After having spent quite a few years working with clients to tighten and strengthen their muscles, I was seeing people getting stronger, but in most cases they were also exhibiting limited flexibility and imbalanced movement patterns. I realized I wasn't taking the time nor was I emphasizing the importance of lengthening overly tightened muscles.

Feeling stronger and more able bodied brings a great sense of personal achievement, but without incorporating stretch and lengthening within those tightening muscles, most individuals will plateau in their progress. Only when the muscle fibers are fully lengthened can the body then achieve full muscle contraction; you cannot build more strength within a muscle which remains in a tightened state. This is why it is necessary to strip muscle adhesion and create length in the muscle through facilitated stretch. 

I try and take the time to explain to my clients why they are experiencing the limitations in their training, and then bring them through a series of stretches and muscle stripping to see if we can gently create more movement and flexibility in tightened areas.

Although these movements and techniques can often be uncomfortable, I work within each individuals level of pain tolerance. As soon as I feel a muscle is tightening and fighting against my pressure, I slow down and try and listen to the restrictions and blocks in the body. Often muscles will open on their own given enough time and patience on the part of the bodyworker, and this is the approach I try and take with each individual I work on.