Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) encompasses the use of tools (generally metal, but not always) for the purpose of stimulating the healing response in the body. This is accomplished through a therapeutic micro trauma by breaking down adhesions and/or scar tissue as well as increasing circulation and nutrition delivery to the treated area in exactly the way that traditional massage affects change. In many cases, IASTM techniques provides instant pain relief, increases ROM, and restores circulation of blood and oxygen.
IASTM is particularly effective at treating scar tissue, adhesions, and hypertonicities. Scar tissue is the body's way of healing injured tissue quickly and securely through a dense mesh like pattern of tissue. However, scar tissue is not as pliable or as contractile as normal tissue. With the pressure of the tools, mechanical changes at the cellular level can and do occur in order to normalize scar tissue as much as possible.
In addition to scar tissue treatment, IASTM is highly effective in treating a whole verity of soft tissue issues from hypertonicities to adhesions, acute to chronic stages of inflammation, as an effective preventative intervention as well. IASTM is not a 'cure all' however when integrated into a holistic approach to healing the body, it is an essential component that helps bridge the gap found in many approaches to health and wellbeing. IASTM is the perfect complementary modality to deep tissue, ROM/stretching, Massage Cupping, Chiropractic, PT, etc.
Gua Sha is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine in which ancient practitioners scraped the skin along meridians to release chi, or energy. In American Massage, the Gua Sha tools are often used for IASTM purposes.
In this 8-hour class you will learn the fundamentals of IASTM/Gua Sha and how to treat conditions such as tendonitis/tendonosis, sprains/strains, trigger points, hypertonicities, adhesions, as well as how to use it with MFR, scar tissue treatments, and even for cosmetic and relaxation applications.
All equipment needed in class will be supplied for student use.