Fascinating fascia

I was born with a hole in my heart. At two years old I had surgery to resolve it and, thankfully, I haven’t experienced a single problem since. It’s all but a distant memory.

However, since becoming a yoga teacher I’ve become acutely aware of the tightness in my shoulders, especially compared to that of my students. This tendency to curl into myself has left me constricted and strong back bends often bring up feelings of extreme fear and vulnerability.

Over the years, as I’ve enquired into this restriction, I’ve been flooded with memories of this childhood experience. Certain movements, when explored, often come with a primal surge of emotion, a strong feeling that I want my mother and a deep sympathy and sadness for my two-year-old self.

You’ve likely had a similar experience. It might be hard to explain but you know something is going on. Perhaps it connects your body to your mind, creating strong sensations and emotions when you move through certain shapes.

There are many theories about what is going on here. One particular area that is being examined more deeply within both Eastern and Western communities is fascia: the connective tissue that permeates your entire body. In fact, many