Part 2 ... [Go to part 1.]

Just like it is for imbalances, a change toward normal balance in the Fascial organization in any part reverberates throughout the system. This continuity aspect is also important in the assessment an individual's balance, or lack of it.

This is a big subject, let's just say that an analysis of body structure needs to take into account how a subset of relationships in any given area/part needs to be analyzed in relation to its corresponding — and connected/participating — relationships in other areas/parts.

The Fasciae function in two ways: 1) for mechanical support and 2) as a physiological communication pathway.

Support ... owing to its collagen protein fibrous make up it carries the interrelated complex sets of bio-mechanical stresses which balance to hold things together and allows for good posture and effective and efficient movement.

Communication ... as a hydrostatic pressure regulated pathway for nutrients, hormones, waste products, nerves, and blood vessels. Like I said, it's everywhere ... and, doing everything. Well, at least involved with everything.

When the stresses in the Fascial system are out of balance, the body is out of balance. What’s more, given the continuous nature of this “organ of structure” any given imbalance is matched with correlating compensations throughout the system. If one of your shoulders is higher than the other, more than very likely your pelvis will show the corresponding pattern. Not to mention all that stuff in between and underneath. 

When the Fascial system is imbalanced, the natural pathway for those nutrients, hormones, waste products, nerves, and blood vessels is restricted. It's like resistance in an electrical current.

When the body is out of balance it takes extra energy to hold things together and extra effort to get things done. Full functioning is limited and top performance and full creative expressiveness are diminished. You see the world through a fuzzy lens.

In balance you have a body which is healthy, by definition. You experience it as right. Feels good. Your full potential for top performance and full creative expressiveness is naturally supported. In balance the system is self-sustaining, and self-reinforcing.

The structural relationships of the major segments of the body are carried in the relative tensions in the Myofascial system. Nothing new there. Except this: the current way of thinking puts most of the responsibility for balance and weight bearing on the muscular component alone. As in the Physical Therapy model which looks at relative muscular strengths and weaknesses as key factors in dysfunction. 

The Fascia ... well it’s just packing material.

In fact, though, when myofascial capacity is investigated, we see that by themselves muscles have a limit to their load bearing capacity and sustainability. The Fascial component of the Myofascial unit, with its rather fixed collagen rich fibrous makeup, adds leverage and tensile strength for greater and extended load carrying ability.

These and other aspects of the nature and role of the Fasciae are just recently being investigated on a wider scale. Heretofore Fascia was considered something to get past, particularly in dissection. Filler. Get it out of the way.

From the theory and practice in the field of Rolf Structural Integration we know the body is plastic. With sensitive touch and movement coaching the relationships of the major segments of the body can be trained and restored to a vertically upright, symmetrical and even stance.

Importantly, since the Fascial system is continuous — we've seen how compensations are set into the fabric of the body — any change in any part of that system reverberates throughout. The body can be trained to find and/or reset itself to a healthy balanced and effortlessly upright stance.

Dr. Ida P. Rolf, the originator of Structural Integration, referred to the Fascial system as the "Organ of Structure". It is a paradigm shift. Heretofore the upright support of the body was looked at a set of relationships between the skeleton and muscles holding them upright.

Comes an understanding of the role of Fascia and now we are introduced to a model of bodily support called "Tensegrity". In this way of looking at it the body is upright and moves in a balanced system of relative tensions; bones acting more like stabilizers and levers rather than load bearing features per se. Modern camping tents are good practical examples to give you a basic idea of how tensegrity works.

Here's a model showing the elastic tensional support inherent in the tensegrity design.

So, there. That's what about Fascia.

Adding a little plug for Rolf Structural Integration. Here's what balance in the Fascial system looks like.