How long does change take…

This is something well worth bearing in mind when you start trying to improve your posture and movement (and the same with your horse). The body needs time to change, it doesn’t happen over night. As humans we tend to want to see improvements yesterday but when you’re trying to change patterns that have been going on for years we need to repeat the new movement over and over again many times for it to stick. The body will build new neuromuscular pathways and eventually learn that this is a better way to move, the muscle balance, mobility, strength and fascia will change as necessary.

It takes about 4- 12 weeks to see a change in muscle . 6-12 weeks to heal bone but 6 months to 2 YEARS to make a change to your fascia!

Fascia is the tissue surrounding all of the body’s organs, muscles, bones, and nerve fibers. It’s a bit like a big mesh that holds everything in place and provides structure.

There are a few different types of fascia but I want to talk about the deep fascia. Deep fascia surrounds bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. It helps in coordinating movement and maintaining joint stability. It facilitates smooth and coordinated movement by allowing muscles to glide past each other, which promotes flexibility and ease of motion by reducing friction between muscles.

Not moving enough can lead to fascia stiffening. Over time it becomes more plastic like. Which is why we need to take care of it by stretching and foam rolling / massage where necessary. Stretching and rolling of fascia helps with:

* improved body symmetry and alignment

* Improved mobility

* increased blood flow, which means faster exercise recovery

* reduced appearance of stretch marks and cellulite

* scar tissue breakdown

* reduced risk of injury

* less day-to-day pain

* improved sports performance

Change takes time. Years where fascia is concerned! Consistency is key.