Why all this talk about connective tissue?
Yes, that’s actually an excellent question. For body-conscious enthusiasts, it may seem obvious, but for the vast majority of the population—whether professionals or not—this tissue occupies only a very peripheral place in their consciousness—if any at all. And that’s really a shame. Because connective tissue plays a major role in our well-being as well as our mental and physical health. As a gateway to experiencing vitality, life energy, and inner cohesion, connective tissue stands ready to enrich us by connecting us to these states.
That is why I have written this short article, so that you, through your senses and your intellect, can gain even a glimpse of insight into this masterful work of physical composition.
A communication system that is both fixed and mobile
Imagine a beautiful and intricate network. Like a spiderweb made up of thin, elastic yet strong fibers. Filled with fluid and dewdrops that glide and flow, keeping the network hydrated and alive. A single movement in one spot within this complex three-dimensional structure of fluid-filled fibers—perhaps a shift in gravitational force—creates waves of information that spread through the delicate, transparent network. In this way, even distal parts of the connective tissue—and thus distal parts of the body—are informed that something new is on its way, needs to be regulated, must be held in place, or requires more support from the surrounding structures.
That’s what connective tissue is like. A sensitive lady—or gentleman—who is constantly communicating with everything else within us, and who must therefore be listened to with attentiveness, enthusiasm, and also a touch of seriousness.
Layer upon layer upon layer upon…
In other words, connective tissue is a general term for the type of tissue that holds us together from the inside out. As the word itself actually suggests: connective tissue. An incredibly practical mechanism in the body that connects all types of tissue, thereby allowing us to utilize the stability of our skeleton and the strength of our muscles. It is connective tissue that enables us to be mobile. Connective tissue has different names depending on its function and location in the body. Some types are specialized connective tissues, including blood and cartilage, while in other areas it forms large sheets called fascia, which wrap around organs, muscles, bones, and blood vessels. It is this fascia in particular that has shed light on the benefits of connective tissue, and it is what I want to highlight here.
Fascia actually runs from head to toe and is arranged in layer upon layer throughout the body, where the layers glide against one another, ensuring that muscles and organs have exactly the freedom of movement they need to perform their functions.
The body's largest sensory organ
Fascia may have one of the coarsest structures among the various types of connective tissue, but at the same time, it is so refined and delicately organized in terms of sensory perception that, in my view, it deserves a more poetic approach in its description. Not least because it actually contains sensory cells that are connected to our inner experience of “existing” and of “I belong to my body, and my body belongs to me.” These sensory cells are also called receptors and are known as proprioceptors and interoceptors. These cells constantly send important information to the brain about the body’s needs, about what we feel, and how we should move our joints. They are involved in both the sense of touch and the sense of movement, and they send information to our limbic brain (“the emotional brain”) about our internal state, which is why they are also connected to our “gut feeling.”
To me, connective tissue is a kind of reflection of a greater cosmic cohesive force, but that’s a whole other topic, which we might explore another time…
Stress and pain shut down the body
Fascia is rich in blood vessels and sympathetic nerve endings, which are involved in our stress response. Between some of the fascial layers, there is also a high concentration of sensory cells that detect pain. When we experience high levels of stress in the body—both mental and physical (trauma, pain)—it causes the connective tissue to contract and slightly compress the body. This is a smart short-term protective mechanism, but with prolonged stress, it has an undesirable effect. In this case, the connective tissue (fascia) begins to stick together, which both restricts our range of motion, impairs our posture, and diminishes our sense of inner well-being. At the same time, the tissue will compress nerve endings, reduce circulation between blood vessels and the lymphatic system, and stimulate pain receptors to send more pain signals, which can lead to an increased stress response—thus triggering a negative feedback loop in which these mechanisms constantly reinforce one another.
A low and flexible stress level is therefore of great importance to the health and well-being of your fascia—and thus to your experience of having a body that feels good and is pleasant to be in.
What can I do to keep my connective tissue healthy?
Healthy fascia is warm, moist, and supple, with good fluid flow within its fibers. This allows it to move in all directions, creating a sense of freedom of movement and well-being in the body. At the same time, the risk of joint and muscle injuries is reduced if the fascia is plump, moist, and elastic. To maintain healthy connective tissue with plenty of fluid flow, you need to move. It’s that simple. Immobility is therefore one of the worst things you can do to your connective tissue, which is designed for movement. Connective tissue thrives on variety in both pace and activities, as some forms of movement make the tissue elastic, while others increase its strength and stabilizing function. It’s not about training hard, but simply making sure to stay active throughout the day, while also taking the time to tune into your body’s signals and the sensations that arise as a result.
As mentioned in the previous section, it’s also a very good idea to keep an eye on (excessively) high stress levels, since they dehydrate the connective tissue, which can lead to pain and thus reduce the desire to move.
Less is more—and Fascial Flow is both
Fascial Flow is a gentle way to work your connective tissue. The pace is slow, and there’s a strong focus on body awareness. The movements loosen up the connective tissue through small, dynamic motions and improve posture in a sustainable and long-lasting way. Through conscious engagement with the body’s signals, mental and emotional balance is also enhanced, which reduces the body’s stress. Often, the most significant changes occur in the body when we listen more and do less—in the form of small, gentle movements—less is more! I hope this short post has inspired you to learn more about the body and the inherent sensibility it holds. You’re always welcome to join one of BEST FLOW’s Fascial Flow® group courses or perhaps delve into the Fascial Flow® Training Program, which you can find information about on our website.
And remember, as stated on netdoktor.dk: “Without connective tissue, it just doesn’t work.” And yes, that’s as true as it gets.
With love, Pernille