Integrated Myofascial Therapy

 

Integrated Myofascial Therapy (IMFT)

iMFT works with the body-wide fascial system. Fascia includes all our collagenous soft tissue in the body. It’s a fluid-filled dynamic web-like 3D network of connective tissue with no beginning or end. It is crucial for our body shape, posture, movement, force transmission, cellular exchange, and protection. Our fascia provides support, stabilisation, strengthens, and allows glide between all our structures. It runs through and between every cell in your body and surrounds, infuses, and protects every other tissue and organ.

 iMFT is a safe and gentle therapy that combines over 50 hands-on techniques to reorganise and rebalance the fascia, soothe the nervous system, and trigger an anti-inflammatory response. This can help to restore fascial function, hormonal balance, reduce pain perception, and support the body’s innate healing processes.

 She helps individuals with symptoms like stress, chronic fatigue, pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, hormone imbalances, stiffness, and restrictions related to and caused by many different health conditions.

 Alex blends all her skills, knowledge, and experience to provide you with the most comprehensive treatment and care possible. For over fifteen years, she has supported countless individuals in improving their lives by enhancing their mobility and emotional and physical well-being.

 Alex is here to help you get back to doing the things you love and want to do in life.

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Usually, the body can adapt to overuse, underuse, and injury, but when there is too much ‘load’ for too long, it can lead to fascial dysfunction.

With dysfunction, fascia becomes sticky, hard, and dehydrated and can start pulling on other body parts, leading to further postural misalignment, restrictions, pain, and reduced range of motion.

Myofascial therapy is performed directly on the skin and can be used on every body part, including the head, jaw, feet, back, abdomen, and shoulders. 

IMFT is a very safe technique and always applied within your comfort zone; it treats the whole person and is effective and profound. Even after just one session, many people experience reduced discomfort and an improved range of motion. It’s important to remember that healing is a gradual process, not an instant solution.

IMFT does not use oil, you can wear thin, loose shorts and a top, and the experience and results are quite different to receiving a massage.

Clients seek treatment for, incl. but not limited to:
• Stress, anxiety, fatigue

• Chronic pain

• Women’s Health

• Emotional injury

• TMJ & jaw problems

There are many more health issue related symptoms that Alex and iMFT can help with. Please don’t hesitate to make an appointment if you experience something not on the special interest list. Or contact Alex at alex@alexandrashave.com if you are unsure.

To learn more about fascia, you can watch this video: https://youtu.be/Zy2GwR-x_YA. 

Being patient when receiving and working with the fascia is essential, as force will cause fascial resistance (very much like Oobleck check it out here: https://youtu.be/-HK-Ra-YEqM). After approximately a minute of applying gentle and sustained pressure, you and the therapist may feel the tissue softening. Techniques are usually held for over 3 minutes, sometimes up to 10 minutes, to get the best tissue change results. Each time a softening in the tissue is felt, the therapist takes up the slack. The tissue becomes more pliable with each softening, pressure on sensitive areas is reduced, and alignment and mobility are restored.

Benefits of keeping fascia healthy:

• Uncompromised movement
• improved body symmetry and alignment
• Increased blood flow, which means faster exercise recovery.
• Reduced appearance of stretch marks and cellulite
• Scar tissue breakdown
• Reduced risk of injury
• Less pain
• Improved sports performance

Alex is here to help you get back to doing the things you love and want to do in life. One of her passionate recommendations is for you to take charge of your health, as she believes it is the most beneficial thing you can do for yourself.

Alex uses a selection of the following tools to personalise your treatment:

• Myofascial Release Techniques (there are over 50 different ones)
• Breathe
• Interoceptive awareness (sense of self)
• Proprioceptive awareness (sense of self in space)
• Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
• Positional release technique
• Other soft tissue or neuromuscular techniques
• Craniosacral techniques
• Holistic health coaching
• Stretching and movement
• Self-care

To provide you with the best possible care, I want to understand what is important to you and what brought you here. 

• Before arrival, you will be asked to complete an online ‘Intake Form’.
• During your first 90-min appointment, we will assess your posture, abilities, limitations, and regions of restricted fascia, discuss your intake form, and have an initial hands-on treatment – usually about 45/60 min, depending on the assessments and outcomes. 
• You will be asked to wear a comfortable bra top (not underwired or T or X fixing) and loose shorts. You will be draped throughout the session to keep you warm and for your privacy.
• Please don’t use oil or lotion on your body on the day of the treatment to prevent tissue glide.
• Regarding follow-up: many people find a reduction in discomfort or an improved range of motion after just one session. However, achieving optimal health may take time, and I recommend starting with a series of three sessions and then assessing the progress. After these initial sessions, you’ll have a good idea of what iMFT can do for you.

Alex uses her specialist training and treats all her clients holistically. Alex has an insightful, nurturing, intuitive touch and takes a personal, non-judgemental approach to any treatment. Her treatments will bring you greater self-awareness, self-empowerment, and overall healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.

Alex is an accredited Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) member and fully insured through Balens.

Visit her website, www.alexandrashave.com, for more information.

Therapies practised: Integrated Myofascial Therapy and Holistic Health Coaching.

Alexandra Shave