Skin isn’t the only thing keeping our innards in place. The body’s fascia, a cobweblike tissue that weaves through muscle and wraps around organs and bones, handles most of that job. It’s not unlike the membrane in an orange, which both supports and separates the segments.
When the densely packed fascia fibers are healthy and hydrated, our bodies work better: Muscles glide over one another, and movement in every direction feels effortless, says Thomas W. Findley, M.D., research director at the V.A. New Jersey Health Care System. But when fascia loses its elasticity, range of motion shrinks, too.
Scientists believe that exercising the fibers encourages them to regenerate on a cellular level, keeping them springy. Foam rollers, a staple of physical therapy, help keep the tissues supple. But stretches and yoga moves are also effective. Jill Miller, the L.A.-based creator of the
Yoga Tune Up program
, designed this fascia-focused workout.
Before you begin, Miller suggests “waking up” the fascia at the start of each workout with skin rolling: Starting at the feet, grab handfuls of skin, fat, and muscle, and squeeze and knead your way up with both hands. Don’t be too gentle — it should feel like a rough sort of pinch.
