This past summer I had occipital neuralgia surgery. It was successful, but there was still neck pain. After talking with my surgeon I realized that I was going to have to find some way to release muscles that were still still tight, but not get anywhere near the surgical areas. Bodies are 3D. Amazing concept. I realized that the front of my neck was still hugely tight and pulling on the back. I have had botox injections on the side and front of my neck. It is so hard in places that they often have trouble getting the needles in. Not any more.
When I had to be gentle, really gentle, it forced me to use basic concepts of myofascial release, but to tweak it so it focused on doing so with as little pressure as possible. And so my technique was born. After trying it on friends and family, I did my ultimate testing at the Ehlers Danlos National Learning Conference in June. It didn't fail. I used this system for about 45 minutes on one participant. She had shared she was having her cervical spine fused in three places. She had not been able to turn her head for years. 45 minutes later she was turning her head and while there was a long way to go, she was on her way to significant, painless mobility.
Coined at that conference by the 10 people that tried it, I introduce to the world GRT, the Gold Release Technique. Once you get the hang of it you realize that this is one of the simplest most effective methods for self pain management.
Tools: One hand with 5 fingers, thick lotion - thicker the better.(not massage oil)
Locate any taut band, tight area, trigger point or painful muscle area. Wherever it hurts most, depress the area slightly and move it up, down, left and right. Whichever direction gives the most resistance (however slight) is the direction in which you will start moving your finger. GO TOWARD THE RESISTANCE.
Cover area to be released with lotion with some reserved for the tip of the finger that will actually be doing the release. Put a large amount of lotion on the end of the finger that is most comfortable for you to move along the muscle. This method can be done to a point without lotion but REALLY releases consistently with lotion. It is also a lot less work.
Put your finger at a beginning spot. Pull backwards slightly and then begin to move your finger toward the resistance BUT as you do, tilt your finger to the side and slightly under the area to be released. You are actually using the side of your finger against the side of the hard fiber.
Hold your finger on that spot until it starts to give way. Barely put any pressure. If you look at your nail as you press it should stay the same color or only have slight white, indicating pressure, but only at the tip. It is the combination of going toward the resistance and the slight pressure that causes the release. If you don't start to feel any movement after about a minute, reverse your finger, move it over slightly and repeat. Once you get that first bit going it is easy from there.
As you start to feel the tissue under your finger give way, start following it with your finger no matter where it leads you. Don't have a pre-conceived idea of where you want to release. It will all get there. You are trying to release thin small layers rather than entire muscles all at one time. Move your finger down VERY SLOWLY. Your movement should be barely perceptible. Anyone other than you should not see your finger moving it should be so slow. Each little spot will start to wash away. As you move, don't go fast and make sure you keep your finger to the side and on the side of the muscle.
As your finger starts to use all the lotion or it spreads to the side and you need more, lift your finger, pull a bit from the areas you just passed or reapply more. Make sure your finger can always easily glide. I have learned over the years that the more lotion you have the more you release.
Go back to the area where you just let up and continue where you left off. You should be able to find where there is one low area and then suddenly it is higher. Again, pull back slightly, then move your finger toward the direction of resistance. As you begin to move forward with slight pressure, tilt your finger to the side and move the side of your finger to the side of the area to be released or slightly under.
This is time consuming, but it works. You are going small layer by small layer. The more you do the faster your finger will go but make sure you don't start going to fast. As you go, you will find that the slower you continue to move your finger the deeper the release. The more you press down the less release you will have, Every once in a while I have to catch myself. I either start to go to fast or to press to hard and have to readjust and slow down. and relax.
When you get to areas that seem to be a blocked stop, either start a new area right next to where you started that line or pull the skin slightly harder toward the resistance and then sort of double back as if you were making a capital D shape. Don't make it too large. Typically that starts the area moving again.
The release usually follows the path of least resistance which is why you shouldn't tell your finger where to go, but rather feel where the tight area has washed away and follow that direction. the area released will only be generally as wide as your finger. Now you know why I say it takes time.
Then move back to the area where you first started and repeat. since your release has just carved out a river of release, there will now be a side that can be run against or slightly under. Again, make sure you pull back first, and as you move forward move your finger to the side and then to the side of where you are releasing. follow that area.
Remember when I said you were releasing layers? Think of phillo dough or a light flaky pie crust. Even if all you release is a milimeter deep because it is very hard, that little bit is your indication that it CAN BE RELEASED.
The easiest places to start are your jaw (TMJ), around your ribs, your chest, your thigh, knee, arms. The areas that don't have alot of fat and have something fairly firm are usually easiest.
