John Barnes Article on Fascia

Greetings Somanauts!

I was so excited to receive the new issue of Massage and Bodywork magazine this month, a whole issue dedicated to fascia! Seriously. Four articles on the fascia by three luminaries in the field, one of whom I've had the opportunity to study with - John Barnes. You can access it through the September / October edition of Massage & Bodywork: "Addressing Fascia with Myofascial Release: A Conversation with John Barnes."

So, the article prompted a little reflecting on my experience with Barnes and my introduction to myofascial work and fascia in general. 

As I read the article I was transported back in time and place. I think it was 2003, maybe 2004, when I went to Sedona for three weeks to study Myofascial Release with John Barnes. It's no joke that my whole career changed from that experience. I didn't know it at the time. Back then fascial work was not nearly as well known or understood as it is now. I went there not really knowing much at all about any of it, mostly went because my mentor, John Miller, kept telling me I should. I was a struggling massage therapist at the time, trying to find my way in the field and build my practice. 

I drove my little blue pick-up from Mt. Shasta to Sedona and pretty much spent my last pennies on the whole experience. And, I am still reaping the benefits. It was delightful to hear Barnes' voice coming off the page this morning. I remember how certain he was about this work, about this stuff called fascia, about how if you approached it in the right way things would change. I remembered too, how dedicated he was to us, to our own process as evolving people with our own story. He was so clear that was never separate from our work with clients. Needless to say I left Sedona three weeks later inspired, probably more inspired than really with much in the way of new skills. (The wonderful thing is I'm still inspired!)

Based on Barnes' strong suggestion I bought a book by this person, James Oschman. I'd never heard of him, the title was kind of clunky, but in I went. And, I haven't really yet emerged. It was Energy Medicine in Therapeutics and Human Performance. It was the combined experience of the three weeks in Sedona and then studying that book afterwards that profoundly changed my work and my life. I don't mean to be dramatic but it's really true.

It was then that I developed my way of imagining and holding open, meditative type questions while working. I would visualize what I was learning from Oschman while I attempted the myofascial techniques I learned from John Barnes. I would simply visualize the tissue under my hands doing what these folks said it could do. And, it actually seemed to work! 

It is an exciting time for folks doing hands-on work that are interested in these fascial properties. So much is being learned and yet... While reading another article by a French surgeon, Jean-Claude Guimberteau, who is doing truly leading-edge video work on living connective tissue, I was reminded of the words of AT Still written in the mid-1800's on fascia. He had the insight then that fascia was the most mysterious substance and contained so much opportunity regarding helping the body heal. His insight was/is remarkable. 

And that reminded me that as exciting as it is to always be learning and exploring new information as it becomes available, the new should never replace our own inner vision. It is that process of engaging our inner vision in the service of both learning and helping our clients that allows us all to work from a place of insight no matter where we find ourselves in the amazing journey of our work.

I'm so looking forward to being in learning with you all soon! If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us.

best,

Michael