Fascia: The Hands On Treatment that Changes Everything

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jan 21, 2025 | better posture, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, grounding, healthy, Healthy Body, Structural Integration, upledger institute

Getting Manual Work With Your Fascia supports Overall Health and Wellbeing

About 1-2 years ago, I listened to a podcast about the “Interstitium”. Perhaps you have never heard of it. It is a fairly new term. And we know that sometimes it takes time for a new idea to come take hold. So, I thought I’d give the Interstitium and Fascia work a little boost out here on the web. So here we are.

Let’s begin by defining Fascia and it’s relationship to the Interstitium.

Fascia is a type of tissue that looks like a web inside your body. If you could imagine that underneath your skin there is a living matrix wetsuit superficially. This fascia tissue travels deeper and through almost everything in the human body: around bones, organs and it basically holds us all together. In your mind, if you could continue to see it-and sense into it, you’ understand it as a strong elastic type of material that stretches and connects throughout. Fascia is made up out of elastin, collagen and ground substances.

The interstitium is a relatively new area of study in manual therapy. It’s a vast network of fluid-filled spaces that surround cells and tissues, and it plays a key role in how fluids move through the body. By working with both the fascia and the interstitium, therapists can support the movement of these fluids and encourage more efficient flow, which can help the body recover from injury, decrease inflammation, and promote overall health.

This integrated approach, which addresses both the connective tissue (fascia) and the surrounding fluid networks (interstitium), helps create a more holistic, balanced experience for the body. The combination of fluid dynamics and fascial release is what makes manual therapy working with the fascia and interstitium so powerful and restorative.

How Does a Manual Therapist Work with the fascia and Interstitium?

1. It’s key to work slowly and gently whether the therapist does Craniosacral Therapy, Myfascial Release or Deeper Structural Integration. The connected touch feels like a deep stretch, lengthening and spreading vitality to the surrounding tissues. When the therapist listens, the fascia will always lead to the easiest way to unwind and free of movement and space.

2. It’s also quite common for people to feel more fluidity with fascial work. This is where the instertitium comes in because it allows motion and enhances functioning.

3. Manual Fascial Therapy often releases deep tension patterns. Here is where some of the therapies may vary in approach. With Ida Rolf’s work, generally the touch is more assertive. The other end of the spectrum is gentle, light touch Craniosacral Therapy.

4. You may gain greater awareness of your body. Touch is a great way to mirror back the sensations in your body. You may feel a greater sense of connection to the many internal influences that optimize your body’s health and wellness.

5. The effects of fascial work is profound. You may walk away feeling so calm and peaceful. Often people feel more balanced inside but also in how their body stacks up. This can mean better grounding and use of movement. When the fascia is better organized, it is more efficient in everything it does. With muscles but also in promoting organ health too with mobility and motility.

6. Both the fascia and the interstitium are connected to emotions. For example, when a person experiences a physical or emotional trauma, that may hold in the tissues and contract to protect. While this is super efficient short-term it’s important to find balance and length again so misalignments don’t compensate permanently.

7. If you want to feel more at home in your body, fascia and interstitum work can help you reach your goals. It’s always best to optimize what you have.

A little bit about Sharon Hartnett (author):

I studied Massage in the 1990’s. Later studying Ida Rolf’s work at the Institute for Structural Integration. Later in the early 2000’s I got turned on to Craniosacral Therapy. Truly I love both of these approaches to keep the fascial body healthy. One (SI) is definately a stronger approach. However, the Craniosacral Therapy is so gentle that body is more apt to work more effectively. It doesn’t fight any of the technique. More recently, I have studied Visceral Manipulation at the Barral Institute for about the last 10 years. This looks at the organs and the tissues connecting and surrounding. Mobilizing the tissues can actually help the organs to functure better. So all this work is vital to keep peope healthy. Getting unstuck nourishes the body and cleans up what no longer needs to be held. I love this work!

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

How to Find Yourself in the Healing Process

by SharonHartnett | Jan 15, 2025 | barbara brennan, change, Craniosacral Therapy, Energy Healing, healing, healthy, Spiritual Healing, upledger institute

The Healing Process is built on many moments of Life.

The Truth: Moments Unfolding with Change is Authentic Healing. Things do change instanteously and miraculously, but often in life relationships and time, one experience leads into another. The same thing occurs with the healing process.

For people hoping to Heal

Slow it Down With Grace

I get that you want things to happen quickly, and that’s totally normal. You may also want to feel a deep shift in the first session.We live in a world where everything feels like it’s supposed to happen now. Or maybe you have been feeling uncomfortable or in pain for a long time. I get that can be difficult. However, when it comes to life and healing, the truth is, the “process” is where all the real growth and change happens. Healing isn’t like flipping a switch, it’s like planting a seed. You can’t rush a seed to grow into a tree—it takes time, care, and patience.

In the process, you’re learning, adjusting, and becoming stronger. It’s not always easy, and it can feel frustrating, but the struggle is actually what builds resilience. Think of it like lifting weights—at first, you can’t handle much, but little by little, your strength increases. That’s how emotional growth works too. It’s in the moments that feel slow, or even stagnant, that you’re really building the foundation for long-term change.

So while you may want results now, the process is what makes those results sustainable. If you skip steps or try to rush it, you might end up back where you started, without having truly learned what you needed to. The key is to trust that the process, though uncomfortable at times, is actually your path to the very thing you’re craving—whether it’s peace, strength, clarity. It’s all happening in the journey, not just at the destination.

I share this with you because unrealistic expectations can actually stop the healing. In order to avoid disappointment, realize that the Healer is within You and it will happen as you are truly ready. A therapist or healer can help meet those places inside that desire change. They can nudge and hold a healing space for that change to happen. But most importantly your Higher Self must be tapped into for those places that feel stuck and may need to feel reassured in many different ways and on different levels.

The Journey of Healing is an ongoing process. Perhaps what you need will be resolved in one session. But it’s important for you to realize that the more complex the issues, more likely your healing team will need to re-evaluate on an ongoing basis.

One thing is certain though. Healing is an investment into yourself. You are worth it, and miracles can happen. Still be patient with yourself and the process. The flow will take you into the most unexpected and special places.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

7035091792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

How to Change Your Posture with Somato Emotional Release

by SharonHartnett | Jan 2, 2025 | craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, Healthy Body, mind body & spirit, move effortlessly, Structural Integration, upledger institute

Organizing Optimal Posture

Structural Integration, with an emphasis on posture, is based on the principle that the body is organized and held together in a coordinated, balanced manner. Any distortions in that order and/or balance can lead to physical and emotional discomfort. Fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds muscles, bones, and organs, plays a crucial role in this organization. When fascia becomes tight, scarred, or restricted due to poor posture, emotional stress, or injury, it can cause the body to lose its ability to move freely and efficiently.

Creating a healthier and more fluid Posture can be better facilitated by recognising the emotional aspect of Structure. At the core of Somato Emotional Release hands-on manual work, we consider holding the intention of using of physical touch to help a person to heal emotionally as well as physically. For many of us who have worked with clients for years, we recognize that the body stores emotional memories. The body often reflects our history and our choices. However, this can change with gentle and nourishing skillful touch.

Fortunately, some people are proactive and come in for help with their posture ahead of the game. These cases are often easier in terms of release and integration. Often though, discomfort or pain may be the leading reason someone seeks out help. Obviously, it’s always best to stay in front of the curve when possible. It’s the whole idea of treating simplity over complexity.

The Best situation for a client is when the therapist is Certified through their schooling. It ensures that they reach the top level of understanding of the anatomy, skills particular to a certain manual therapy, but also that they have learned how to support the emotional process. Because quite often people do have emotional releases when their posture is changing on a fascial level.

Emotions for some people can be a very vulnerable thing to express. Perhaps in their childhood or current relationships, there is judgment or lack of understanding. So it’s very helpful to find someone with specific training in dialoguing. Bodyworkers are not counselors, but they can and certainly do help their clients process, and find their own healing responses when trained.

Some things to look for in a Somato Emotional Release Therapist are:

A trusting and Safe Space
Neutrality
Certification ie. Upledger
Body Centered Emotional Training
An Understanding of Posture
An Ability to Listen and Work with Fascia
The Ability to Meld with the Tissues
Experience

If you are seeking out a Somato Emotional Release therapist to help free up and balance your posture, first call for an interview. It’s important to feel a bond of trust first and foremost. Then,as this type of manual therapy can help treat misalignment of the posture as well as letting go of stress and emotional baggage, ask questions upfront so that you can feel comfortable with your choice.

Processing unresolved emotional trauma can truly change how you feel in your body!

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

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How to Open to the Possibilities

by SharonHartnett | Dec 29, 2024 | Craniosacral Therapy, healing, meditation, mind body & spirit, mindfulness, upledger institute

Possibilities Are Always Present.

Call in the Possibilities!

Remember a time that you felt stuck? Perhaps right now it feels like some doors are shut No options available? No matter how much you try, you’re still in the same place.

When we look outside of ourselves for answers, the ultimate resolution never starts there. Rather, change is an inside job to self-realize possibilities in any given situation. The sooner we realize that we have no control over other people or events, the freerer we become internally. We learn that the power of possibilities can be born from within us. It’s a mindset. Something that calls for us to practice so that we see new opportunities outside as well. We can be the intentional change we want to be.

True freedom to discover comes from understanding that possibilities live in the Unknown. It can take courage to explore possibilities over the “norm” It does take a quiet mind and a mindful intention to stay in curiositiy with the “Self”, and with our other relationships. When we question with an open mind, it gives us space for the mystery to unfold. It allows time for the chess pieces to move, and new magical experiences to arise. It’s in these gaps of silence and curiosity, that insights come from a place which hold eternal wisdom.

These days, so much of the time we invest in “knowing”. I’d suggesty an alternative. Try instead to rest in the play of “not knowing” if you want to shift or transform into your most “Whole” feeling Self. Allow the mystery to fulfill you.

Life is about receiving meaning and understanding. In order to allow the possibilties to move through us, it’s a choice to invite and partipate in all that we DON’T Know.

Being a Craniosacral Therapist, all my sessions move in this way. Magic happens. I live in the mystery of the Deeper Essential Wisdom that is always here, waiting to express its voice. It helps my clients to free themselves when they remember and awaken to this Deeper Truth. Because I get to observe this experience, it reminds me every day of the possibilities that are always swimming around for me, for you, and for anyone if we are willing to leave the familiar and explore.

The Possibilities of Change. You may feel stuck at times, but you are not. New possibilties are always less than a breath away.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

Certified Craniosacral Therapist through the Upledger Institute

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

How to Choose the Best Craniosacral Therapist for You

by SharonHartnett | Dec 27, 2024 | craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, upledger institute

Looking for the Best Fitting Craniosacral Therapist for You?

Finding the best craniosacral therapist for you involves a few key steps. Here’s how you can go about it:

Ask people you trust who have experienced Craniosacral Therapy first hand for Recommendations. Craniosacral Therapy is a very personal experience, and word of mouth is very helpful.
Check Qualifications: Look for a craniosacral therapist who is certified by a reputable organization, like the Upledger Institute. The work of Dr. John has been being taught for close to 40 years because it is powerful and deeply healing. Certification through the school shows that a student has received proper manual and somaticemotional training, and can provide expertise to your session. A practitioner is still a student until they have gone through the rigorous training and testing to become Certified.
Read Reviews: Search online for craniosacral reviews or testimonials. Look for therapists with positive feedback, especially regarding the specific issues you’re hoping to address (e.g., pain, stress, injury recovery). Google is a great resource: Click here
Experience with Your Issues: Some therapists specialize in certain areas, like pain relief, trauma, or stress. Make sure the therapist has experience treating the kind of issue you’re dealing with.
Initial Consultation: Many therapists offer a free first telephone consultation. This gives you the chance to ask questions, gauge how comfortable you feel with them, and see if their approach resonates with you.
Trust Your Instincts: The relationship with your therapist is important. You should feel safe, comfortable, and listened to. If you don’t feel a connection, it’s okay to try someone else.

By following these steps, you’ll increase your chances of finding a therapist who is a good fit for your needs.

Your craniosacral therapist will naturally want the best fit for you too.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

www.upledger.com

What is Something New You Learned about Yourself Lately?

by SharonHartnett | Dec 27, 2024 | change, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, grounding, healing, healthy, mind body & spirit, trauma, upledger institute

Awakening Yourself

To Awaken to yourself is the most powerful thing you can do. Feeling confident about your life, and the choices you make shape everything. Unburdening yourself from limitations is freeing.

Often people who come in for Craniosacral Therapy can feel stressed, a bit lost, anxious, or in pain. Something feels off, and the person may not understand why they feel the way they do. Maybe there are pieces under the level of consciousness- stored in the cellular memory. Working through the mind body connection can be quite powerful.

Craniosacral can help ground you more firmly into your life.

Working with a Craniosacral Therapist can shift everything. Some of the ways this can happen in a session are:

1. Presence: The holding of neutral space creates trust and safety.

2. Respecting boundaries helps define you and your comfort level.

3. Craniosacral Therapy taps into the Craniosacral System which nourishes and keeps the Nervous System Healthier and in balance.

4. Certified Techniques and Skill level can release and help integrate old wounding and trauma. This makes space for potential awakening to knowing oneself more deeply. it can bring more meaning to life.

5. An Experienced Craniosacral Therapist supports the Awakening Process by training with open dialogue which is centered on Self-Discovery. Ask about SomatoEmotional Release Work.

Craniosacral Therapy takes an Osteopathic approach to manual therapy. It focuses on trusting your body to find the internal discovery and healing processes within.

If you feel you have tried so many things but nothing helps, giving Craniosacral Therapy a change may help shift you into a Light Awakening. It’s so gentle, yet profound.

One of the best things that you can learn about yourself is Self-Empowerment through curiosity, and sensing into your own body and sense of Self.

What have you learned about yourself and what can help you move forward as you continue to open up?

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

SomatoEmotional Release Therapy Certified through Upledger

703 509-1792

www.cranosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

Columbus, Ohio Area.