Massage Magazine, a national and well respected publication recently performed a survey to discover who their readers most wanted to learn from and the topics they wanted. John F. Barnes, PT and Myofascial Release were at the top of their list.
MFR BLOG
View additional postings by John F. Barnes, PT on his MFR BLOG at Massage Magazine. Have a specific question for John? Visit www.massagemag.com
Are You Hurting?
I meet so many therapists that are suffering with neck pain, back pain, headaches, fibromyalgia and/or sore hands. This is because you were taught to force a system (the fascia) that can not be forced!
Something for us all to consider is that even with light massage techniques we are forcing a system (the fascia) that cannot be forced. The fascial system is too powerful. Unfortunately, either too much force is used or it's done too quickly with other techniques. There are Myofascial Release
principles that need to be applied so the system truly releases so we do not experience the frustration of temporary results of other techniques and the wear and tear on our bodies. For more information please see my recent article
Frantically Swimming Up Stream.
In a recent statistical study found in Massage Magazine, it was determined that 47, 000 massage therapists and body workers leave the profession every year. I think the reason for this is exactly what I say in "Frantically Swimming Upstream;" that there is too much force, Myofascial
restrictions in you, the therapists' body, and the boring protocols we were taught.
In 1997, I completed massage school. In 2001, I began studying Myofascial Release with John. For awhile I integrated the work, and continued to offer other modalities in my practice…La Stone, Reflexology, CST, IET…and traditional Swedish massage. They all have their
place. I must admit I still enjoy a good ole fashion massage massage with some lymph work thrown in the mix now & again myself. Having said that there is NOTHING I have found that is as effective personally or professionally as JFB MFR. I used to go home totally exhausted at
the end of my day (usually 1/2 way through the day watching the clock waiting for it to end). After I stopped doing all the other modalities and switched to JFB Myofascial Release five years ago my days changed as well. I will be 65 this summer & I am certain I could not work
7-8 hr days of 'massage'. Doing Myofascial Release however my body doesn't have that beat up feeling. I have the joy of seeing patient's eyes light up when they feel changes in their fascial system, and how different they are from a postural & energetic standpoint, as well as
the emotional shift that often occurs.
Every night when I lock the door to my center I thank God for the people who have passed through the doors that day, & what we have shared. Mostly I thank God for having found a path of true healthcare that is supporting and empowering patients to a healthier way of living,
and it does so without exhausting the life out of me! Thanks for your years of perservance John.
Having been a client of MFR, when I entered massage school, I had the specific intention to practice MFR exclusively when I was a licensed LMT. Already in my 40's and having been a professional musician, I had challenges with using my hands and arms in a repetitive way, and I
quickly wondered if I could even make it through massage school with the demand that the most basic techniques require from your hands and forearms. I am so glad I went straight into MFR. Meeting the fascial barrier and waiting for the release is a world away from repeatedly
digging your thumb into hard tissue! The results are lasting, not temporary, and clients return, not because it didn't work long enough, but because they feel the profound value of MFR – not forcing, but allowing the tissue to unwind. Many thanks, John, for helping us
realize – less is more!
I am so grateful to have discovered JFB MFR early in my career (within the first 5 years. Learning this work and the basic prinicples of MFR brought a renewed sense of passion, not only for helping others, but working through my own issues as a human. It wasn't until I experienced
this work as a patient, that I truly understood what it meant. Having experienced MFR as a patient and a practitioner has given me the gift of sensitivity.
God only knows where I would be right now if I had not discovered MFR. I cannot think of anything else I would rather do for the rest of my career than to share this authentic form of healing with those who are ready to truly live!
I too was lucky, I found MFR before I graduated from massage school and found how effective it was with my very first client! Over and over again I see how effective MFR is at releasing restrictions. A recent new client has been in pain for 8 years with no relief, after one
session she could feel the changes and no longer had the debilitating pain. Not everyone responds that quickly, but by not forcing the system and by truly listening to my intuition and my client's amazing changes occur.
