What is Guided Myofascial Therapy?Using Self Myofascial Release (SMR) principles and techniques, I guide you through movement sessions focused on melting tension and releasing active trigger points (hyper-irritable spots in the muscle and fascia) using a lacrosse ball.
Guided Myofascial Therapy is my own form of therapeutic bodywork, informed by my years of experience in Myofascial Release, Acupuncture, and Movement Therapies, as well as working through my own chronic pain from a lifetime of rock climbing and surfing. It combines elements of myofascial trigger point release, qigong breath work and pilates-based movement to melt tension, ease pain and re-program more healthy movement habits. I guide you through movement sessions designed to target and access myofascial trigger points and acupuncture points using the above techniques and a simple lacrosse ball. I teach you how to approach different body regions by explaining how the muscles and fascia work together, helping you locate specific areas of your body, and how to safely and effectively apply pressure. I then introduce breathing, visualization, and movement techniques that will help you sink deeper into your edge of comfort, melt away tension and release active trigger points. We finish the session by reprogramming healthy movement patterns to reintegrate the areas we released. Small group classes are available multiple times a week, as well as personalized one-on-one sessions to dial in your specific pattern. Guided Myofascial Therapy is easily accessible and available on Zoom in the comfort of your own home, and in-person on the North Shore of the island of O'ahu. BENEFITS YOU WILL FEEL: These sessions are designed to be challenging and educational. They are deeply relaxing, and help you take control of your health, relieving chronic pain and tension. In this work you will tune in to deeper body awareness, learn to feel how your muscles and fascia are connected and what patterns may be contributing to pain or dysfunction. Find me on Instagram @stonewavemonkey,
email: briankcork@gmail.com |
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SESSIONS:Group Classes: I offer 2 group sessions per week on Zoom. Each class focuses on a specific body region. I recommend trying to work with all areas as time allows, but you are welcome to take just one session at a time as well. The title of each session just gives a rough idea of the region we will be working through that day, but every time is a little different and I present different trigger points and movements each time. The group classes by nature don't go quite as deep or specific as individual sessions, as it's not possible to go into the same level of specificity with a group of people of varying shapes and backgrounds, and the inner levels of myofascia need more detailed feedback and checking in than is possible with a group class. That being said, the outer layers of myofascia can generally use more regular treatment and care as they're more directly connected with bigger movements, so the group classes are something you can join anytime. The group classes are generally the best place to start with this work and can be used regularly as a tune up. Remember the body is all connected through myofascial TENSEGRITY and movement patterns, so we often find great results with treating distant regions from where you feel the pain or tension. In an effort to make these classes accessible, my group classes are DONATION-BASED (suggested donation from $10-$30). Donations are welcome at stonewavemonkey on Venmo, but if times are tough you're still welcome to join. I do appreciate you helping to spread the word about these classes to anyone who you think could benefit from this work. ALL YOU NEED FOR THE GROUP CLASSES: -lacrosse ball (or other similar size therapy ball) -yoga block -mat UPCOMING ZOOM CLASSES: SUNDAY: 3pm Pacific, (12pm Hawaii) TUESDAY: 8pm Pacific, (5pm Hawaii) Sunday(5/31): Inner Shoulder & Thoracic Spine Tuesday(6/2): Hips & Upper Legs Sunday (6/7): Outer Shoulder & Arms Tuesday (6/9): Lower Leg & Foot email me at briankcork@gmail.com or use contact form to receive links to the classes! Please feel free to share with friends and family! ONE-ON-ONE/PERSONALIZED SESSIONS: Use these sessions to dial in to your specific pattern and issues, and provide relief from pain while developing more functional mobility. Whether you are seeking more performance and better recovery for intense physical activities or simply trying to make it through the work day with less pain, these 90 minute customized sessions are the best way to target your specific needs and learn valuable techniques which you can use for years to come. With the individual sessions we have a chance to use more immediate feedback, focusing in on a deeper level to points and movements specific for YOUR body and pattern. Available online via Zoom, or in-person on North Shore of O’ahu. $120/one-on-one session Email briankcork@gmail.com or use contact form to get started! |
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About Me
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I live a life dedicated to movement in nature. When I'm not helping people heal their bodies, my other passions are rock climbing, bodysurfing and making quality food with my partner Ashley. I have established first-ascents of new rock climbs in California and Hawai'i, including the most difficult routes on the island of O'ahu, up to 5.13d and made a free-ascent of Yosemite's El Capitan via "El Nino"(VI 5.13c, 3,300') over 21 days on the wall in 2002. I currently climb multiple days per week at my local crags in Mokule'ia, and regularly bodysurf my favorite breaks on North Shore and all around the island. I maintain a daily morning-movement practice of Qi Gong, Pilates-bases mat work, and Somatic Meditation which is crucial for keeping me centered and tuned-in to subtle shifts in my form. I typically do one or two detailed Myofascial Release sessions myself per week as well, to stay ahead of the pain and tension. It’s all about engaging in the process; simply BREATHING and BEING PRESENT is what I've learned that makes these movement forms so powerful and I’m constantly humbled and in awe of it all. There’s always more to learn.
Climbing full-time through my teens and early twenties without enough rest and regenerative practices led to chronic overuse injuries in my back, shoulders, hips, knees, hands and feet. This is what directed me to the study of massage therapy, medical qigong, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in order to find relief from the pain and understand better what was happening to my body. Dynamic balance is an important presence in my life. The regenerative SMR bodywork and movement work on the mat are crucial for maintaining overall balance with more potentially exhausting activities like climbing and surfing, the yin to the yang, so to speak. Acupuncture and Qi Gong continue to guide my practice of Myofascial Therapy and Movement Work, though I rarely find the need to use acupuncture needles anymore. In my practice I've found that steady, precise pressure with awareness and movement can activate and release the points just as well as needles, if not better. I draw from these different systems to inform my bodywork practice, blending the techniques and mechanics of Myofascial Therapy and Pilates with the naturalist systems of Qi Gong and Acupuncture. I love sharing this work because it helps people feel empowered in the process of their own healing, and more present in their own body. Health, wellness and optimal performance are an ongoing process, not a destination, and my purpose is to help you dial in with that process. EDUCATION& QUALIFICATIONS: -Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley, CA (graduated 2010), including over 1,000 clinical hours treating patients in the community clinic with Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Medical Qi Gong, and 3.5 years (2,000+ hours) of year-round full-time, in-person coursework in Acupuncture, Western Biomedicine, Orthopedics, Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine. -Board-licensed Acupuncturist (LAc), licensed in the state of Hawai’i (HI DCCA #973) since 2011 - Certified Medical Qigong Therapist, Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley, CA (2008) - Certified Massage Therapist & Health Educator, focusing on Myofascial Therapy at National Holistic Institute, Emeryville, CA (2006), including 1 year/ 730 hours of coursework, and a clinical externship and subsequent employment at Chiro Kinetics, an Integrative Functional Rehabilitation clinic where I was trained in Frequency-specific Microcurrent in conjunction with Myofascial Therapy techniques. - Hundreds of hours of ongoing Continuing Education; some highlights include numerous courses with Tom Myers of Anatomy Trains, Balanced Body Pilates Mat teacher training with Jaydene Sniffen, and Anatomy Trains in Motion with Karin Gurtner. |
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