The Connected Body: Experiential Anatomy of the Fascial System

Description

From our skin down to the nucleus of our 30 trillion cells, we are a continuous body wide matrix of fascia. This neuromyofascial net is a pervasive meta-system communicating with, connecting, and supporting all other physiological systems to work together as a synergistic whole. This body wide network consists of tensioned tissue that gives us form, keeps us upright, and allows us to move. 

As a meta-system, the health of the fascial system affects the health of all other systems. If fascia is restricted or dehydrated, physiology and movement capacity of surrounding structures suffer. Experiential anatomy practices can support our fascial network to intelligently adapt by encouraging resilient elasticity. 

Fascia has been variously described as the fabric of wholeness, a sensory organ, an organ of form, of innerness, and the medium through which body and spirit communicate. Contemplating the multidimensionality of fascia can connect us with our own multi-dimensionality. 

From the perspective of the fascial system, body and mind are inseparable, and all movement involves the whole body. As the physical representation of wholeness, fascia can be directly experienced by cultivating a felt sense of its presence, structure, and qualities, and by practising whole body movements with fascial awareness. 

In this workshop we will use experiential anatomy, somatic inquiry, and Yoga Therapy tools to explore how fascial awareness can transform your teaching and practice. Material will be drawn from Leila’s book Experiential Anatomy: Therapeutic Applications of Embodied Movement and Awareness. 

Workshop Structure

This live online seminar will be taught over two weeks in three 2.5 hour segments with 2.5 hours of prerecorded material, for a total of 10 contact hours. Handouts will be provided.

What Will I Learn?    

• An overview of the structure, properties and functions of fascia and how fascial densification contributes to dysfunction on all koshic levels. 
• To develop a felt sense of the fascial system as inner support. 
• Experiential anatomy practices to develop a felt sense of your own fascial system and repattern healthy, elastic fascia through hydration, force transmission and dynamic tension. 
• To identify and repattern areas of fascial restriction with yoga therapy practices. 
• To deepen breath by increasing fascial elasticity. 
• About the role of the fascial system as the largest and richest sensory organ and how it contributes to creating emotions. 
• To use the sensory capacity of fascia to deepen sense of self by consciously stimulating interoceptive and proprioceptive nerve endings in fascia.                                                                                                        
• How sensing the fascial matrix can expand your felt sense of wholeness and connection. 

Who is the Workshop For?

This workshop will appeal to yoga teachers, therapists, students as well as teachers or therapists of other disciplines wanting to learn how to incorporate fascial awareness therapeutically.