Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a session of Fascial Stretch Therapy with Colin Jackson, Certified Fascial Stretch Therapist.
This style of manual therapy is about focusing on our fascia; that is, the connective tissue that runs up and down your body and holds all your muscles together. FST, as founded by Chris and Anne Frederick, is a tender, enjoyable and relaxing way to engage the parasympathetic nervous system -- that being, what controls your rest and digest zones. Although commonly seen as a holistic therapy, as a clinical practice, FST is used to treat conditions such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, high stress, chronic tightness and injuries.
How does FST benefit you?
Fascial Stretch Therapy in application is table-based assisted extension that manipulates how your body is capable of stretching. Instead of stretching isolated muscles, one by one, these movements stretch the fascia in a more globalized way -- targeting multiple fascia lines at a time.
Colin says, "It does not force your body to do what it doesn't want to; but, it is essentially like a clinically controlled romancing of the body, if you can picture that." The key to a fulsome FST treatment is by connecting with a skilled and certified practitioner who understands how to listen to your body and use not only learned aptitude, but savvy intuition to provide a consistent application of traction.
Why is this good for you?
The differentiating factor with FST that separates it from traditional stretching is the use of traction, which is essentially creating space in a joint capsule (i.e. your hip joint), which allows synovial fluid to flow and help with the way the joint moves. Our joints become compressed over time, which unfortunately impedes by forcing the muscle to overcompensate, thus creating strain.
Think of it this way: butter on toast. If your joints are toast and you want to apply butter, you would rather have room temperature butter than cold, refrigerated butter to spread on your bread, right? The butter is to toast, as synovial fluid is to your joints. Fascia Stretch Therapy makes the "butter" warm. "When I apply traction, oscillation and circumduction, thus stretching multiple fascial lines at the same time, magic happens," says Colin.
What does all of this have to do with sex?
Well, our genitalia experiences pleasure because of the interaction with our nerve endings. When in relation to experiencing pelvic zone pleasure in particular, much like osteopathy or yoga, FST helps to decompress your pelvis and open your hips to help expand not only range of motion, but the sensing of pleasure as well. FST helps deliver expansion to your sacrum, (specifically the root chakra) which is connected to everything from your lower back, hips, pelvis -- specifically the uterus, femoral head and its ligaments.
FST, as explained by Colin Jackson, can help with full hip and pelvic release which, as supported by Dr. Carlen, can over time reset your ability to experience deeper pleasure. So, according to us, here are the top five reasons why you should consider introducing Fascia Stretch Therapy into your holistically healthy and intimate lifestyle.
1.Mobility and Flexibility
Stretching in general benefits an improvement in posture, improved strength, decreased stress and an increase in blood flow, which, coincidentally are all contributors to having an improved sexual lifestyle! When our bodies are able to increase mobility and flexibility we experience less pain and restriction, plus increase endorphin flow, all of which aid in the ease of movement between intimate positions with your partner. Some of the best sex involves a fluidity of movement between scenes when you and your partner can lose yourselves in the experience, rather than focus on the mechanics.
2.Trains the brain to create safety
The safety that we can feel when intimately bonded with our partners with whom we have a positive and safe relationship translates to a greater potential for experiencing pleasure. Alternatively, throughout our lives, our bodies also experience physical pain and emotional trauma (often overlooked as a contributing factor to physical restrictions). Have you ever noticed that every time you think about speaking in public (for example) your knee starts to hurt, or when you think of the stress that comes with the holidays, your lower back starts to ache? That's emotional trauma. Healing emotional trauma in our bodies can happen through FST as it works to re-wire the brain and create safety in the movements that we tend to forget our bodies are holding onto.
3.Increases blood flow
Why is blood flow important for great sex? Well, for starters, having good blood flow in your genital regions increases arousal and your response to sexual stimulation. It makes your bits more sensitive, and in the case of vaginas, increases the size of the clitoris and pushes your lips up to expose them to the anticipated sensations, all while aiding in the increase of lubrication. In the case of penises, well, we all know that good blood flow leads to boners. Enough said.
4.Releases Fascial Adhesions
Fascial adhesions are bonds formed between the collagen fibres that limit the elasticity/flexibility of the fascia to do its job, which is the connective tissue that holds our body together. Therefore, if you have many adhesions, you could be impacted and not even know it! Back pain, misdiagnosed Fibromyalgia and even arthritis can sometimes be actually the effect of fascial adhesions. So, when our range of motion is limited via these adhesions, our sex lives may also be hampered. Release through FST can allow room for expansion of tissue and free up nerve endings to experience pleasurable sensation, rather than pain.
5.Improves holistic wellness
Fascia, being one of the most prevalent tissues in our bodies, is really connected to everything. When we treat our fascia, we teach our nervous system to calm the f**k down and get back on board with feeling healthy. FST contributres to a greater quality of life and less stress mentally (physically and emotionally), which I can say leads to a happier and healthier sex life. Who doesn't enjoy ease of excitement when it comes to sex?! We do! Learning to incorporate holistic approaches to your health can and will be an improvement to the essence of your conscious living.
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