MER Training: Myofascial Energetic Release

There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing. You take air in and you let it out about 25 000 times a day. Yet, many of us have lost the ability to breathe properly, with consequences for our physical and emotional health.

Opening to Breath takes the student through the motions of breath in the rib cage, spine, shoulder, and neck. Attention is given to the structures and tissues involved in the process of breathing as well as the ones restricting proper breathing.

MER 5 teaches how to enhance the motions for inhaling and exhaling to achieve an effortless and full breath. Supported by deep, slow and sensitive touch, this combination helps healing to happen on a subconscious and conscious level.

Each technique is clearly explained and demonstrated, with variations included to cater to the clients’ needs. These techniques are also put together into a model session for clear application ensuring maximum results.

Working consciously with breath will accelerate the overall benefits of every MER session. Through being aware of your own breathing, you learn how to help your client breathe well. This will allow you to work deeper and get better results for your client.

Using fluid body joint release in a MER session enhances the work done on the myofascia for a complete holistic treatment. This module gives you a systematic approach to loosen and mobilise all major joints of the body and it integrates beautifully with the deep-tissue work of the first five modules. You can apply these techniques as part of every session.

Tight and stiff joints can restrict the free transmission of force in the body. Like bridges between different body parts, joints can transfer energy or restrict energy. Joint release means to loosen joints and enable them to do the work they are supposed to do.

Fluid Body used in combination with deep work on the myofascia supports structural alignment, giving the body the opportunity to release long held compensation patterns. Your body is innately wired to heal when given the chance to do so. It is experienced as pleasurable by most people and will give you an extra edge in your work with clients.

Module 2 is comprised of daily meditations, theoretical instruction, demonstrations and active partner exchange. The feet, legs and hips module is a guided learning experience covering body mechanics and correct methods of working with the fascia and joints. You also learn body-reading techniques and how to translate the information gathered into a session.

An important focus in this module is learning how to free the gluteus medius and minimus, tensor fascia latae, and the deep rotators of the hip. You will discover the importance of the tibialis anterior and its role in flexing the foot at the ankle. You will learn to work on all of the compartments of the upper leg through work on the hamstrings, adductors, abductors and quadriceps.

This module will provide you with the skills needed to interpret structural imbalances and use a range of techniques to create sessions integrating the lower body with the pelvis and spine.

The pelvis joins the legs to the spine and is the “keystone” of human architecture and structural alignment. The pelvis is the equilibrium point for the entire body. Anterior/posterior tilt, rotation and elevation of the hip will cause compensation elsewhere. Helping the pelvis to a neutral position is crucial in achieving postural alignment.

Module 3 explores this “touchy” area with sensitivity. A lot of suppressed emotion is held here and requires an approach based on skill, awareness and compassion. Learning how to connect with the felt sense will help you understand and release mental and emotional restrictions held as tension in the tissues.

Other themes explored in this module are the pelvic joints and their function in posture and the role of the psoas muscle complex and abdominal muscles in breathing.

Breathing is a movement that involves structural and physiological responses throughout our entire body. MER 3 supports you in exploring how your pelvis supports or restricts your ability to breathe deeply and fully. Exploring your own restrictions will help you become more aware of your own breathing and increase your ability to help others release old feelings stored in the pelvis.

Many upper body conditions stubbornly persist despite conventional bodywork techniques. In Module 4 you will learn a comprehensive methodology to work with the neck, breath, arms and face.

You will be introduced to the psychology of these areas and how to work with the body’s natural trauma releasing abilities using breath-work. You will start to master how to educate clients about the psychosomatic sources of pain and how to work with the most common pain syndromes of the upper body.

Mer 4 will include a review of rotator cuff anatomy, palpation of the rotator cuff muscles and related structures. The chest and diaphragm are often overlooked as primary contributors to back and shoulder issues. As the source of our breathing and our taking in of life energy, these core muscles are often tight, constricting breathing, energy flow and movement.

We learn and review simple but powerful methods to release the diaphragm, sternum, and ribcage, helping clients to breathe with less effort.

You will receive techniques to release the muscles and fascia of the hands, thumbs and forearms to increase mobility in the corresponding joints and releasing the forearm muscles to effectively liberate the shoulder.