Date/Time:

Saturday, February 16, 2019 - Sunday, February 17, 2019
11:00am - 7:00pm

Location:

36 W. Broadway
Boston, MA 02127

Prices/Registration:

$500

Register Now!

Contact: 

Stephanie Stoy
[email protected]
207-563-7121

Fascia as a Sensory and Emotional Organ: Implementing New Insights from Connective Tissue Research into Myofascial Treatment Practice  

Instructor: Tom Myers, Robert Schleip

Credits:  14 Category 1

Course Description:

Recent research indicates that the muscular connective tissues (fascia) serve a more active role than previously assumed. This includes the capacity to regulate their stiffness independently from neuromuscular coordination, the role of fascia as a potential pain generator, and its role as our richest sensory organ for proprioception. In addition, new insights about an intricate connection between fascia and the autonomic nervous system as well as emotional aspects have become available. Dr. Robert Schleip and Tom Myers will review some of the most important insights from the field of fascia research and demonstrate practical translations into hands-on myofascial applications.Lectures will include:-Fascia as sensory organ: the basis for proprioception, the so called sixth sense-The four mechanoreceptor types in fasciae: Golgi-, Pacini-, Ruffini- and free nerve endings. Each with preferred location, mechanical sensitivity and expected physiologicalmresponse-Fascia and interoception. Role of visceral and cutaneous receptors for body image formation and emotional conditioning-Connection between fascial tonicity and the autonomic nervous system-The tensegrity concept revisited: myofascial force transmission lines, with latest modifications. Relevance for postural regulation.-Lumbar fasciae: architecture and innervation. New aspects in back pain research.Practical Applications:-Golgi receptor stimulation: application for correction of shoulder protraction-Pacini stimulation: application to spinal facet joints and costovertebral junctions-Ruffini stimulation: application on upper trapezius, with downstream effects on vagal tonicity and heart rate variability-Stimulation of free nerve endings: example of periosteum manipulation.-Fascial techniques for the treatment of acute low back pain-‘Mother Cat‘ technique for nuchal fascia-Inclusion of mindful micro movements of the patient during the hands‐on work

Instructor Bio: 

Robert Schleip PhD MA directs the Fascia Research Project of Ulm University in Germany. Having been a Rolfing instructor and Feldenkrais practitioner for over 20 years, he felt frustrated with the speculative nature of scientific explanations backing up most areas of current bodywork. When he entered the field of connective tissue science as an active laboratory researcher in 2003, he became so thrilled that he soon became one of the driving international forces in the newly emerging field of fascia research. His own research findings on active contractile properties of human fasciae have been honored with the Vladimir Janda Award of Musculoskeletal Medicine. He is research director of the European Rolfing Association, and co-‐‐initiator of the 1st Fascia Research Congress hosted at Harvard Medical School (Boston 2007) as well as of the subsequent congresses

Thomas Myers, LMT directs Anatomy Trains, which offers courses in manual therapy and the anatomy of movement worldwide. Tom is the author of Anatomy Trains (Elsevier 2001, 2009, 2014),Anatomist’s Corner (Kinesis 2012), Body3 (Kinesis 2010), and co-author of Fascial Release for Structural Balance (North Atlantic 2010, 2016). Tom has authored numerous chapters and contributes frequently to trade magazine and journals. Tom has produced 16 DVDs and a dozen webinars for manual therapists and movement teachers. Tom speaks frequently on fascia, connected anatomy, and movement. Tom is a certified Rolfer ®, a member of the Health Advisory Board for Equinox Fitness, and has formerly been on the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, as well as the Rolf Institute’s Board of Directors. He studied directly with Drs Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, and other luminaries of the bodywork world, and had successful practices in London, Germany, Italy, Australia, and various cities in the US. Tom developed the Anatomy Trains myofascial meridians system from a combination of his practice and anatomy teaching to his students. This system, which connects the muscles into functional units through the fascial bio-fabric, has been taken up with enthusiasm by a variety of body-oriented practitioners from rehabilitation and performance enhancement.