Block Therapy
What is Block Therapy?
Block Therapy is a brilliant holistic system of bodywork that combines exercise, breathing. and meditation to release the restrictions in the body’s fascia and improve overall health. The specifically designed wooden Bloc Buddy or Baby is placed in various positions and uses body weight, gravity and diaphragmatic breathing to deeply compress and “melt” fascial adhesions.
This process increases blood and oxygen flow to cells, corrects alignment, and fosters self-healing by addressing the root cause of pain, inflammation, and cellular dysfunction.
Block Therapy was founded by Deanna Hansen, an Athletic Therapist here in Winnipeg. The elm blocks are produced in a local factory, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba
What is Fascia?
Fascia is the tissue connecting every single one of our 100 trillion cells. In order for cells to be properly aligned, posture and diaphragmatic breathing have to be observed and practiced. Without this, cells begin to migrate away from proper alignment.
As fascia is here to protect you, one of its functions is to keep you upright. As most aren’t conscious of posture or breath, compression occurs from tissue collapsing into the space inside the body. The result is a body off balance. Fascia will grip with a 2000 pound per square inch force to attempt stability, but unfortunately, it also blocks blood and oxygen flow from cells.
The fascia requires a certain temperature for optimal flow of oxygen and nutrients to cells, as well as the removal of waste and toxins from cells. The diaphragm is like the body’s furnace; the upper chest muscles are like a space heater. In order for there to be flow to every cell, the furnace needs to be turned on at all times.
Block Therapy teaches you to melt the blockages through increasing tissue temperature. This occurs through a combination of lying on the tool, the Block Buddy, and turning on the furnace.
The Three Components of Block Therapy
Create Space – Creating space in the body and melting through restrictions in the tissue is important for correcting posture and improving blood and oxygen flow to the cells, keeping them fed and clean.
Inflate Space – Instruction of proper diaphragmatic breathing turns on the internal furnace optimizing the melting of adhesions in the tissue. In fact, diaphragmatic breathing increases oxygenation in tissue up to 6x.
Maintain Space – Understanding how to use your body properly and strengthen correct foundation is crucial to maintaining proper cellular alignment. Block Therapy addresses this to give you a full body program and teaches you how to bring proper posture into daily activity.
About The Diaphragm
The diaphragm is a plate of muscle. It is the ceiling to the abdominal organs and the floor to the heart and lungs. When we are using this muscle to breathe, we are giving all of these organs an internal massage, keeping them heated and allowing blood to freely flow to the cells – keeping them fed and clean.
How Does Improper Breathing Affect Your Body?
When we breathe through the upper chest we collapse into the core and displace the internal organs. When we don’t breathe properly, we become cold in this area, the body ages, and we experience pain and disease as a result. We learn how to release the rib cage, bringing it up into its proper alignment so that we can access proper diaphragmatic breathing and how to properly oxygenate the body as a whole.
Why Is Proper Diaphragmatic Breathing Important?
Before we even get into learning the Block Therapy placements I always start with talking about proper diaphragmatic breathing.
Breathing properly literally changes the physiology of the body. When we breathe diaphragmatically we feed the body 6x more the amount of oxygen than when we breathe through the muscles of the upper chest. Over time, what happens due to pain, fear and stress is that we reactively hold the breathe and then we end up breathing from the muscles of the upper chest.
The result is that the air isn’t pulled deeply enough into the lungs for optimal oxygen absorption. In fact, 70% of the alveoli live at the base of the lungs, so breathing with those secondary muscles creates a very poor exchange rate between oxygen in and carbon dioxide out. This leaves a large percentage of the cells in the body lacking what they require to survive, and leaves the body toxic from an inability to properly remove waste. This creates an environment in the body that is ripe for disease organisms to thrive, and overall health to suffer.
When we don’t breathe fully in this way, (diaphragmatically), the diaphragm becomes weak and the weight of the rib cage causes a collapse of the upper body into the core. This collapse causes the alignment of the diaphragm muscle to be incorrect, leaving it unable to function optimally. This continues the process of weakening the diaphragm, emphasizing the forward collapse, until the body is fully dependent on the secondary muscles to stay upright – muscles that weren’t designed for this function.
Diaphragmatic breathing is the answer.
Again, when we breathe diaphragmatically we feed the body 6x more the amount of oxygen. The most exciting part of diaphragmatic breathing is you are fully in control of it. No one can take it from you or tax you on it. So, why not give yourself the greatest gift of all and learn how to connect to the breath that has been in you all along. It is yours, if you want it.
Breathe & Believe
Pelvis and Legs Class
Length and space has been created in my connective tissue. My body has been heated, with an increase of blood and oxygen flow to all of my cells and tissues.
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Together you heal. One Powerful Path to Balance, Release and Renewal
Reflexology is the first building block to releasing stuck energy and empowering your own body to heal itself.
By stimulating reflex points and releasing fascia through the feet, reflexology helps open energetic pathways throughout the entire body. You will leave feeling as though your whole body has been deeply restored, relaxed and reconnected.
Using your blocks between treatments helps maintain the benefits of reflexology and keeps your body in a restorative, parasympathetic state.
The blocks help to melt adhesions and release fascia, and restore blood and energy flow to all your cells and tissues. It improves your posture and body alignment, and supports long term healing and stress relief.
Accountability is the key.
Both reflexology and block therapy offer unique benefits on their own, but when combined into a regular routine, they become a true powerhouse for fascia release and self healing.
Prevention is always the goal.
For me, discovering Block Therapy was the missing piece of my puzzle. There was a time I feared that I may have to give up my Reflexology practice due to physical pain and repetitive injury. Once I integrated block therapy into my life, I quickly realized that block therapy was the pain management system that I needed. I consider my blocks to be my Massage Therapist, my Chiropractor and my Osteopath- all rolled into one.
Whether I’m in bed, on the couch, or on the floor on my mat, my blocks are with me – helping me reset, realign, and restore.
This practice has kept my heart in the work I love.
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Testimonials
“I had a lot of trouble with my left knee. For 20 years I couldn’t go up and down stairs, after 3 months on the Block I can go up, down, sideways, whatever.”
~Diane McDougall
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“I use it when I am not really well and having a migraine. About a month ago I had a severe migraine, I used the Block and it really helped me. I just felt so much better.”
~ Nicole Fontaine
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“I enjoy using that Block at home on my own time, maintaining what the massage therapy has done for me. I no longer have any back pain. I just find it amazing that with the Block you can find pain where you didn’t even realize you had it and break down that fascia. I found it really great and I highly recommend it to anybody.”
~ Joan Jasper
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“I have a lot of stress problems with work with my neck and upper back area. Since I have been doing the video, especially the Core poses it has helped me relax and just feel more that I can take on life’s struggles. I highly recommend it.”
~ Lory Dubois
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Block Therapy Links
Block Therapy Website
The Starter Package
If you would like to learn more about Block Therapy,
this is a great place to start.
The starter program which includes a block, introductory &
explanatory videos, 9 day full body fascia program, and
introductory positions & descriptions.
Block Therapy Blog
Block Therapy Programs/Training
“For the month of February, I am going to share my journey through
chronic pain with you. This is the first in this four week series. I am
excited to share my journey into and through chronic pain, to a place
where my body and I are experiencing a level of peace with each other”.
Block Therapy changed my live. Watch this presentation explaining BTA so YOU can learn more about how to become a Fascia Master™.
Newsletter
updates from Block Therapy.
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Block Therapy Sampler Program
9 Instructional Videos For Only $9!
Introducing the Block Therapy Sampler Program!
This is a steppingstone for those who want to sample the benefits of Block Therapy, without diving right in.
There are 9 videos for $9.00. The videos range between 8-20 minutes in length, and combine blocking techniques using a rolled-up towel,
as well as strengthening exercises to share the benefits of isometric training and foundation building.
Alignment Training/Bodyworker Training
As a certified Block Therapy Instructor, I am committed to growth and excellence.
This upgraded training will elevate my understanding of the fascia, empowering my work for greater confidence and expansion of my toolkit.
This training is currently in progress. I am taking my time to ensure this work will serve in a meaningful way.
More details will be shared as my vision evolves.
Book An Appointment
*Please be advised that I have 2 cats in my household
Address
503 Chelsea Ave
Winnipeg MB, R2K 1A4
HOURS OF OPERATION
| Mon-Wed | Friday | Sat and Sun |
| 10:00-7:30 | 10:00-3:00 | Only by appt. |
Call Us
(204) 204 995 5261
Email Us
TheSoleWhisperer1@gmail.com