluid and gelatinous when healthy and allows muscles and organs to glide over one another, preventing any friction between them.
Healthy fascia is normally strong, springy and fluid. However, not incorporating sufficient movement into your lifestyle or having a sedentary job can leave your fascia in a shortened, rigid state. Sitting for prolonged periods, typically in hunched positions, is notorious for this and as a result can cause pain and tension throughout the body. Not exercising your connective tissue regularly can cause this problem to worsen over time, ultimately resulting in morphological changes.
So how does our restorative physiotherapy class aim to exercise your fascial tissue?
Following further Therapeautic Yoga training in Sydney with physiotherapist and yoga teacher Irene Ais we are delighted to introduce this specialised class into our clinic.
Unlike our Pilates classes it isn’t aimed at targeting your muscles to build strength, the emphasis is placed on lengthening and opening our fascial lines by coming into slow, supported poses that are held for longer periods e.g. 2-10 minutes. By allowing this opening and lengthening of the fascia it helps to support and maintain normal function of muscular length, provides stability, and also enables increased range of motion around the joints.
Combining both our Pilates classes and our restorative physio yoga classes means you can get the perfect balance for the body.
Contact us today to find out more about our restorative physiotherapy classes. The next course starts on 31st of May, 2019.
Claire demonstrating restorative poses in our clinic.