An MFR session will start with a visual assessment of your posture in standing. Ideally, you will be dressed to allow the therapist to see what is occurring in the body: males just in loose shorts; females in a jog bra and loose shorts. The therapist will look at how your body is aligned when under the influence of gravity and from any pulling of internal fascial restriction. The therapist will also converse with you briefly at the beginning of each session about your issues, challenges, and symptoms since your last visit.
Once comfortably situated on the treatment table, your therapist will assess your body/tissues when not in gravity. Then treatment will commence.
There is no oil or lotion used with MFR because the therapist uses the skin as a lever/handle into the connective tissue (fascial) system. The therapist will provide gentle sustained stretch, pressure, or traction (pull) into your tissue for a prolonged period of time (5+ minutes per technique). This prolonged stimulus allows for release/response throughout the entire 3-dimensional fascial system which is uninterrupted head-to-toes.
Some patients feel physical sensations as the tissue restrictions release and lengthen. Typical physical sensations include: heat, tingling, pulsation, vibration, and melting. Some patients also feel emotions during MFR sessions. Emotional expression is normal and highly therapeutic during an MFR session. Some patients Unwind: their bodies begin to spontaneously/involuntarily move as their tissue system eases and releases stored trauma. Unwinding is extremely therapeutic and healing.
Sessions end with a brief discussion about the session, homework review, Q&A.