Freeing Emotions and Energy through Myofascial Release

Too many of us hold our physical, mental and emotional pain within our bodies, where it slows energy, manifests as tension and can have a damaging impact upon our health. In his new book, Noah Karrasch shows that wellbeing and healing come from the detangling of blocked emotions and the restoration of the free flow of energy through the body.

Written for bodywork and manual therapy practitioners from a wide variety of disciplines, as well as other healers who want to expand their skills, this generously illustrated book explains how and where emotions and static energy are held in the body, and how they can be released and rebalanced in therapies that challenge bodymindcore awareness. It includes many new ideas and techniques: useful conversation starters to help practitioners encourage clients to self-identify their challenges, detailed explanations of myofascial release techniques and self-reflective exercises designed to first help the practitioner truly understand the process for him or herself, through his or her own body, in order to become a more empathetic and effective therapist.

This important book will enable bodywork and manual therapy practitioners to work more confidently, and more intuitively, with their clients.

Dedication. Acknowledgments. Foreword by C. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD. 1. To the Therapist. Touching the Core. 2. Meet Your Body. A Review. Thirteen Major Hinges. Creating Length Between Those Hinges. Meet Your Body. 3. The Crucial Spot. The Fort of Self: Defeat, or Worth? No Breath, No Spirit. Eastern Wisdom. The Biggest Stuck Spot. Achievement Mode. Not Good Enough. 4. Now, Do Something! The Big One: Lose, or Use? Stretch the CORE. Simple, Good Rules. Stretching Emotionally. 5. Test the Toes. An Amazing Joint: Can't, or Will? Your Own Two Feet. Am I Pleasing Them? Stay on Your Toes. I Can Do Anything. 6. The Back Up Plan. Who Rules: Survive, or Thrive? Why Am I In Pain? Exploring Our Pain. Unresolved Thought Forms. Atlas Wedge. Making Headway. 7. Trust Your Gut. The Churn: Judge, or Discern? Hurting the Ones We Love. Judgement vs Discernment. Encouraging Discharge. PSOAS: Primary Stoner Of All Stress. Stepping Out of Fear. 8. Shame is Optional. Forbidden Zone: Ashamed, or Aflame? The Only Dis-Ease. What Did Love Look Like? The One We've Got. Get Real. 9. Relax The Loins. Steady On: Locked, or Loose? It's the Kidneys! Stand Your Ground Safely. How We Congest and How We Cope. A Friendly Universe? A Three Layer System of CORE Work. 10. Lead With Your Heart. The Core Bloom: Barren, or Full? Vitamin 'G'. The Center Of Right Energy. Congestion vs Circulation. The Heart Hinge. 11. Find Your Voice. Your Expression: Strained, or Soaring? Escape. How Big is Your Universe? What Will You Express? Find the CORE. 12. Reach Out To Serve. Well-Oiled Machine: Off, or On? Let it Go! Replacing Resentments. Burdens You Shoulder: A Pain in the Neck? Less Multi-Tasking. The X Factor. Stretching at the CORE. 13. So Now Relax: Who Rules: Survive, or Thrive? Let the Crown Rule. Another Twist of the Mind. Pay Attention! Beauty, Order, Harmony. Embrace the Shadows. Integration. 14. What We're Hungry For...Moving Forward. A World Challenge. Duty Takes a Rap. Practicing Independence with Interdependence. Appendix A: Emotional Anatomy. Appendix B: Suggested Readings. Appendix C: Glossary of Movement Terms. Index.