By Aviva Tulasi
We often talk about the importance of fascia in supporting our structure and mobility - tensegrity. However, tensegrity explains more than movement; it explains how fascia brings the entire body into a state of balance.
The body has an optimal condition needed to function properly and it needs to maintain this condition to stay healthy and in homeostasis, or in balance. The body needs to have the ability to actively respond to changing water, salt, sugar, protein, fat, mineral, oxygen, and temperature levels.
That’s the beauty of fascia. It can adapt and change to ensure the body is in harmony. It’s the role of the fascia to connect the entire body together and respond to internal and external changes. Which is simply saying, fascia maintains homeostasis.
Homeostasis is maintained by fascia because it covers and supports every structure in the body. Studies highlight the extent to which every individual component is interconnected and has the ability to communicate because of fascia. When one small area of fascia moves, muscles, nerves and vessels nearby move. In addition, blood flows throughout the body bringing needed nutrients, removing waste and sending messages. Fascia links every tissue and organ together allowing the body to respond to internal and external changes.
Fascia can only maintain homeostasis if it is kept elastic and flexible.Yoga does this by moving the body through natural positions increasing the flow of blood, oxygen and chemical messages throughout the body. The increased supply of blood promotes functioning organs and glands. In addition, increasing the flow of blood increases the communication between cells. In a yoga class, you move through pairs of opposite positions (such as forward then backward) so you can find balance between tension and compression in the fascia.The various directions that we move in yoga prevent inappropriate plasticity and rigidity. You might enjoy learning more about the benefits of yoga for fascia from our blog, Using Fascia Inner Body Communication Qualities to Promote Improved Well-Being.
Aviva Tulasi is Dogwood Studio’s newest intern. She is a registered yoga instructor (RYT) who is currently enrolled in a IYAT certified 800 hour yoga therapy program.
We have many yoga and meditation classes available live online and On Demand to help you keep your fascia flexible and elastic.
Click on the link HERE to sign-up and go to the ‘Classes’ tab to sign-up for any sessions, including Joint Freeing Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Mindful Movement & Yoga Classes, and Meditation in Motion.
For the latest schedule on the website, click HERE.
On Demand Line-up for February 14th through February 22nd & available for signing up:
For more information about On Demand classes, visit our website page HERE or email us at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com.