M. B. 65 Yrs...2020. EDS...Celiac...Lupus...Pain...Gastroparesis...Costochondritis...+++

I was referred to the studio by a Pilates instructor because I had joint pain, constant pain around my ribs, a sprained ankle, and overall fatigue. The Pilates was helpful for general well-being, but Tina suggested that Arlene had treated a lot of tough cases. 

Mine was indeed a tough case. I was diagnosed with rheumatic autoimmune disease about 25 years ago. The main symptoms were joint pain, including debilitating wrist pain, exhaustion, swollen glands, and dry eyes and mouth. I have been taking hydroxychloroquine ever since. I also took prednisone for many years. About 7 years later, I was diagnosed with celiac disease and started a gluten-free diet. The hydroxychloroquine and the GF diet resolved the worst of the joint pain and most of the swelling. But I was still exhausted much of the time and had gotten accustomed to fairly constant pain around my ribs and joints. I had bronchitis frequently and took asthma medications as well. I also had gastroparesis for several years, which stumped my gastroenterologist because it had no known origin. The gastroparesis caused a chronic feeling of nausea and a 25 pound weight loss. 

 When Arlene did my intake exam, she told me within minutes that I was hypermobile. I had been told that before by a physical therapist (ankle) and also a TMJ specialist (jaw). Both of these authorities said there was very little I could do about it and I would have recurring problems in these areas throughout my life. Arlene was different. She explained that hypermobility is a body-wide thing that leads to tightness and pain, and it could be addressed through corrective exercises. Two years later, my rheumatologist confirmed that I have EDS type III, but told me it is harmless and doesn’t matter. After that, I am confident that Arlene knows more about hypermobility than my board-certified medical specialist. 

In the time that I have been seeing Arlene and her junior trainee, Cora, I have seen remarkable improvements in multiple areas. In no specific order, I recall these: 

1.     Gastroparesis. Arlene and Cora began releasing tight fascia around my stomach and abdomen. It probably took a year, but eventually the nausea faded, and I realized I was enjoying food again. Unfortunately, I made up the weight loss in about two years’ time. 

2.     Gluten reaction. Every celiac gets unintentionally poisoned with gluten now and then, usually from restaurants. In one instance, the restaurant must have made a major mistake because I was having severe cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. I called Arlene to cancel my appointment, but she instead told me to come in and she would see what she could do. I doubted that anything could be done because the gluten reaction had always progressed to systemic effects, including severe fatigue, joint pain and swelling. Arlene did a fascial release all over my body (using cupping, manual manipulation and ?). After 90 minutes, I felt surprisingly relieved. The cramps were gone and I felt more clear-headed and energetic. When I got home, I was able to do normal activities (e.g., gardening). The next day, I had minimal fatigue and no joint pain. I have had many glutening “incidents,” and I was accustomed to a week or two of fatigue and joint pain. 

3.     Costochondritis. I had had chest pain for decades, starting before I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s/Lupus. After my internist and specialists ruled out heart and pulmonary problems, I was told to take ibuprofen to treat the chronic pain and prednisone for flare-ups. When I first went to Arlene, this chest pain was one of my major complaints. She told me that I was “tight to the bone” and it would take many treatments to soften up the fascia. I went to the studio twice a week for fascial release and corrective exercises. I was willing to invest this time and money because the chest pain was constant and debilitating, and I did not want to take so many anti-inflammatories. After several months, I suddenly realized that my chest was pain-free. I don’t know when that happened. The chronic chest pain never came back, with just a few flare-ups when the lupus is acting up. My frequent bouts with bronchitis have also declined. I will forever appreciate Arlene for relieving me of my chest issues. 

4.     Joint pain. Despite the prescription medications, I had frequent pain in my knees and wrists. These pains worsened during lupus flare-ups. Again, I’m not sure when these pains were relieved. It was only during flare-ups that I realized the chronic pain had disappeared. Furthermore, the flare-ups have decreased in frequency and intensity (and I usually can tell what triggers them, where I couldn’t before).

5.     Breathing. Arlene has written about this in detail from her perspective. From my perspective, she had me do some weird squats after a comprehensive fascial treatment, and suddenly I felt myself breathing differently. My lungs were begging for deeper breaths, and I had to comply. I can’t say what happened, but I felt like my lungs had expanded and needed more air than before. It was concerning to Arlene, but it felt freeing to me.

6.     Proprioception and coordination. I participated in weekly classes for hypermobile people. Among other things, we worked on core coordination and proprioceptive feedback. This is entirely subjective, but I feel that I have improved in these areas. I still have a long way to go, though.

7.     Sprained ankle. When I started seeing Arlene, I had a two-year old ankle injury from hyperextension. It took another two years to heal. I mention this to make the point that fascial releases did not fix everything. I think that is important to note because it distinguishes authentic fascial treatments from magic. 

8.     Normal stuff. Like everyone else, I get tension headaches and other stress-related symptoms. I get lethargic if I don’t exercise enough. Fascial release helps with this too.

S.M.'s Story.... 38 Years old, EDS, POTS, Soliosis, Awry Neck, Pelvic Tilt...Pain 2023

Working with Arlene has been a life-changing experience. I have attended her virtual classes and worked with her for private sessions. Prior to meeting Arlene I had tried every treatment that my medical providers had offered me with no real improvement in my symptoms. When I first saw Arlene I was unable to sit comfortably for more than a few minutes with use of a tens unit, could barely walk a couple of blocks with the use of a cane, and was having frequent episodes where I was unable to even stand easily or my joints were slipping and causing extreme pain. 

Since working with Arlene, I can enjoy my life again: seated activities (watching sport games, road trips, flying, sitting through long dinners with friends, attending concerts, etc.) and walking activities (daily morning walks, running errands, gentle hikes, etc.) Additionally, I now have knowledge and tools to help my body when I feel a flare or episode happening, so they do not keep me down like they used to. Arlene works to empower the people she works with with tools that they will use for the rest of their lives.

I cannot recommend working with Arlene enough. She is incredibly empathetic and in tune with the work she does. She truly has a talent for helping people and the knowledge she shares is invaluable. She is such a gem and gift to this world - I hope that all individuals who need additional support in their lives have an opportunity to work with and learn from Arlene.

Fascia Research is Evolving: News from the Global Front of Fascia Discovery

I discovered Fascia over 20 years ago while trying to get myself out of life-long pain. I had heard a few references to Fascia during my various trainings, but the zeitgeist came to its burgeoning about 10-12 years ago. The Above Documentary, “The Mysterious World Under the Skin” gives a summary of the global network discovering and researching the complexity and importance of the MyoFascial Matrix. I’ve always referred to it affectionately as “The Tight Suit Inside.” When it’s dysfunctional, it often feels like a tight, painful suit we’re walking around in. Our focus at The Belly Studio for 13 years has been to develop strategies and methodologies to reverse-engineer Fascial Dysfunction, eliminate pain, educate and bring our clients back into a pain-free, functional life.

The Tight Suit Inside

By Arlene Corcoran

I’m going to introduce you to my personal and professional experiences with the MyoFascial System. My hope is that the stories and discoveries made through my journey assist others in a deepened understanding of the body.  

My experiences in teaching others to move without pain have demonstrated that the basic principles and understanding of Fascia can greatly improve one’s quality of life. It has done so in my own. I teach now what I have learned from my own transformation. This transformation took place in the Fascia Frontier, the universe within, the granddaddy of anatomical function: the Tight Suit Inside.

I’ve used many metaphors to explain what is often felt but unseen within us.  You can call it the ‘Living Leather Suit’ inside as it is often tough like leather.  In fact, in some physical states, it can nearly be as strong as steel. But what is the MyoFascial Matrix?

It’s the white, filmy stuff we cut at when preparing chicken. Most of us don’t even consider it to be part of our anatomy. In high school biology and at the doctors’ offices we’ve seen lots of pictures of the human body: it’s all bones, muscles, organs, ligaments, and cartilage. But, it turns out, there’s a lot more to this connective tissue system, and it’s actually significant to everyone’s daily life, health, and often happiness.  

In anatomical studies over the years, the connective tissue was removed to reveal the elements within. This tissue was tossed aside as if it were an inert casing, something akin to a sausage wrapper.  

As it turns out, it is an integral part of our anatomy, a virtual living bio-suit that is interwoven and necessary to every system of the Human Body.  There are connections and influences with the vascular system, the lymphatic system, the endocrine system and more. We are more like a sapling than we are an automobile. We are organic, not mechanical.   

In reality, the ‘Tight Suit Inside’ explains a lot of our experience in our own bodies that heretofore have been a mystery. The Myofascial Tissue is literally the web which our physical bodies live within, defining and orchestrating how we move.  

How we move defines how we live and how we live defines how we move.  

Finally, research is beginning to uncover the many multiple functions of the Tight Suit. Internationally, the MyoFascial System has been a burgeoning area of research for over 20 years, and interest has increased in the United States since Tom Meyers published his research in the stellar text, ‘Anatomy Trains’ (You can buy this book and more here).

Robert Schleip in Germany, Carla Stecco in Italy and many more in Europe, as well as many worldwide in the various disciplines involvement movement have been studying and contributing to the burgeoning research of the Myofascial System.

Fascia surrounds all things within, connects all things within, and shapes all things within. When it is bound, misaligned or injured, it confines things within. That is where dysfunction can begin!

It also modifies itself according to pressure and load applied during daily living, so it responds to all environmental factors (temperature, pH, injury, load, force, etc.).  The main component of Fascia is collagen. If we load continually in a particular pattern of movement, the fascia grows more collagen to provide more structure, stability and support.  If we get bigger, our Fascia, of course, grows with us.

The Tight Suit Inside has defined my life since I was 12 years old.  I’ve made a third career out of studying, working with, and teaching my clients for over 10 years about the MyoFascial System. My life has changed since approaching movement and pain through what I now know as such an integral system. Join me in this important work as we transform not only our understanding of our physical selves, but our ability to move freely within our bodies as well!