August 2025
Dear friends,
August arrived with a bang. I kicked the month off by completing a class with the Barral Institute on Visceral Manipulation, the term "visceral" derives from the Latin word viscus, meaning internal organ or entrails. This gentle technique employs specifically placed manual forces to promote normal mobility, tone, and inherent motion of the viscera, their connective tissue, and other areas where physiological motion has been impaired.
Motion is the essence of life. Everything in the universe is in constant motion, including our bodies. Healthy movement is crucial for all bodily structures, particularly the organs, which require motion to function optimally.
When tissues become inflamed, they lose their normal motion. The natural healing process involves a local disruption of normal tissue fibers, which are replaced by relatively inelastic granular tissue. This can be conceptualized as a localized dehydration of the affected tissues. As a result, the organ adapts around this area of decreased motion, establishing a new axis of motility and mobility.
Factors contributing to tissue inflammation and visceral restrictions include:
Infections
Surgeries
Physical trauma
Repetitive movement
Postural habits
Chemical stress (diet/nutrition, environmental toxins, smoking, drinking)
Emotional stress
Microbiome dysfunction
Also this month, I’ve been fortunate to spend time with my mentor Mary Bond (an original student of Ida Rolf, specializing in movement work). And I’ve been jazzed up and inspired by different movement patterns and their profound impact on those of us with chronic pain. Reflecting on your own experiences, you may recall times of chronic pain. It’s fascinating how the entire body compensates for the affected area, leading to changes in movement and function. The injured tissue sends signals to the brain, creating a heightened awareness of the problem area, which can disrupt overall movement patterns.
While this compensation can be helpful initially, it’s crucial to engage in the right types of movement exercises after an injury has healed. This helps regain range of motion and addresses any fascia issues to reduce scar tissue buildup. Reassessing the body post-injury is essential for restoring function!
If you’ve completed a 10-series, I’m offering an advanced 3-series or 5-series. Feel free to book a session!
Enjoy the rain!
Best,
Katie Franzmann
