Too many of us hold our physical, mental and emotional pain within our bodies, where it slows energy, manifests as tension and can have a damaging impact upon our health. In his new book, Noah Karrasch shows that wellbeing and healing come from the detangling of blocked emotions and the restoration of the free flow of energy through the body. Written for bodywork and manual therapy practitioners from a wide variety of disciplines, as well as other healers who want to expand their skills, this generously illustrated book explains how and where emotions and static energy are held in the body, and how they can be released and rebalanced in therapies that challenge bodymindcore awareness. It includes many new ideas and techniques: useful conversation starters to help practitioners encourage clients to self-identify their challenges, detailed explanations of myofascial release techniques and self-reflective exercises designed to first help the practitioner truly understand the process for him or herself, through his or her own body, in order to become a more empathetic and effective therapist. This important book will enable bodywork and manual therapy practitioners to work more confidently, and more intuitively, with their clients.

· What should we do in preparation for an upcoming surgery? · What is the best way to recover after surgery? · How can we be proactive and prevent the need for surgery in the first place? Written for those who have undergone or who are about to have surgery, this guide will help readers find their way through the difficult maze of emotions, physical pain and fear. By including advice on what to do to aid recovery and reduce negative long-term effects, Karrasch teaches the reader how to take charge of the body, whether before or after surgery. The book also includes useful information about what we can do to take care of our bodies and avoid having surgery in the first place, such as nutritional advice and gentle movement tips drawing on BodyMindCORE techniques. It is the perfect guide for those not only facing surgery and those wanting to stay healthy, but also for those who want to love and support them.

Foreword by Carol Davis, DPT, EdD, MS, FAPTA. Myofascial Release for Women's Health Self Care is a practical guide to women's pelvic and breast self treatment. This guide uses principles and techniques from the John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach®. You can treat your own pelvic region, particularly your pelvic floor, with significant results, using these myofascial releases (MFR) self care principles and techniques. In section 1, we begin with basic information about MFR, the pelvis, the pelvic floor muscle (PFM), and PFM exercises. In section 2, we explore Barnes MFR self-care. We begin with techniques for various parts of the body that most affect the pelvic region and then focus on specific pelvic area release techniques. We start with external pelvic techniques, followed by internal techniques.In the Appendix, you will find the author's story, a monthly journal worksheet, a list of sample self-care sessions, a reading checklist, a technique list, and a list of resources.

IMPORTANT!Many of the techniques in the book require the use of a small inflatable ball to apply pressure into the fascial restrictions. Balls must be purchased separately. Through a lot of research and experimentation, we have found what we feel to be the highest quality, longest lasting 4" inflatable ball on the market. They are available through this link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088P9THQK?pf_rd_r=27AMK3Y5T3P8H12P8RQJ&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbeeMyofascial Stretching: A Guide to Self-Treatment is a manual of techniques that, when completed properly, results in permanent lengthening of the body's connective tissue and dramatically improves health and quality of life. It was written for the lay person who has chronic pain, muscular tightness and/or postural dysfunction; and also for therapists to use to recommend home exercise programs for their patients. Myo means muscle. Fascia is the tough connective tissue surrounding every cell of the body from head to toe like a three-dimensional spider web. Injury, trauma, inflammation and poor posture cause the fascial system to tighten, putting pressure on muscles, nerves, blood vessels, bones, organs and the brain. Resulting symptoms include pain, restriction of motion, and structural misalignment, which can impair daily functioning and athletic performance. Myofascial Stretching removes this abnormal pressure, allowing the body to return to optimal function.The book follows Myofascial Release principles, using sustained pressure and tissue elongation. Two ways to do Myofascial Stretching are included: one using a 4-inch inflatable ball and one utilizing active elongation. The two methods complement each other, especially if one first releases tight tissue with the ball and follows up with an elongation stretch to the same area. Myofascial Stretching differs from traditional stretching in four primary ways. 1. Time. All stretches, with or without the ball, must be held continuously for minimum 90 to 120 seconds before the fascia begins to let go. It is not uncommon to hold a technique for 3-5 minutes or more in order to release multiple layers of tightness or restriction. The result is permanent release of the tissue, as opposed to temporary results achieved with traditional 30 second stretching. 2. Active elongation. This is what allows one to engage the fascial barrier. 3. Conscious Presence. It is exponentially more effective when you are able to focus on the tension in the tissue, direct your breath into the restriction, notice the resulting slack as the release takes place, elongate into the next barrier and wait for another release to occur. Regular practice will increase body awareness, and result in improved focus and groundedness. 4. Simultaneous Stretching and Strengthening. During active elongation, muscle groups opposing the tight fascia have to contract in a sustained manner. This strengthens them, thereby helping to maintain the elongated state of the tissue just released.Following an introduction to the Myofascial Release approach, the book includes a photograph of every technique with an accompanying narrative description. The 12 book sections relate to different parts of the body with a chart to help decide where to start depending on symptoms. This arbitrary division is for simplification in organizing the information. In treatment the body is always considered as a whole.Utilizing Myofascial Release principles for stretching causes a permanent softening and lengthening of connective tissue. This results in decreased pain, enhanced daily functional abilities, refined athletic performance, increased ease of movement and improved posture. It is extremely empowering to see and feel these results in your body and in your life, and to know you have the ability to manage and diminish your own pain, while saving money normally spent on various practitioners. It is time to Feel Good Again!

Once you have learned the basics of yoga, where do you go? This book has been written for teachers and serious practitioners who want to use yoga to bring complete balance to the body. Stiles provides a comprehensive overview of the spiritual philosophy of yoga and its many branches, and discusses everything that a beginning student needs to consider when choosing a practice, including how to find a yoga teacher. Then he shares his solid understanding of anatomy and kinesiology (how specific muscles and bones react during movement) so that you can understand how each asana affects your body.

Located deep within the anterior hip joint and lower spine, the psoas major (usually just referred to as the psoas) is critical for optimal postural alignment, movement, and overall well being. The psoas is the only muscle in the human organism that connects the upper body to the lower body, and its importance extends to the nerve complex and energy systems. As modern-day populations grow more sedentary, psoas-related lower back and hip pain, and the ailment of "sitting too much," are on the rise. Even the most active of athletes can suffer from psoas imbalance and pain. The Vital Psoas Muscle demonstrates how to keep the muscle in balance through specific exercises designed to strengthen and utilize this amazing muscle, and discusses its vital role in the emotional and spiritual state of the human being. The interconnection between the psoas and the root chakra is explored, along with yoga poses and postures that stimulate the psoas. Eighty full-color illustrations depict anatomical details, and show the key stretching and strengthening exercises in this practical and comprehensive treatment of the most important skeletal muscle in the human body.

An illustrated guide to the myofascial system—how it works, how it supports the body, and its importance to any bodywork practice The result of more than two decades of research and practice, The Endless Web presents in clear, readable language a comprehensive guide to understanding and working effectively with the myofascial system, the 'packing material' of the body. Myofascia is a flexible network of tissue that surrounds, cushions, and supports muscles, bones, and organs. It also acts as a riverbed containing the flow of interstitial fluid, and is a critical influence on the immune and hormonal systems. In daily life, this connective tissue is an underlying determinant of movement quality, mood, alertness, and general well-being. The Endless Web is a fully illustrated guide to understanding how myofascia works, its supportive role within the body's anatomy, and how gentle manipulation of the myofascial tissue is central to lasting therapeutic intervention and how it can be integrated into any bodywork practice.

Many of us hold on to old fears, traumas and stresses and allow them to define and frame our lives. This book shows how to relieve these problems and help you look and feel better on a profound level. Based on the idea that the body is composed of twenty-one important hinges, Meet Your Body shows how we can 'oil' and free these hinges, stretching the body out so we can feel healthy and happy more of the time. Noah's therapeutic work uses a hands-on manipulation of the body's connective tissue designed to enhance posture and freedom of movement. From this theory of structural integration, Karrasch has developed a focus on the inseparable connection between our minds and our bodies, our bodymindcore. Guiding the reader through the various hinges of the body, from the big toe to the hip to the head, the author shows how learning to isolate and stretch these hinges in new ways can lead to a happy bodymindcore, making a great difference to overall health and wellbeing. Each chapter addresses a particular hinge physically as well as sharing ideas about its emotional component, and includes photographs and drawings illustrating a variety of bodymindcore techniques. This book offers people with both ordinary and extraordinary body challenges new ideas for how they can make changes in the way their bodies work for them. A practical guide to releasing bodymindcore trauma, Meet Your Body challenges us all to get in touch with and listen to our bodies to improve our health and overall happiness.

The bestselling guide to the vagus nerve, now in 20+ languages: unlock the self-healing power of Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory Vagus exercises for reducing anxiety, healing trauma, and rebalancing your autonomic nervous system This comprehensive guide offers an easy-to-understand overview of the vagus nerve—and helps you unlock your body’s innate capacity to heal from stress, trauma, anxiety, and injury. Dr. Stanley Rosenberg, PhD, dispels long-held myths about the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and offers up-to-date research on how our physical health, emotional wellness, and the vagus nerve are all interconnected. Most importantly, he shows how these insights can help you heal your ANS—and live a less stressed, more balanced, and emotionally regulated life. This book offers: An in-depth overview of Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory Step-by-step self-help techniques for regulating the vagus nerve Vagus exercises to relieve emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms Real-life case studies and stories from the author’s clinical practice Insights into the vagus nerve’s role in social behavior An overview of what happens in our bodies when we get stuck in stress states—and how to heal them Simple, research-backed recommendations for initiating deep relaxation, improving sleep, healing from trauma, and stimulating recovery from illness and injury Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve is written for therapists, bodyworkers, trauma survivors, parents, and anyone struggling with chronic stress. Grounded in neurobiology research, clinical stories, and easy-to-follow exercises, this book gives you the tools to bring your body back into a state of safety, balance, and optimal functioning.

An accessible comprehensive approach to the anatomy and function of the fascial system in the body combined with a holistic.