Short answer: When you target fascia tissue, you work with the deeper layers of your muscle and have the potential to increase mobility, flexibility and free up energy. This can support daily life and movement, plus physical performance and of course, experience the natural high and endorphins that come with energy that flows better.
Long answer: Fascia tissue can be likened to a network that holds your muscles, ligaments, joints and tissues together. Fascia runs through the body and Very Well Health describes it as ‘The collagen that holds us together.’ Supporting tissue health helps your physical performance, endurance, movement and mental and emotional wellbeing because you are nourishing the tissues in the body.
Stretch Coach breaks muscle fascia down further here:
‘What is Muscle Fascia?
Fascia is a fibrous connective tissue that is present throughout the entire body, not just the muscles. There are three main types of fascia:
- Superficial Fascia, which is mostly associated with the skin;
- Deep Fascia, which is mostly associated with the muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels; and
- Visceral (or Subserous) Fascia, which is mostly associated with the internal organs.’
If you are doing a lot of sitting, walking, driving, working out, carrying children, heavy laptop bags or manual labour, the body can start to get stressed and develop tight areas in muscles and/or knots.
Longer holds in yoga help to release the tight knots and muscles and provide a deep stretch to target fascia and connective tissue in the body. There are different types of stretching:
- dynamic stretching with lots of movement and short holds which generally offer a superficial stretch
- stretching across muscles with props e.g. placing calf muscle on a tennis ball to release the muscle offers a deeper stretch
- applying pressure to muscles to lengthen short and tight fibrous tissues e.g. massages help to release knots in the body and tightness
- yin yoga which involves holding poses for 1 – 20 minutes specifically targets fascia tissue
Massages, using props to apply pressure to the muscle and yin yoga all target the deeper layers of the muscle and fascia tissue to support a greater release through the body and offer an increase in mobility and flexibility.
And — boom! Now you have an overview about fascia, different types of stretches and how you can release tightness in your muscular body. When you release through your physical body, this can help create space emotionally and mentally because of the interconnected nature of the human body. Amazing, huh? Throw me any questions! Keep stretching and stay happy. 🙂 xo