Hi guys!
I have had a few of you contact me asking what is fascia? So here is a quick explanation about what it is and how it relates to your Yin Yoga practice.
What is fascia?
Fascia is a sheet of connective tissue found throughout your whole body and basically keeps you as one piece. Without it you would just be a sack of bones on the floor!
There are three main types of fascia:
Superficial Fascia which is found right beneath the skin.
Deep Fascia which is found within the muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels.
Visceral Fascia which is found within the internal organs.
You can imagine fascia as a really thin, see through, kind of like a wet spider web that threads through your whole body - directly under the skin, in-between and around all the muscles, organs, bones etc.
How to keep fascia healthy?
For those who come to my classes, you will know I always recommend you to drink plenty of water after class. This is because fascia is 70% water and as we get deep into the fascia through Yin poses, we need to replenish it by hydrating it. By keeping ourselves hydrated, the fascia is able to glide around the body easily.
When the fascia is unhealthy it becomes sticky, clumpy and tight which can form a number of problems such as muscle knots and loss of mobility.
There could also be other factors causing unhealthy fascia such as:
Overused or injured muscles
Stress
Poor sleep
Unhealthy eating habits
and that's just to name a few!
How does Yin Yoga help?
Fascia is a yin-like tissue and will respond best to yin-like stresses. Holding a Yin pose for a certain amount of time will help reorganise the fascia, allowing it to become longer and thicker.
If you notice restrictions within a movement, this could be due to your muscle fascia being short and tight. So by using Yin poses, you can really get deep within the muscle fascia to help elongate, creating more space and mobility that wasn't there before.
It may also be interesting for you to note this paragraph from Bernie Clark.
"The chronic, painful tightness many people experience in their lower backs, shoulders, neck or other areas is often caused not by their muscles but by their fascia. This form of tension will also restrict range of movement, and it has nothing to do with tight, short or contracted muscles - it is fascial."
Therefore by stressing your fascia through Yin Yoga poses you can:
Increase your range of motion and flexibility
Strengthen your muscles
Reduce soreness
Improve blood circulation and enhance the lymph system.
I hope this has helped answer your questions without getting too technical, as you can really delve deep into the learnings of fascia.
Thank you again for contacting me, asking me questions, as this is what I am passionate about - being able to help you bring ease into your life.
Please feel free to contact me if there is another topic you would like me to write about.
Amy. x
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