What We Are Learning About Fascia And How It’s Changing Our Yoga Practice
Fascia is the unsung hero of the body—a complex web of connective tissue that not only supports our every movement but also holds the key to unlocking better flexibility, strength and overall well-being. Understanding its role in movement and well-being has revolutionised the way we approach yoga our yoga classes and it’s a game-changer I’ve woven deeply into our practice.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is this incredible web of connective tissue that wraps around every muscle, bone and organ in our bodies. It’s like nature’s body stocking, holding everything together while allowing for smooth, coordinated movement. It’s the reason your body is so interconnected—a truly amazing system that works quietly behind the scenes.
Fascia science is still relatively new, but it’s already changing how we understand movement. Because fascia connects muscles, skin, tendons and ligaments, every movement we make impacts our fascia. The ancient yogis were a very smart bunch and many yoga poses have been found to be beneficial for targeting fascia. But over the last 15 years, researchers have discovered how to tweak movements and poses to target fascia specifically and because they are often based on yoga poses, these movements integrate so beautifully into our yoga classes.
The Anatomy Trains Concept
One of the pioneering researchers in this field is Tom Myers, who developed the fascinating Anatomy Trains concept. Myers mapped out twelve “myofascial meridians”—lines of fascia running throughout the body. These lines connect muscles, bones, and organs, creating a continuous web of tissue from head to toe.
These fascial lines aren’t just passive structures holding things in place. They actively transmit forces and signals throughout the body. This means that what happens in one part of your body can affect a seemingly unrelated area. For example, tight hamstrings might not just be about your leg muscles—they could be connected to fascial tension in your back or even your feet. Understanding these connections helps us approach movement—and yoga sequences—in a more holistic way.
Why Healthy Fascia Matters
When fascia is healthy, it’s strong and resilient, allowing for smooth and efficient movement. But when it becomes restricted—due to stress, injury or even just sitting at a desk all day—it’s like having a kink in a garden hose. Everything gets stuck. This restriction can lead to pain, reduced mobility and dysfunction.
Healthy fascia also acts as a natural shock absorber, evenly distributing forces throughout the body. This reduces the risk of strains and injuries during daily activities.
Fascia is packed with sensory nerves—about six times more than muscles. This means it plays a significant role in proprioception (your sense of body position) and interoception (your awareness of internal body states). Fascia helps you feel and move better.
Fascia is also incredibly adaptable. It changes in response to posture, movement patterns and chronic pain. With the right techniques, we can remodel our fascia through movement and massage, improving flexibility, reducing pain and enhancing overall movement function. By improving the elasticity of fascia, your body becomes better equipped to handle life’s physical demands.
Bringing Fascial Movement to the Yoga Mat
In our classes, we use techniques like gentle bouncing, slow yielding stretches, gliding between poses, and spiraling movements. These movements help hydrate the fascia, break up adhesions and restore its natural elasticity. And here’s the best part: the more consistently you work with your fascia, the more resilient and responsive it becomes.
By integrating fascial movement into our yoga practice, we’re not just stretching muscles or building strength—we’re unlocking the body’s full potential. It’s about creating space, unraveling tension, and discovering new depths of flexibility, strength, and awareness. Once you start tuning into this incredible system, you’ll never look at your body—or your yoga practice—the same way again.