The Wisdom of "I Don't Know": Why I Stopped Trying to "Fix" You
In the world of massage, manual therapy, and wellness, there is a powerful temptation to play the hero.
We’ve all seen it: the practitioner who speaks with absolute, unwavering confidence. They look at your shoulder for ten seconds and declare exactly which "glitch" is causing your pain. They promise that if they can just break the right fascial adhesion, "correct" your posture, or "release" a specific trigger point, your pain will vanish.
They sell these maps— trigger point, fascial meridian, and postural analysis amongst others—as if they are objective truths to helping pain. But in the world of biology, confidence is often a mask for dogma.
The truth that many are afraid to say is this: Manual therapy is alive, and our understanding of it is continually evolving. The more we learn, the more we realize how much we don’t actually know.
The Dogma of "The Fix"
When a practitioner claims they have "The Fix," they are often leaning on theories that haven't kept pace with modern science. For decades, bodywork has held certain ideas as dogma, despite a lack of evidence:
The Posture Myth: We are told that "bad" posture is the root of all pain. Yet, the data consistently shows people with "perfect" posture in agonizing pain and people with "terrible" alignment living completely pain-free. Our bodies are more resilient and adaptable than a simple plumb line suggests.
The Adhesion Theory: We are told we can manually "break up" scar tissue or fascial "knots" with our hands. In reality, fascia is incredibly strong; the idea that we can mechanically "remodel" it with hand pressure alone doesn't hold up to the physics of human tissue.
These models persist because they are easy to sell. It feels good to hear someone say, "I know exactly what's wrong." But that confidence is often built on a foundation of outdated theory rather than biological reality.
Beyond the Map: The Whole-Person: Neuro-Myo-Fascia and the Bio-Psycho-Social Model of Pain
If the map isn't written in the fascia, where is it?
Many practitioners focus solely on fascia as if it exists in a vacuum. But in my practice, I focus on the neuro-myo-fascia. In a living, breathing human being, the nerves, muscles, and connective tissue form an inseparable web. They cannot be isolated, and they certainly cannot be "fixed" individually.
Modern pain science suggests that pain is a protective mechanism of the nervous system. It is an output of the brain—a "request for change"—based on a complex calculation of perceived threat across the entire person. Pain is thought to be influenced by a bio-psycho-social model, meaning your experience is shaped by a combination of biological factors (like tissue health and nerve sensitivity), psychological factors (your thoughts, fears, and beliefs about your body), and social factors (your environment, stress levels at work, and support system). For instance, if you believe your back is "out" or if you are navigating a "tough economic time," your brain may be more sensitized to perceived danger.
Ultimately, pain is a protective interpretation of all these influences; it is not definitive proof that your body is "broken" or that you have structural damage.
When I work with your tissue, I am not "fixing" a broken part. I am inputting information into your nervous system. Through touch and movement, we are together inviting your brain to feel safe enough—biologically, psychologically, and socially—to down-regulate that protective response.
However, even this is a simplification. While we believe these changes are nervous-system driven, the truth is we don't fully understand the 'how' or 'why' of the internal experience. We know that touch changes the signal, but the exact alchemy of how a brain decides to stop producing pain remains a beautiful mystery.
The 167-Hour Rule: The Hierarchy of Neuro-Myo-Fascial Health
While specialized bodywork is a powerful tool, it is not a magic bullet. In fact, what you do in the 167 hours a week when you aren't on my table is far more important for your neuro-myo-fascial health than any single session could ever be.
Your tissue thrives on three things that no practitioner can "do" to you:
Regular Movement through Full Ranges: Your tissue needs diverse, varied movement to stay hydrated and resilient.
Position Variance: The "danger" isn't sitting or standing; it’s being stuck in any one position for too long. Movement is the literal irrigation system for your fascia.
Hydration: Our tissue is H2O dependent. Without movement to distribute that fluid, the tissue becomes brittle and loses its ability to glide.
Bodywork is a powerful "boost" for your neuro-myo-fascia and you’re overall sense of wellbeing, but movement and hydration are the sustenance.
Empowering Through Partnership
It is difficult for a practitioner to stand in front of a client and say, "I don't know exactly why this is happening." We want to give answers because answers feel like authority.
But pretending to have all the answers creates a "top-down" dynamic where the practitioner is the expert and the client is a passive recipient of a "repair."
When we admit that manual therapy is a collaborative, evolving process—recognizing that we are working with a whole person and not just a set of symptoms—we open the door to true healing. We move away from the "operator" model and into an interactor partnership. This approach empowers you to be the primary agent of your own change, rather than a passive bystander waiting to be "fixed."
From Session to Life: Actionable Habits
The work we do on the table is only a small part of the equation. True resilience is built through sustainable habits.
Instead of chasing a one-time "fix," we focus on supporting your nervous system and introducing practices you can bring into your daily life. Whether through Fascia Love Class, Massage + Movement, Massage, or Strength and Flexibility Training sessions, the goal is to help you find and sustain positive shifts long after you leave the studio.
I don’t have all the answers, but I am here to help you find yours.