"...The body is a web of fascia. A spiderweb is in a plane. This web is in a sphere. We can trace the lines of that web to get an understanding of how what we see in a body works... " -Ida P. Rolf PhD
Fascia, (connective tissue) in its optimal condition is a white, loose, fibrous, moist tissue. Like a multi-layered stocking fascia surrounds, supports and connects every muscle, organ, tendon and bone, giving our body shape and strength. Healthy fascia helps facilitate fluid movement between different parts of the body. Much like a sculptor working with clay, a Practitioner of the Rolf Method works with the body’s living malleable myofascial system, by lengthening and releasing age-old fascial restrictions that inhibit fluid movement, causing imbalance, chronic tension and pain. Restrictions can be related to posture and movement patterns, or the times in our lives when the sympathetic (fight and flight) branch of our autonomic nervous system responds to protect us, like during an accident, injury, or intense emotional experience.
This Video does contain some images from a cadaver dissection, so if that is disturbing to you, I wouldn't watch it.
In this video, Gil shows how little strands of collagen form between the fascial planes of muscles and how this collagen "fuzz" can inhibit movement. Then he talks about how movement, like stretching when you get up, or something more formal like a yoga practice, can help break up or melt the fuzz that is created when we don't move.
