Yoga & Pilates
Yoga is a great adjunct to the practice of myofascial release for both practitioner and client.
The benefits of yoga such as stretching the meridians, easing muscle tension, strengthening muscles, flushing localised blood supply etc - have been well documented.
What may be of interest to the Myofascial Release Practitioner or Yoga Therapist is that certain styles of yoga will also influence the fascia and can be used to correct fascial distortions. This is done by holding postures for a prolonged period of time that have an effect on connective tissue and fascia.
At our clinic, apart from specific corrective exercises, the use of yoga combined with Myofascial Release provides an unbeatable combination to correct postural distortions and musculoskeletal disorders.
Paul Grilley, an American yoga practitioner, who has developed a style called Yin Yoga which he describes in his book "Yin Yoga - Outline of a Quiet Practice" has made some comments that will illustrate some points on the above:
The fundamental characteristic of Yin Yoga is holding poses for several minutes. Connective tissue doesnt respond to brief, rhythmical stretches the way muscles do. Connective tissues are tough and fibrous and stretch best when pulled like taffy.
Imagine holding two ends of a piece of taffy and pulling strenuously for a second or two, nothing much will happen unless you pull it so hard it snaps (like a football knee injury). However, if you gently pull taffy for a long time it will slowly stretch apart. You might be tempted to say, "This isnt good for connective tissue either!" But remember, taffy is inert and doesnt respond to strain the way living connective tissue does. Holding postures for a few minutes with moderate stress is not going to stretch the connective tissue to the breaking point, it is only going to stretch it minutely and if you are persistent the body will respond by growing it a little longer and thicker ... which is what you want.
Our teeth are bones anchored in bone and yet we know from experience that they change. No one would think it viable to "exercise the teeth" by grabbing hold of them and wiggling them back and forth as in Yang activity. But with the patient, and methodical use of braces and retainers even bones can be moved and re-aligned. Likewise, the connective tissues that form our joints can be safely and desirably "exercised" by gently stretching them in Yin Yoga postures.
Yoga Therapists are welcome to take the courses provided by the centre and would find them a great adjunct to their therapy.
