Don Desrosiers has been an active body worker since 1995. Don graduated with honors from the Mount Royal College Massage Therapy program. Since that time, Don has performed over 20,000 massage treatments and his primary focus and passion has been unwinding connective tissue through Myofascial Release. Following behind the footsteps of John Barnes, (founder of Myofascial Release), Don pursued an intuitive approach to connective tissue unwinding based on John's work. John holds sustained rotational load on connective tissue. His pressure is subtle and his focus is on the peizoelectric release of connective tissue. A simplified explanation is that connective tissue responds to pressure on a cellular level. The cells of the connective tissue, while under myofascial unwinding, communicate to each other and eventually reorganize the cells to create length in the associated tissue. As effective as this approach is, it can be time consuming with only subtle results. Don’s approach is considered invasive. He applies the principles of John Barnes Myofascial Release by honoring the rotational torque or winding of the connective tissue with some SPANK. By actively stripping the connective tissue while applying rotational torque you achieve more, faster. Holding a sustained load on connective tissue while rotating the tissue clockwise or counter clockwise will elongate the connective tissue of the surrounding joint and muscle grouping in the area. What does this mean? It means we create the necessary space needed in between the bones so that joints and muscles can find neutral alignment and maximize efficiency of movement.
Don has created his own system which he calls "The Myofascial Tree". His system targets 5 specific areas of connective tissue congestion. These areas of connective tissue overlap can become bound from one layer to the next. In essence they become stuck or glued to each other which inhibits movement. By targeting these 5 specific areas we can free up the connective tissue and return the movement back to the associated areas. Don calls these the " Limbs of the Myofasical Tree". These limbs compose the bulk of your core. By unwinding the core we free up the ribcage, spine and pelvis. Once your core length has been established you will find the superficial limb injuries correct themselves. Treat the core and all will be well. Don's quest to understand how the human body moves has been enhanced through other disciplines. Don is a certified Hatha yoga teacher, Pilates mat work instructor, certified in Yamuna Body Rolling, and certified in kinesio taping.
Live free, play hard.
- Don Desrosiers RMT
I have been an active body worker for 20 years. My eclectic background includes deep tissue massage (RMT), Pilates, Chen Tai Chi / push hands, Hatha yoga, Yin yoga, and Yamuna Body Rolling. I have been blessed with the opportunity to study with masters in Pilates, yoga and Tai Chi. Although each field is a different representation of bodywork, they all share a common theme: posture, balance, and alignment.
The human body is the coolest, most complex machine in existence. The human body and how we move is a constantly changing, three-dimensional entity that will adapt to its environment regardless of whether it’s positive or negative. When you look at the body as a whole there are a lot of systems, all connected, and all dependent on each other. The common thread that links them all is fascia. It’s everywhere and connects everything. I have committed my time and energy to try and better understand and debunk the mystery of Myofascia.
Following the work of John Barnes, the founder of Myofascial Release, I pursued the unwinding of Myofascia with a more aggressive approach. Instead of the gentle piezoelectric unwinding of the Myofascia, I put more torque into the equation. My approach is to stabilize neutral positioning of the Myofascial plane with one forearm while I actively strip and drag the Myofascia away from the fixed point with my other forearm. Add some rotational torque that opposes the Myofascial restriction and you have entered a three-dimensional, multi-layered approach to connective tissue release.
This three-dimensional unwinding, with rotational or spiral release, is totally John Barnes with some spank. John is gentle, but I am a bit of a terrorist. I get things done. I never apply downward force. Instead I spiral the Myofascia from your controlled neutral point. This differs from Rolfing due to the multi-directional winding of the Myofascia. Rolfing rocks, the work is sound, and it has pioneered great bodywork for all but uses more tissue compression. I like to wind the Myofascia. My results are parallel with Rolfing, but they have less tissue compression, which means less pain. The Myofascial Tree, my work, summarizes how to free up five primary Myofascial centers of the body.
Why focus on five points? There is so much going on with Myofascia, “the whole body is the sum of all the parts“. To obtain complete harmony from nose to toes is an unwinding process that is improbable in one session. If you chose to treat individuals until they were Myofascial aligned and posturally sound, we would be doing 3-4 hour sessions with a 50% probability that by next week they would be Myofascial bound again. Treat the core, keep treating the core, and the limbs will follow. (Trauma induced limb injuries not included).
“Ideally our muscles will obey our will. Reasonably, our will should not be dominated by the reflex actions of our muscles.”