Fascia - The tissue you never heard of

Fascia is the largest tissue in your body. It’s not surprising that many haven’t heard of it. But when your brain forgets about it, trouble ensues.

So what is fascia and why does your brain forget it exists?

Fascia is a gel like substance that is found just below the surface of your skin.

When you add collagen to your diet, it is your fascia that is among the recipients. Collagen, elastin and other substances make up most of your fascia.

When you injure yourself, one of the primary tissues that is injured is the fascia. It is the tissue that stretches and pulls to allow movement. So when you feel stiff, it is also the tissue that experiences that stiffness.

So why would your brain forget such a critical element of your body?

When the body becomes stiff, put simply, it means that area is not being used. Blood flow reduces, and the body does what it is supposed to without using that area.

I experienced it. I had injured my shoulder attempting a pull-up. Ignored, the area in my shoulder became stiff. It was only when I healed myself that I realized I had stopped using that hand.

So the brain stops worrying about it in some sense because it is no longer in use.

How can you prevent it from happening?

One way is to bring attention to that area mentally. You scan your body and ask yourself how you feel. If an area feels uncomfortable or stiff, you mentally release it.

Don’t dismiss it as esoteric. You are only directing your brain to pay attention to that part. The magic will occur when your body also does so.

The next option is tapping. By tapping on the parts of your body that are stiff, you are physically directing your brain to pay attention. You can also rub that area, something that you may already be doing intuitively.

Releasing fascia is important to reduce stiffness and injury. If you can’t do it yourself, get a professional to do it for you.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain