Myofascial Release:
The Missing Link in Healthcare
Beautiful, Bountiful, Bliss - This is the human energetic body.
What is John F. Barnes Myofascial Release?
Myofascial Release is a safe, gentle, hands-on technique that
works on the level of the fascia to open the restrictions, thus
releasing blocked energy and restoring health.
This picture captures the traditional view of the
musculoskeletal system, without relating it to the
dynamic fascial system.
What is fascia?
Fascia is connective tissue. It is in every
living organism, plant and animal. Fascia
is made up of collagen and elastin fibers
and ground substance (fluid and proteins).
The connective tissue is formed into
microtubules on the order of nanometers
(one billionth of a meter). The
microtubules carry fluid, and are
crystalline in nature, which makes them
perfect for conducting energy and
information. The microtubules are
configured in bundles and connected in
networks.
Microtubules are in every cell,
surround every cell, connect all 70
trillion cells in the body into a 3-D
dynamic web of connective tissue.
Since X-Ray and routine diagnostic
imaging are not able to capture
restrictions in the fascial system,
the underlying cause of the
problem is often missed.
What causes
Myofascial restrictions?
 Physical or psychological trauma, inflammation, poor posture, repetitive motion and
scar tissue can dehydrate the fluid components of fascia exerting enormous pressure, up
to 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures (nerves, blood vessels,
muscles, osseous structures, and or organs) and inhibiting vital communication in the
body.
 Sometimes we go into a state of dissociation at the moment of trauma to survive. The
body experiences a freeze response and this positional, physiological memory becomes
imprinted into our mind/body.
 This positional memory gets locked in the subconscious, without conscious awareness.
This keeps the body in holding or bracing patterns that lead to symptoms.
 Eventually this produces pain, headaches, anxiety, restrictions in motion and disease.
What conditions can be treated
with Myofascial Release?
 Headaches and migraines
 Trauma - physical/psychological
 Fibromyalgia
 Neck and back pain
 Chronic fatigue syndrome
 Carpal tunnel syndrome
 TMJ syndrome
 Restriction in motion
 Stress and tension
 Scoliosis
 Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders
 Post-surgical dysfunction and scar tissue
 Pain in the arms or legs
 Orthopedic problems
 Sports injuries
What causes Myofascial restrictions to let go?
The Fascial system is a piezoelectric tissue,
which means, mechanical energy can be
converted to electrical potential and vice
versa. The therapist applies gentle
sustained pressure into the fascial system
through compression, traction or moving
a body part against gravity, which creates
an electrical current. The current allows
for rehydration of the fascial system and
return of energy flow.
John F. Barnes Myofascial Release
11 Certified Advanced Courses Taken
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MFR 1
MFR 2
MFR 3
Unwinding
Advanced Unwinding
Rebounding
Cervical Thoracic
Fascial Pelvis
Quantum Leap
Subtle Energy-Therapeutic Touch
Skills Enhancement with John Barnes at
Therapy On the Rocks, Sedona
Can you describe the hands-on techniques?
 There are hundreds of MFR techniques available to the therapist in a treatment.
The choice depends on the location and the nature of the fascial restrictions.
 The individual will feel connections to other restricted areas. As well, the
therapist observes for vasomotor response, an area that signals hot, red, sweaty.
That is the area to be treated next.
 Through the unwinding technique, the body can find positions in space where
memories, associated emotional states and belief systems come to the
conscious level.
 When the information comes to the conscious level, the individual can make a
choice to let it go and make a change.
 MFR treats the whole body. When the whole body is treated, there can be
complete elimination of symptoms.
What can I expect?
 Increase in whole body awareness
 Resolution of restriction, emotions and belief systems
that impede progress
 Elimination of pain
 Return of energy flow and health
 As the course of MFR treatments unfolds, you will feel
and see yourself as an integrated body of light with
increased conscious awareness and connection.