Jas Bdesha – The Fascial Effect

Don’t Just Sit There!

Sitting is something we all do without thinking about it, we sit relaxing on the sofa, we sit at our desks, we sit in cafes and restaurants, we sit on public transport or in our cars, but sitting can be bad for our bodies if we don’t sit in the right position.

Hunched over a keyboard, slumped on the sofa, bent over a mobile phone or e-reader, driving on a long journey, even watching TV, we twist and bend into positions our bodies weren’t designed to maintain for any length of time. These activities involve:

Holding your neck in an awkward position for long periods of time
Hunching your shoulders forward
Leaning more into one side of your body

When your head is positioned in a forward posture for hours at a time it puts extra pressure on the discs in the neck and spine, which causes increased compression and can lead to chronic neck and shoulder pain and severe headaches. So, stress headaches may not be about too much going on in your head, but how you’re holding it.

The average human head weighs around 10 to 12lbs and all that is balanced on just 7 vertebrae in your neck and supported by around 20 muscles that are responsible for moving your head around and keeping that weight in place.

The relationship between the head, neck and torso affects the whole body. When the head sits properly on the neck and both are properly aligned with the back, the whole body follows with natural posture. However getting our heavy head to sit in correct alignment after the back, neck and spine is a difficult task.

The partial solution to this is getting the neck and shoulders as right as possible at first and the head alignment will follow. Also, these pains can usually be treated with a course of gentle myofascial release therapy, which identifies the points or triggers where things have tightened up and got stuck, loosens the muscles of neck, releases trapped nerves and increases your range of movement.

That will work to release some of the tension, but if you just go back to your old habits, all that good work can be reversed. However, you can practise good self-care after treatment and prevent this happening again.

My Neck and Shoulder Fascia Release workshop is designed to get you started with basic movement therapy to do that – and it’s online, so it doesn’t matter where you are you can participate. The results are often life-changing and patients find they not only have more mobility, less (or no) pain, but also sleep better and feel generally better in themselves.

To book a Neck and Shoulder Fascia Release Workshop click here

If your current symptoms are very uncomfortable an initial assessment is advisable. It may be necessary to have a manual treatment to release some of the tension first to get the most out of the workshop.

Body

Release your tension and destress your back

It’s that time of year when we seem to have so much to do and so little time to do it in. Our busy lives generate stress – and stress creates tension. This often means tight shoulders, stiff neck and pain in either your upper or lower back. Most of us just soldier on – and, surprise, surprise, it doesn’t just go away!

A treatment with heated stones is an excellent way to de-stress, relax tight muscles and release tension around the shoulders and lower back. The result for most people is ‘Ahhhhhh – that’s better!’

But that’s not all hot stones can do for you.

It’s also a great way to boost your immune system – naturally. The moist heat alongside the Fascial Effect™ massage techniques can reach deep into soft tissue creating the kind of warmth you can only get from a holiday in the sun.

What else does a hot stone massage do?

Feeling warm to the core can make you mentally and physically stronger to fight against infections this time of year.

Focused movements with hot stones around the neck, chest and ribcage can also release congestion lingering from a cold and so speed up recovery.

People often think the only way to detox is following a strict detox diet and drinking lots and lots of water. However, a treatment with heated stones warms the body to the core and boosts the circulation, encouraging the release of toxins via the lymphatic system and gentle perspiration. This can be energising if you are feeling tired and lethargic.

If stress and overwhelm are affecting the quality of your sleep then hot stone therapy will almost guarantee you a good night’s rest.

There are many good reasons to book yourself in for hot stones therapy regularly, just tell your therapist which one you’re suffering from and know that your body will thank you.

To book an appointment call Jas on 07775 633 798.

Nutrition

Twinge and Whinge

Despite the unseasonably warm November, the weather is getting colder and wetter. That’s British weather – the days get shorter and the temperature drops.

If you suffer from arthritis – whether rheumatoid (where your joints get inflamed) or osteo (also known as ‘wear and tear’) – you probably get more painful twinges and aches when it gets colder and dampness also affects them. Cold weather is uncomfortable and many people report feeling stiffer, moving more slowly and every move causes twinges and aches in their joints.

But why?

Cold muscles don’t stretch as well as warm ones, which is why your personal trainer will strongly recommend you warm up before a workout to ensure you don’t get any injuries. This tension reduces mobility and flexibility in your joints.

There are even studies that have linked changes in the barometric pressure to changes in the way joints move.

What you can do

A good diet will help; eating seasonally fresh and nourishing foods should be your first step. But what about supplements to support your body’s functioning?

Here are a few supplements that support bone health:

Curcumin is the principal active component of Turmeric and gives the spice its bright yellow colour. In South Asia, turmeric is considered to be a warming spice; I feel warm just looking at the vibrant yellow powder! Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a potential treatment for a number of health conditions, including reduced joint pain and increased ease of movement. Some studies have shown that the reduction in joint inflammation can act in an almost self-healing fashion, allowing regeneration of cartilage leading to true joint healing – rather than simply managing the condition so get out your recipe books and see how you can add Turmeric to your recipes.

We can’t talk about joints without mentioning the often recommended Glucosamine Sulphate, which helps to lubricate the joints and support the formation of cartilage, reducing wear and tear i.e. osteoarthritis.

Winter months are not good for sunbathing in the UK, but sunlight generates Vitamin D, which contributes to strong bones. That means that for around 6 months of the year a Vitamin D3 supplement is advisable. Vitamin D facilitates Calcium absorption in the body, which promotes bone and joint health.

It is essential to take Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2 which will make sure that the calcium ends up in the bones and not become deposits where it shouldn’t be, like in your arteries.

Add safe doses of curcumin, glucosamine, Vitamins D3 and K2 to Black Cumin Seed Oil to reduce inflammation, Pumpkin Seed Oil – packed full of essential fatty acids, which act as lubricants for joints, and Milled Flaxseed – also high in Omega Fats, Vitamins and Minerals. If that sounds too complicated to put together every day then you might find that a sachet of BEND, daily, will give you all the concentrated, natural ingredients designed to support healthy bones and joints that you need.

This doesn’t mean that a daily sachet of BEND will replace gentle exercise to keep your joints moving. You still need to move around as much as possible – the combination of a sachet of BEND and moderate exercise is better than either option alone. Protect and preserve your bones and joints to stay mobile and independent.

For more information call Jas on 07775633798

Ageing

Keep Your Skin Supple

After Menopause (sometimes called ‘the change’) one of the visible changes is often a more noticeable reduction in the plumpness of the skin, referred to as ‘volume’.  Collagen gives your face that smooth, youthful resilience and, as its production drops off, the result is more wrinkles, fine lines and sagging.  Not what you want when your confidence is probably not at an all-time high.

For those that can afford it, this is when they go to an aesthetician to get Botox or fillers – but this is a radical approach and not for everyone.

Alternatively, you may reach for the skin care products containing the latest ingredient that promises to be the answer to your problem. Hyaluronic acid, quite rightly, has recently received a lot of attention.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is undoubtedly one of the most popular ingredients in the anti-ageing skincare industry today. Its main task is to absorb and retain water so that the skin looks and feels plump and supple.

HA (also known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate) is an important component for fascia – the membrane that encloses all our organs. HA is produced naturally by our bodies, and its primary task is to retain water to keep our fascia well lubricated. This in turn helps the skin feel more hydrated and appear more youthful.

Like a thirsty sponge, HA is like a magnet for moisture and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. These hydrating properties are the reason it is so popular in moisturisers and serums.

As part of the research for my dissertation I developed a facial massage routine using myo-fascial techniques. The results were impressive! This product-free facial is anti-ageing because it encourages the skin to retain moisture, plumps out fine lines and wrinkles and improves firmness. It does this by stimulating the fascia beneath the skin to ‘wake up’ and start moving blood, lymph and energy and start synthesising what it needs to keep the skin healthy.

It’s a real alternative to chemical interventions and I’ve developed these techniques into a 90 minute online training session so you can learn a simple massage that you can do for yourself to combat the effects of menopause on your skin.

To book a Zoom Facial Workshop Click here

Ageing

Seasonal skin

September is nearly over and October just a few days away – for me it’s the beginning of autumn. I look forward to the changing colours, vibrant golds, oranges and reds – especially when the sun is shining.

But it’s not just nature that is changing, your skin and body need to be prepared for the change in the weather. Lower humidity, crisper air and cooler winds all have an effect on your skin. You wrap your body in warmer clothing, but your face is exposed to the elements. That means your face may feel drier, your skin a little rougher and tighter.

The shorter day can affect your mood and sleep patterns and all that will reflect in your face. If you embrace the power of nature and prepare for the seasonal change, your skin will reward you by staying pliable and glowing regardless of the season.

What can you do to offset the effects of autumn?

Discover how to keep the soft tissues of your face supple and toned. You can learn the techniques I use during anti-ageing facials to incorporate into your daily routine. These are a series of precise and gentle movements applied on the surface of your skin, but focused on the supporting tissues – the fascia – beneath.

This gentle facial massage will boost the circulation, bringing oxygen and nutrient rich blood to your face to stimulate your collagen, which is what gives your skin that youthful plumpness.

It also aids lymphatic drainage to help reduce puffiness and swelling. This also brightens a tired complexion (and makes you look younger).

You may be surprised to discover how tense the muscles in and around your face get. Whether you are inclined to clench your teeth or not, your face will become tense – and that generates creases. A Fascial Effect™ massage will relieve this tension softening those fine lines and smoothing out your face.

A little bit of pampering does you good – and you can do this at home for yourself. It’s both relaxing and invigorating and it will make you feel rejuvenated, soften your skin and improve your overall skin tone, while supporting muscle health. This all has a lifting effect – so like a gentle face-lift – without the surgery, fillers or Botox. The bonus is that it slows down ageing and protects your skin from the changing weather.

More than skin deep

Better still, this massage works on the surface of your skin, but has a much deeper effect. It works on your central nervous system, which impacts so many of your body’s natural processes.

It can help with:

Hormonal balance
Your immune system
Reducing stress
Improved sleep

The Fascial Effect facial is precise, focused and mindful resulting in a calm mind and body. It makes your body more resilient and able to fight off infections and disease at the same time as recharging and rejuvenating you.

You can either book a Fascial Effect facial massage with me – or join one of my online classes and learn to do it yourself. Your skin will thank you!

Nutrition

You are what you eat

Your nutritional status plays a pivotal role in strength and healing. So, what do you know about yours?

You know that you need a nutritious diet for your well-being and good health. When your body receives all the nutrients in appropriate amounts to meet its needs, you are in the state of good nutrition. However, when the nutrients provided in the diet are inadequate, either too little or too much of what is required, it results in a state of imbalance in the body. This means you are suffering from malnutrition!

If you become seriously ill or need an operation, the odds are against you if you are malnourished. If your nutritional status is good, you are likely to recover quickly.

There are times when you need more of a certain nutrient. Vitamin C and zinc strengthen our immunity and protect against respiratory infections. Vitamin D gives our bones support in the winter months when there’s not much sunshine. And sometimes you need to take additional protein to help your body to be strong.

The word protein literally means ‘of primary importance’. This could not be truer if you need surgery because one of the primary roles of protein is to repair and renew body tissues and muscles.

Protein helps your body growth and development, particularly for children, and in the fitness industry taking additional protein for muscle building is common.

Before an operation, nutritional intake may be limited simply because when you’re unwell you feel less like eating. Then on the day of the operation and several days thereafter normal eating habits are often interrupted partly because of the pre-operative ‘Nil by Mouth’ requirement and several post-operative days of feeling unwell with loss of appetite, it’s not surprising that deficiencies in protein often occur. This is serious, especially in older patients because although some post-surgical muscle loss is inevitable, inadequate protein intake can lead to slow wound healing and significant muscle wastage. In serious cases, this can lead to a loss of independence.

The goal of pre-operative nutrition is to prepare yourself for a procedure that creates some stress on your body. Consider pre-surgery nutrition as the equivalent of preparing for a marathon or a big game. This is where supplements are essential to give your body the support it needs and choosing the right ones for you can be challenging, there are so many options.

I’ve looked into many different types of supplement and I found these seed-based natural supplements a few years ago. I use them myself and can totally recommend them.

Soul is an excellent source of all round nutrition with naturally anti-inflammatory and antioxidant fuel to help you prepare your body for surgery.

An adequate amount of protein is particularly essential because it helps to:

According to the NCBI website a good nutritional status is a strong predictor of post-operative recovery time without complications. Form is good quality vegan protein supplementation which is low in sugar, with added vitamin C, Calcium and Magnesium.

Reduce the stress and inflammation caused by the surgery
Repair, renew and regenerate the tissues in and around the wound
Lessen muscle wastage and maintain muscle strength
Repair fractures and any damage to organs

Although your body may not be quite the same again, maintaining a good nutritional status before and after surgery with supplements if necessary is essential for a speedy recovery and helps you return to doing the things you love as soon as possible.

To shop for healthy seed oil supplements Click here or if you have any questions on any of these issues – please drop me an email at jas@thefascialeffect.co.uk.

Body

Get things moving again

We all damage our bodies from time to time. Whether you’ve tripped while walking from the kitchen to the lounge and twisted something or overdone the jogging and developed a painful part, it’s easy to over-stretch, strain or tear your soft tissue.

The problem is that life goes on and, unless the injury is bad enough to require a visit to the doctor, we just tend to get on with it. Not only does it take time for soft tissues to heal, but the damage is compounded as your body tries to reduce the pain – usually by reducing the movement in the damaged part.

Your body is a highly sophisticated ‘machine’, all the parts are designed to move smoothly together, so when one part is damaged, everything around it is affected. That’s why we limp when we’ve strained an ankle or avoid gripping when there’s a wrist, arm or shoulder strain. Although I do know of a little girl who would limp even with a cut on her finger – but she was only four!

Instead of your soft tissues moving freely, the fascia – the membrane that wraps around all your organs, muscles and ligaments – gets stuck. This prevents movement and results in more pain.

Random aches and pains

Sometimes you end up with a pain that you can’t attribute to an injury or particular event. You’ve probably woken up occasionally with a stiff neck from sleeping in a position that’s caused soft tissues to get stuck. If you sit with your smartphone in one hand for an extended period you can find the muscles in your upper arm and shoulder ‘complain’ and, these days, we all know about the fallout from sitting hunched over a keyboard for hours.

Effectively this is the same as favouring an injured area – but without the injury! You’re in one position, perhaps with tensed muscles, and the result is pain.

If any of this sounds familiar, then you’ll know that these aches and pains sometimes go away on their own, but unless you change your habits, more often they’ll just get worse.

Release, relieve and restore

Typically people resort to heat creams, anti-inflammatory tablets and massage to relieve aches and pains, but all these are doing is dealing with the symptoms.

A more effective way to treat these kinds of injury is myo-fascial release (MFR), which works on releasing the soft tissues which have got stuck and restores a wider range of movement. It’s fine to use the anti-inflammatory treatments to help the tissues heal, but they won’t heal as quickly if everything is stuck.

If you are prone to aches and pains in particular areas then learning a series of moving stretches can also help to keep things moving.

Find out more about MFR for injuries, aches and pains.

Nutrition

Tune up your body

Most patients are a product of the lifestyle they lead – or sometimes even a lifestyle they led in the past, which comes back to haunt them!

The body is a highly sophisticated machine that depends on all the systems working together in harmony. For this to happen there needs to be balance.

Your internal systems all affect each other, your temperature, blood pressure, hormones, digestive system all have an impact. And don’t leave out your emotional wellbeing; it’s a proven fact that your state of mind can affect you physically. If you’re stressed or under pressure it can manifest physically in headaches, raised blood pressure, aches and pains, etc.

Exercise and nutrition also play a part. It’s a bit like a car – a high performance machine needs the right fuel – and an occasional ‘thrash’ to keep it top nick! That applies as much to your body as to a F1 racing car.

Balance is the key

We talk about work-life balance, about nutritional balance, about the importance of exercise and mental wellbeing. The challenge for most of us is that we live such busy lives. We’re running from home to work to the school pick up, then to the gym and when do we have time to pay close attention to everything? Just trying to manage it all will throw your mental wellbeing out of balance.

Even if you think that you eat healthily you’re almost certainly missing some essential nutrients. But who has the time to work out exactly what every carrot or piece of fruit contributes in nutritional value?

Back to basics

In the world of personal development there is a model, developed by Abraham Maslow, known as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This is based on the theory that we need to have our basic needs met – air, water, food – first, before we can move to the next most important needs. In other words you start at the bottom of this diagram and work upwards.

There is an ironic addition to the model in today’s world, where some of the younger generation claim that Wi-Fi and a fully-charged battery are more important than air and water!

Basically, it means that you need to tick all the boxes to arrive at the top.

So we have plenty of food, but not enough time to ensure we’re getting the right nutrition – I’m not sure Maslow was looking at that, he was more focused on the essentials to survive. But if your body isn’t getting the nutrition it needs, that can manifest as a whole range of symptoms:

Headaches
Aches and pains
Tiredness
Lethargy
Brain fog

Sound familiar?

Everything starts with a seed

Life exists from seeds. So that means that seeds contain everything you need. That’s why a seed-based supplement makes perfect sense.

I tried this myself and was surprised at the results – and the changes are subtle, for instance, I noticed I walked up the steep hill into town without puffing and blowing, my energy levels are enhanced and I just feel better.

Other benefits include:

Reduction in inflammation
Less water retention
Ridding the body of toxins
Fewer general aches and pains
Hormonal balance as a result of the Omega fats

And best of all

Slows down the ageing process

That’s because the combination of seeds fights free radical damage; renews and rejuvenates cells and energises at a cellular level.

If you’re one of those busy women who packs 26 hours into every 24, give your body a boost. Find out more here or give me a call on 07775 633798 and lets find out what your body needs.

Body

When waving ‘goodbye’ is painful …

If you get pain in your shoulder area when you raise your arm to wave goodbye to your friends and family, you may have a problem with your rotator cuff!

It may sound like some kind of garden machine, but it’s actually four muscles that work around your shoulder to allow you to move your arm up, down and forwards and backwards.

Many shoulder pain conditions are caused by injury to one or more of the rotator cuff muscles, or to the soft tissues around the shoulder joint.

So if you get pain in the neck and shoulder or find it difficult to complete movements such as:

Reaching up to get something off the top shelf
Reaching behind to hook up your bra or get your arms into a fitted coat or shirt
Pulling a cord starter on your motor boat or lawnmower
Reaching to pull your seatbelt into place
Installing ceiling tiles
Pulling a suitcase along

Or any similar movements; even sitting over a computer keyboard or driving for extended periods can cause problems. It can get particularly bad when there have been tears in the muscles fibres and the resulting scar tissue restricts movement in the shoulder further.

The solution is a course of Myofascial release (MFR) which works on the soft tissues, easing restrictions in the muscles and their encasing fascia around the shoulder joint, neck and upper chest. Trigger point therapy reduces pain and frees up the muscles range of movement. Some muscle stretching and contracting is included for improving flexibility and an increased range of motion in the shoulder.

For more information or to book an appointment call Jas on 07775633798

Ageing

Nearly as good as a facelift…. without the surgery

There are very few of us who don’t want to look the very best we can. However, it does feel like the quest for a youthful appearance has given rise to some very invasive procedures which claim to give instant results.

An increasingly popular yet worrying trend is to turn to cosmetic surgery, in particular facelifts, to achieve the desired look. According to the NHS website, a facelift can cost up to £10,000 and involves multiple incisions in your face and neck. It can take 2 – 4 weeks to recover from the surgery, and after that results can take up to 9 months to be visible.

So, what if there was another option that gave you a more youthful look without the need to go through all the above?

Before you sign up for expensive and painful cosmetic treatments, why not explore a natural option that improves the appearance of the skin and can be nearly as good as a facelift?

The Fascial Effect® face massage is an alternative facial because it targets the area of connective tissue beneath the skin called fascia. Gentle but focused fascia releasing techniques have been adapted for the anti-ageing benefits in the face.

Here’s how it works:

Blood circulation is stimulated supplying more nutrients, impurities drain away unrestricted and dead skin cells are brushed away naturally to reveal the glowing complexion beneath.
At a cellular level, fascia responds to touch and specific techniques stimulate the production of its own hyaluronic acid and collagen.
Areas of tension in the face are soothed so that muscles can relax. This allows energy channels to open, giving a feeling of complete relaxation not just in the face and head, but in the rest of the body too.

An additional benefit to this technique is that it is fully sustainable.

It can all be done without the use of skin care products, and is therefore suitable for those who are keen on environmentally sustainable treatments but who would still like to enjoy a facial which gives results.

Talking about sustainability, why not keep your carbon footprint to a minimum by enjoying the Fascial Effect® face massage from the comfort of your own home? I offer an online face massage workshop where I reach you a few simple techniques that you can apply yourself and achieve anti-ageing results whenever you would like.

Click here for full details and to book your place on the next workshop.