Stiff body, sick body?
How your flexibility might be affecting your health.
As a yoga teacher, I often hear people tell me, as if trying to justify why they’re not doing yoga: “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga” or, “I’m as stiff as a board!”.
This always makes me so sad because, aside from the fact that yoga is waaaayyyy more than just postures and about getting flexible (or standing on your head), if you’re not doing anything about it, it’s only going to get worse.
And let me tell you, if you care about staying healthy, you do not want that. Because it’s not just your flexibility that will get worse, it’s your health too.
From 1 to 30 Trillion
Let’s just go back in time for a bit- in YOUR story. To the moments following the fertilisation of your mother’s egg. From that one cell, a miraculous transformation started to unfold: rapid division, specialisation, and organisation gave rise to the complex systems that would eventually make up the amazing mass of 30 trillion cells in your body.
Your cells multiplied, forming the first blobs, then started to fold over themselves over, and over again. They knew exactly what to do- where to go, what to become, when to stop growing. At that point though, there was no nervous system, and no blood vessels- yet your cells communicated and cooperated, creating what you ultimately became: an interconnected whole human being.
The Space Between
As your cells folded over, a structure started to appear: a space between layers that soon started to form channels. As you grew, these layers forming the boundaries of that space became fibrous- eventually surrounding every organ and every muscle. The blob of cells you once were now becoming a complex structure able to hold itself into shape thanks to this fibrous encasing and the principle of tensegrity.
This fibrous connective tissue was long dismissed in Western anatomy- it wasn’t until the 18th century that fascia began to be recognised. Interestingly though, when we superpose the current map of lines and layers of fascia with those of the Chinese meridians used in acupuncture, it becomes obvious that the Chinese had known for thousands of years already about the significant role fascia plays into our health.
The Fascinating Role of Fascia in Health
If I was to ask you “What’s the largest organ in the body?” you’ll likely tell me “the skin!”. Or maybe you’ll pause, as you may sense that it *might* be the wrong answer. Either way, you’re smart. But if you hesitated, indeed you are on the right track… Many scientists now consider fascia to be largest organ- and here’s why.
Fascia is EVERYWHERE. It encases every single muscle fibre. It contains your pain receptors. That delayed onset muscle soreness you feel after an intense workout? It’s not in your muscles, it’s in your fascia.
Fascia contains the glia cells of your brain- the “glue” that allows non-direct communication between neurons to occur- that is believed to be the reason why Einstein’s brain was so different from the average folks.
Fascia transforms ENERGY. This extraordinary tissue is very rich in collagen- a molecule that organises itself into a crystal-like matrix that is piezoelectric: it has the ability to create electricity on its own when the crystals cracks against one another as you move and stretch.
It’s a COMMUNICATOR and a CONNECTOR, in many different ways:
Force Transmission: Fascia transmits physical forces to special receptors on the surface of our cells, influencing gene activity. Pressure alone is able to turn gene on and off. This enables our bodies to adapt and respond to environmental changes.
Nutrient and Waste Transfer: Fascia supports the flow of oxygen, nutrients, and waste between cells and blood vessels, facilitating efficient cellular functioning.
Communication Network: Fascia serves as a medium for moving molecules like growth factors, cytokines (which regulate inflammation), and other signalling substances, ensuring healing and a harmonious communication between cells.
Electrical Conductivity: Rich in collagen, fascia generates bioelectricity, shown to support tissue regrowth and repair.
Pain Reduction: When we stretch or received a massage, such as myofascial release, the brain starts releasing endorphins, which are the body natural pain killers.
Another one of its most critical roles is hydration. Fascia acts as a reservoir for water, ensuring cells, tissues, and joints - which don’t have a direct blood supply- remain lubricated. However, this hydration isn’t just about fluid volume; fascia plays a pivotal role in organising water at a molecular level.
Water within the fascia often exists in what scientists now recognise as the fourth phase of water, or EZ (Exclusion Zone) water. Unlike regular liquid water, EZ water is structured, forming a gel-like layer at the interface of hydrophilic surfaces like fascia. This structured water holds an electrical charge, creating a natural bio-battery within the body. Fascia harnesses this charge to generate electricity, aiding in cellular communication, tissue regeneration, and overall vitality.
Additionally, EZ water is believed to:
Facilitate efficient molecular movement: Structured water supports the seamless transfer of nutrients, oxygen, and signalling molecules between cells.
Enhance hydration longevity: By maintaining water in its structured form, fascia ensures hydration is retained longer, improving joint lubrication and cellular function.
Support energy flow: The electrical charge within EZ water contributes to the body’s bioelectricity, which is essential for nerve signalling, muscle function, and healing processes.
Fascia’s ability to maintain this organised, electrically charged water is directly influenced by movement. Physical activity stretches and compresses fascia, allowing for the movement of collagen crystals to create electricity, keeping this hydration system active.
Crack and Glow
So just like a glow stick, you have to crack those collagen crystals to create energy so you can glow from the inside out. But it’s not just about creating light- you must receive it too… Recent discoveries in quantum biology have shed light on fascia’s ability to respond to electromagnetic energy, including light. We’ve seen that due to its high concentration of collagen, it can generate electrical signals when mechanically stressed - but also when exposed to certain electromagnetic frequencies, including visible light and infrared radiation.
When exposed to light, especially infrared light, fascia doesn’t just absorb energy- it transforms it into electrical signals that influence cellular processes. Here’s how:
Bio-photon Emission and Communication: Cells, including those within fascia, emit low levels of light, known as bio-photons. These bio-photons are thought to play a role in cellular communication. Fascia, as a vast interconnected network, may amplify and distribute these light-based signals, facilitating communication between distant parts of the body.
Stimulating Healing: Infrared light has been shown to enhance tissue repair and reduce inflammation. Fascia, with its collagen-rich structure, absorbs and channels this light energy, accelerating healing and promoting cellular regeneration.
Supporting Energy Flow: Fascia’s ability to interact with light aligns with its role in generating EZ water- structured water that retains and transfers electrical energy. Light, particularly in the infrared spectrum, increases the formation of EZ water, enhancing fascia’s hydration and bioelectric functionality.
Enhancing Mobility and Flexibility: Exposure to light can improve fascia elasticity and reduce stiffness, likely due to its impact on water structuring and collagen dynamics.
Quantum biology also suggests that light plays a role in synchronising the body’s biological rhythms. Fascia, with its extensive network, may act as a conduit, transmitting light-induced signals throughout the body to help maintain each single one of your cells’ clocks ticking! This could explain the anecdotal and scientific observations of increased energy and reduced pain in individuals exposed to natural sunlight or therapies like red light therapy.
Movement in natural light such as going for a walk or outdoor yoga, infrared saunas, and red-light therapy are powerful tools to support fascia’s health and functionality.
Is your Lifestyle a Killer?
In the UK, adults are awake for an average of 16h a day, and spend around 9 of those hours sitting. Indoors.
Lack of light and lack of movement leads to stiffness. And a stiff fascia cannot do its job: it reduces the availability of EZ water and impairs its ability to support the body’s structural and functional needs. It hinders repair and healing, and breaks down the communication channels between the different parts of your body and cells. We know that health is not just the absence of disease- but a stiff fascia is a sure way to get a sick body.
The role of fascia is dynamic- and your health depends on it. And your fascia depends on YOU to move and stretch it. So the question is: how long will you spend moving today?