wonder web

Fascia is the wondrous internal web of connective tissue which literally weaves and wraps throughout our entire bodies, surrounding each muscle, bone, organ and nerve.

Fascia was often removed and discarded in anatomical studies because it was thought to be unimportant but now it’s recognised as a vital part of our structural and functional being.

Like a spider’s web, fascia captures and reacts to tension, movement and emotion. As when an insect becomes captured in a web, the tiniest flickers of physical or emotional movement are caught in the fascia causing ripple effects to the edges of us. The more we struggle to resist or escape emotions, the more entangled they become in the web of fascia. Stress or unresolved emotions cause tension that reverberate throughout our bodies - and our lives.

It’s all a ripple effect; as within, so without. Inner tension will always project as external tensions, creating yet more cyclical patterns of stresses and pain.

Like all of nature, our bodies require hydration. Movement stimulates proteins that encourage water retention, so motion gently rehydrates and restores the flexibility of fascia. Think of the body as a sponge, and the breath as water. Ideally we want to flood the body with breath, drenching the sponge or fascia, allowing movement to wring it all out. A springy web can bounce and dance under tension, and regain its shape after shocks.

Movement is the antithesis to becoming physically or emotionally rusty and inflexible. I like to imagine our bones as tree branches; mindful movement nourishes them, so we learn to bend (not break) when storms appear.

Add in mindfulness and we can process and digest the residues of emotions. Squishing, massaging and manipulating the fascia keeps it hydrated, pliable and open.

Some people can appear very rigid in movement, almost toy soldier-ish; this is most likely because they don’t practice moving in all the degrees available to them - there’s not enough variety to their movement patterns or not enough movement in general. I’ve witnessed how consistent practice can create vast growth and transformation. It’s not so much what we do, as how often - 10 minutes of practice every day is more beneficial than one hour a week.

Movement moves us and crafts the shape and currents of our lives. It realigns the internal rhythms that maintain our balance and connectedness to life, nature, ourselves and to others. When we move, the world moves with us.

So, keep breathing and moving mindfully in all the ways and treat your body as the temple (and miracle) it absolutely is. It’s a wonder and a web.

The knots and tangles can come and go. It’s all part of an intricate and beautiful pattern spun from a mystery.❤️