Heather Harms, LMT offers a gentle and intuitive blend of Ortho-Bionomy, Cranial Sacral therapy, and Myofascial Release-John Barnes theory.

Harms will assess the fascia restrictions by palpating your soft tissues, bones, and cranial pulse. With that information she knows where to treat, how much pressure to apply, and for how long. Because the structure of our fascia is a three-dimensional web from head to toe encompassing muscle tissue, bone, nerves, organs and structure at the cellular level –the area worked on has a chain reaction through the rest of your physical, emotional, and spiritual body.

“Fascial restrictions can develop from trauma, poor posture and repetitive action. These restrictions can create pain, swelling, misalignment, poor muscular biomechanics, decreased range of motion, decreased strength and lameness. Fascial restrictions can produce crushing tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in any of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, MRI’s, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.) This enormous pressure acts like a “straightjacket” on muscles, nerves, blood vessels and bones producing the symptoms of pain, headaches and restriction of motion.” John Barnes

If you have any questions about treatment, please do not hesitate to call Heather. 503-679-9325

What to expect:         Before the treatment begins, you will discuss your reason for making the appointment, Harms will evaluate your posture and composition, and then you will get on the table for treatment.

Unlike traditional massage, this modality does not involve stroking of the superficial fascia, but a still and focused contact, with a slight pressure or stretch applied, and so oil is not used.

To get the most out of your treatment, come hydrated. The recommended daily intake of water is your total weight in ounces, divided by two. If you weigh 150lbs, your daily intake of pure water is 75 fluid oz. The fascia system is a liquid matrix. Without proper hydration, there will be no movement. Tiny layers of organized water form a cushion between each individual strand of collagen (the primary support system of fascia). Without water, collagen dries out, compacts, becomes brittle and shrinks—and so does the skin. Without a continual supply of water between each strand, collagen dries, cracks and bonds to itself -this is called cross-linking. Once the fibers are cross-linked, they can no longer hold moisture, metabolic process cannot happen, toxins build up, and movement nor change in the tissues can occur.