Myofascial Release Massage
in Santa Rosa.
Soft-tissue therapy intended to eliminate pain, increase range of motion, and rebalance the body by stretching the fascia, the connective tissue covering all muscles, organs, and skeletal structures. Includes a before-and-after body assessment to pinpoint the muscle worked and show the gain in range of motion.
What the work is for
Cleveland Clinic explains fascia with an orange: your skin is the peel, your muscles are the fleshy fruit, and the thin white membrane around each segment is the fascia. Myofascial work is aimed at that layer.
It feels different from an oil massage. Published descriptions of the technique call it a low-load, long-duration stretch applied to the myofascial complex: slow, steady pressure that stays in one place, worked without oil or lotion, and held anywhere from about ninety seconds to five minutes. ABMP's modality glossary describes it as the three-dimensional application of sustained pressure and movement into the fascial system, with gentle pressure applied in the direction of the restriction.
The complaints are specific: a shoulder that will not lift cleanly, a neck that turns further one way than the other. A 2024 meta-analysis of randomized trials found a moderate effect on range of motion in athletes, and its authors noted that the certainty of that evidence is not high. Cochrane's 2024 review of massage for neck pain rated the certainty of the evidence low. Easier movement is commonly reported. Claims past that go beyond the research.
What a session is like
It starts with questions. The American Massage Therapy Association describes the usual intake as covering medical history, lifestyle, stress levels, medications and areas of physical pain. The therapist then leaves the room while you undress to your comfort level, and you lie under a sheet that covers everything except the part being worked.
The session opens with the range-of-motion assessment. We look at how far the joint travels and where it catches, and note it. Then the bodywork, unhurried, usually on one or two regions. At the end we check the same movements again, so you can compare the two.
Expect long pauses in one spot. People commonly describe sustained pressure as a stretch spreading out under the hand, and tender areas as easing gradually while the hold is kept. Say something in the moment rather than waiting until the end.
Who books this one
- A joint that moves less freely than its pair
- A movement you have quietly stopped doing, like reaching overhead for the top shelf
- Old injuries that healed and left stiffness behind
- Anyone who wants a measured before-and-after from a session
- People who prefer slow sustained pressure to brisk, rhythmic work
- Going back to training or the garden after a quiet spell
Session lengths and rates
| Duration | Investment |
|---|---|
| Myofascial Release · 90 min Includes a before-and-after range-of-motion assessment | $195 |
Packages are prepaid and shared across every massage style, so each session can be whatever your body needs that day. Three sessions save 15%, six save 20%, and twelve save 25%. Payment is settled in person, and cash payments earn 8% off.
What to mention when booking
Mention anything medical when you book. Recent surgery, a recent fracture, fragile bones, medication that affects bleeding, and skin that is broken or healing over the area all belong in that note, so the session can be planned around them.
Pain that is new, severe, spreading, or arriving with numbness, weakness or fever belongs with a clinician first. Persistent muscle pain is something a healthcare provider diagnoses and manages.
Common questions
Is myofascial release the same as deep tissue massage?
Does myofascial release hurt?
How many sessions will I need?
Will I be sore afterwards?
Where the sessions happen
The boutique is at 3914 Princeton Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, and every session is by appointment. Booking times vary week to week. The open times shown when you book are the current ones. To ask a question before you book, call (707) 596-3117.
Other ways to work with the body
Every session is tailored on the day, so if another style fits better once you are on the table, we change course.
Where the general information on this page comes from
- Cleveland Clinic, Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- Ajimsha MS et al. (2015), Effectiveness of myofascial release: systematic review of randomized controlled trials, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
- ABMP modality glossary (MassageTherapy.com), Myofascial Release
- International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (2024), Abdominal Wall-targeted Myofascial Release Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Antohe BA et al. (2024), Effects of Myofascial Release Techniques on Joint Range of Motion of Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials, Sports
- Gross AR et al. (2024), Massage for neck pain, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024(2):CD004871
- American Massage Therapy Association, "What to Expect at a Massage Session"
General information about the style of bodywork, offered so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice. For anything concerning a diagnosis, a medication or a pregnancy, please speak with your own clinician. As the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health puts it, do not use massage to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.
Ready for a session?
Pick Myofascial Release Massage when you book, see the current open times, and request the one that fits.
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