Connective tissue focused bodywork is the best method for facilitating a healthier you. This is what Paula's Body Shop focuses on, and this is why she gets the fastest, longest-lasting results for her clients.
Connective Tissue is an umbrella term for all of the fasciae in the body, from skin through bone, head to toe, including the gut. Muscles took the stage and the credit and the blame for too long. It is time to set the record straight.

The Missing Link in Bodywork Education and Practice 

When we switch focus from muscles to connective tissue, we exit the realm of healing by relaxation (which is marvelous for emotional issues, but offers only temporary relief from more physical issues,) and enter the fascinating and complex world of healing by clearing obstructions (congestions, adhesions, stuck inflammations, sharp calcifications, and metabolic crystallizations) in the connective tissue, which is responsible for supporting all systems of the body. The science is new ... but the clinical work is old for those who explore beyond the muscles.

Interestingly, removing the obstructive root issue is not much different than removing a stubborn clog from a drain pipe: The waters flow on their own. In this case, the blood, lymph, and plasma-like fascial fluids become free to flow, restoring overall health and wellness, naturally allowing the muscles to relax on their own, assuming no underlying joint issues. Our bodies do not contain inert pipes, however.  Over time, the fascia will find and create detours that may lead to restrictions and compensations that start a slow domino-effect to pain and limited range-of-motion. Circulation-wise, if unable to detour, localized edemas may result.

There’s no magic in this. It’s fluid engineering within a closed system under pressure, something we need science to start studying, so that I don’t have to use plumbing analogies to help explain mechanisms!

Connective Tissue Is A Paradigm Shift

Telling people that massage therapy (and sports therapy and physical therapy) should be about connective tissue and not muscles, sounds as heretical as any new concept before it's accepted. Thankfully, devoted scientists and clinicians throughout the world are working to mainstream the benefits of understanding and respecting the connective tissue of the body. For an example of their wonderful work, please see video on the home page.

Research

The latest research is proving that connective tissue is more like a giant web of an organ-like system, and the only system that interfaces with all other organs and tissues, including and especially the brain and nervous system. It nourishes, protects, connects, separates, and communicates all at once. When this water-loving tissue is healthy, and connective tissue focused bodywork is one of the best ways to get it healthy, you are giving your vascular and nervous systems, muscles, bone structure, organs, and even the ever-present protective fat, the best chance to really thrive.

The case of the groin pull that was not, and other pseudo muscular pains

The clearest example of how connective tissue issues can mimic muscle pain is in the case of the pregnant and near birthing client who presented with a pulled groin (adductor) muscle. Noticing through palpation that there was  "congestion" aka "clotting" within the superficial connective tissue in the same hip, but opposite of the muscular pain and on the other side of the hip joint, Paula set about clearing that congestion and the groin pull pain disappeared!

The most common example of pseudo muscle pain (and pseudo arthritic pain) comes from crystallizations where tendons attach on the bone - whether at the joint or on the body of the bone. The condition is called calcific tendonitis, and it is difficult for medical professionals to diagnose except in the shoulder, and only when it is severe enough to show up on x-ray. Paula, however, is able to palpate for these crystals almost anywhere in the body, break them down without doing harm, and voila! The muscles automatically relax and let go! 

​Fascia Research Highlights

How a Mysterious Body Part Called Fascia is Challenging Medicine
The Second International Research Congress
www.fasciacongress.org
Fascial Manipulation, foreword by Robert Schleip, PhD, Director of Fascia Research Project, Ulm University, Germany. Dr. Schleip summarizes the importance of the body of work by Stecco and Stecco and also talks about why this important tissue has been overlooked for so long.
​This video highlights the appreciation of the Stecco family work in both fascia research and clinical application. Paula has worked with Dr. Antonio Stecco in the cadaver lab as his assistant and enjoyed sharing ideas with him. Paula's connective tissue therapy is somewhat similar in results to the Stecco brand of fascial manipulation, both enjoying fast, effective, and longer-term results.
​Connective Tissue cannot be understood through traditional reductive scientific research, alone. At all times, the whole must be considered, along with observation in live, moving tissue. Dr. JC Guimberteau has offered the most brilliant and pleasant view of this amazing tissue that offers great promise to the future of modern medicine, especially for surgeons. You can view it in his DVD titled, "Strolling Under The Skin" or read about it in his new book, "Architecture of Human Living Fascia," edited in part by Paula Mae (Moerland). 
​"The Fuzz Speech" video ~ amended to suggest that the fuzz is necessary, but we don't want it getting sticky or hardening! Gentle, flowing movement is key - and you don't need a gym membership to move!