How Foam Rolling Changed My Life!

In the spirit of “National Foam Rolling Day”, I’m reflecting on when I discovered self-empowered ways of working with my body versus fighting it or feeling completely helpless. 20 years ago, I started rolling when knee pain from IT band syndrome took me out of a track season during my collegiate running career. Angry, bitter, and upset I was limping around with nothing to do but ice.  Grateful a coach and friend taught me how to release trigger points and break up adhesions. I never went back to the same patterns because I learned how to release the tissue that referred pain up and down my body, and improve my running technique with strength training and rolling. 

Fascia surrounds every muscle and the connective tissue matrix of the body has intricate connections with our nervous system.  Stuck energy and adhesions can bind muscles together following overuse, poor posture, and injuries… causing more pain.

Fast forward to now. Rolling, self massage, or self myofascial release is not for everyone. You may not want to get on the floor and invest 10 minutes or less a day in your body, but seriously… you will love the RESULTS if you do and so will your loved ones who are too stubborn to go to a practitioner, but maybe they will learn what to do on their own to bridge that gap between DIY and receiving much needed support. 

I find with Rollga’s spinal conscious products and designs, they’re easy to use and recommend.  Our patients love them. 

Thanks team Rollga for making something that allows hard working people, elders, teens, and athletes more at home in their bodies. Developing body awareness through breath, and rolling is always going to be something I’ll recommend to add into someone’s active lifestyle or healing journey if they’re hungry for more self empowered tools at home. 

Aging with ease is always going to come back to oxygenated blood within body tissues more often, and increasing elasticity for resilience. 

Active release is different than passive. We need both active and passive tools and modalities in our toolkit/lifestyle to optimize results. 

Our brain recruits more tissue with active participation. Hence, body (somatic) awareness is developed with focused attention to self, breath, and movement.  Neuromuscular re-education will never be mimicked by technology because the individual has to be present and aware to feel, heal, and grow. A principle I use in my practice that transforms bodies, spines, and lives! 

So real talk… you have a love hate relationship with rolling?  I’d love to hear your experience and how it’s helped you!