Vicky is our go-to yogi for all things fascia and connective tissue! Out of passion, she has cultivated her knowledge and skill in the area over several years and is a huge advocate for fascia release techniques. We interviewed Vicky on the benefits of fascia release - read more below!

For people who may be new to the concept of fascia release, can you give us a basic insight into what this is?

Fascia is our connective tissues, its job is to connect everything in the body. When we release the fascia with tools like self massage with balls/rollers and props, it helps us move more freely. It hydrates those tissues, making us feel less stiff. By using fascia release balls and props we can access the really hard to reach tight spots in the body and spend some time exploring to create more freedom in range of movement, better posture, more resilient tissues to help with injury treatment and prevention.

Can you explain to us why fascia release is beneficial to yoga practice?

Fascia release is for everybody, whether you do yoga, running, crossfit or nothing at all. It’s a tool you can use whenever you need to target and release your tight or problematic areas. It releases the stuck parts of the body, allowing you to move better, stand taller and be more comfortable. Incorporating it into my yoga practice has been life changing. I use my balls everyday somewhere on my body to prepare me for movement or release headaches or just create space where I’m feeling stuck. I take them everywhere with me.

What piqued your interest in working with fascia and connective tissue? Have you done extra training in this area?

I’ve been teaching fascia release workshops with rollers for about 7 years now, but a few years ago my teacher Tiffany Cruikshank, founder of Yoga medicine, taught a 5 day training on all things fascia and it blew my mind…the way the chinese medicine Meridians blend beautifully into this practice compliments my yin yoga teaching. I learnt so much and have been teaching workshops with the balls instead now for the last few years as they’re a much more versatile tool.

I love learning and have done an additional fascia training this year, and will be doing another on fascia trains in August. The more I learn about connective tissue the more I’m fascinated in how it works.

Can we expect much discomfort as we work into the fascia?

There will be parts of your body that individually you’ll feel A LOT, and there will be others that you barely notice. It’s the areas that are uncomfortable that usually need the attention so it’s our bodies way of telling us where to focus. I don’t believe harder is better, self-massage is how I think of it… if you like your massage firm or soft you do you :) I’ll always give you lots of options.

Do you incorporate any of these techniques into the yoga classes you teach?

Yes I incorporate fascia release into my yin yoga classes. In yin we are stressing the connective tissue and looking at finding full range of movement in the joints, so by releasing tight muscles with the balls & props, your body will be able to find it’s full range much easier. I also use them on my yoga retreats in every class like prepping the feet for standing poses or releasing the shoulders for Handstands. They can be added in everywhere to elevate your yoga practice but also these tools will help you off the mat, treating headaches, releasing tight necks from long days at the computer, softening overused quads after a long run/cycle. I take them everywhere and use them everyday, they’re the most versatile tool to have in your tool box.

Author: This is Yoga