What to Expect
Myofascial Release (MFR) is a hands-on technique that targets the fascia—your body's connective tissue network that supports muscles, nerves, and organs. When physical or emotional trauma occurs, fascia can tighten and restrict movement, creating chronic pain and tension.
Unlike massage that relies on pressure and movement, John F. Barnes Myofascial Release uses gentle, sustained holds to unwind tissue restrictions without forcing the body. There is no oil or lotion used, and each hold is typically maintained for 3–5 minutes or longer, allowing true fascial release to occur at the cellular level.
Clients will be clothed for their sessions, wearing a sports bra and gym shorts or something similar. This session will not feel like a traditional massage. Intense, these sessions are slow, quiet, and powerful. Your therapist will guide your body through subtle, precise holds based on your pain history, posture, and tension patterns. Emotional releases may also arise, and your therapist will hold a trauma-informed space for anything that surfaces.
How it Works
Fascia is a three-dimensional web of connective tissue that wraps around every structure in the body. When injured or inflamed, fascia can solidify and shorten, creating pressure on nerves, muscles, and joints. Traditional stretching or massage often skips over these restrictions, but Myofascial Release meets them exactly where they are, without forcing change.
Research supports the John F. Barnes MFR method as a gentle yet effective approach to reducing pain, improving mobility, and supporting the autonomic nervous system. Clients often describe feeling taller, lighter, or more emotionally balanced after treatment.
Because this method works on the fascial and fluid systems, changes can continue unfolding for 24–48 hours after the session.
Myofascial Release Sessions
60-Minute Myofascial Release
Perfect for focused work on one or two areas of concern, or as part of a recurring treatment plan.
90-Minute Myofascial Release
Ideal for more complex cases, full-body fascial evaluation, or deeper structural release work.
Session Details
• Pressure level: Gentle, sustained holds (usually perceived as 1–3 out of 10)
• Length of appointment: 60 or 90 minutes
• Frequency: Varies by condition; discussed during your first visit
• Recovery time: None, though subtle shifts may continue over 1–2 days
• Therapeutic applications: Chronic pain, scar tissue, tension patterns, trauma, migraines, TMJ dysfunction, pelvic floor support, fibromyalgia, posture-related pain
• Contraindications: Will be reviewed individually, especially recent surgeries or uncontrolled medical conditions