Understanding the role of fascia in keeping the body healthy | Letters

"As early as 2015, a conference at Harvard Medical School examined links between fascia, acupuncture and oncology; the lectures remain available online and underline how much more we need to understand about fascia's role in medicine. Manual therapists have long recognised the importance of working with fascia. Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy, stressed its significance, and newer approaches such as the Bowen technique aim to improve hydration, proprioception and flexibility by engaging fascia gently but directly."

"As a teacher of yin yoga, a style centred on fascia stretch, I find this topic particularly compelling. Yin yoga uses a set of deep stretches developed in alignment with traditional Chinese medicine's meridians, the energetic pathways connecting essential organs throughout the body. In our practice, we use a yoga mat, props and supports to work with gravity, allowing us to achieve a deep stretch."

Fascia research is expanding, with groups such as the Fascia Research Group at Ulm University (Prof Robert Schleip) investigating diverse strategies to support healthy fascia. Early work, including a 2015 Harvard Medical School conference, explored links between fascia, acupuncture and oncology, indicating important medical implications. Manual therapies have historically targeted fascia; osteopathy's founder emphasized its role, and techniques like Bowen aim to improve hydration, proprioception and flexibility by engaging fascia gently. Fascia exhibits extraordinary sensitivity, providing continuous feedback to the central and autonomic nervous systems and responding to internal and external stimuli. Slower, gentler practices—Bowen, Feldenkrais, yin yoga—can strongly influence this network.

Read at www.theguardian.com