Why I Love Foam Rolling!

I tell everyone that if I could gift everyone in this world two things they would be:

1) Brene Browns book, ‘The Gifts of Imperfection’ AND

2) A Foam Roller

My first goal as an instructor is to create mobility. Most people are so incredibly bound in their bodies either with stress, poor movement patterns, and/or injuries.

Once we create space for things (in the joints, muscles, and tissue) to move, then I feel like we can build real lasting strength. I do not think you can achieve functional strength with out creating length and allowing muscles and joints to move more freely.

 

One of my favorite tools for this is using the foam roller.

I love using the roller in my personal practice and with my clients. I get such amazing results by rolling around just 2-5 minutes a day. It is a great way to start and end your day, bringing you into your body, and helping you come back to your breath. Which is always important.

I explain to clients that using a foam roller is like a massage that you can do for yourself. It restores length and mobility while loosening up fascia and muscles and changing tissue.

Although it can be painful at times, it really is one of my personal favorite tools to help relax, open things up, and get things moving.

As stated by Dr. Axe (draxe.com) benefits of foam rolling can include:

• Improved flexibility and increased joint range of motion.
• Better circulation.
• Stress reduction.
• Reduce exercise-related soreness.
• Prevent injury.

Using a foam roller is a way to perform myofascial release around muscles. “Myofascial” refers to fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds your muscles and other body parts and allows for movement. This internal webbing can stiffen with repetitive motions such as distance running, sitting, or any repetitive movement or stagnant poses.

Research on foam rollers has found they can increase range of motion and speed recovery by reducing pain and soreness. By decreasing the muscle tension caused by trigger points should lower injury risk and allow for more consistent training. (http://www.runnersworld.com/tag/foam-roller)

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about rolling and fascia. I am not the expert by any means but I was introduced to this great article about fascia myths. From my understanding rolling changes your tissue, which helps promote changes in the body. Check it out! http://www.jennirawlings.com/blog/fascia-myths-and-fascia-facts

I feel with all the benefits that come with opening, releasing tension, relieving stress, increasing circulation, and preventing injuries, rolling would benefit most people. If we all spent some time on the foam roller every day or even a couple minutes a week, I believe the world would be a different place. Hopefully I have inspired you to check “rolling out”. Lets change the world!