THE FASCIA CLINIC

Specialist in Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy and Soft Tissue Management

Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy (iMFR) can help alleviate the symptoms of any condition you may be dealing with. It can also help you to resume activities you enjoy, leading to a better quality of life. The more committed you are to your iMFR treatments and Self-Myofascial Release Therapy (SMFR) for self-care, the quicker and more profoundly your health will improve. MFR may be different from anything you have tried before. It's gentle, deep, and potentially life-changing.

Integrated Myofascial Therapy, often called Myofascial Release Therapy - MFR, works with the body-wide fascial system. Fascia includes all our collagenous soft tissue in the body. It’s a fluid-filled, dynamic, web-like 3D network of connective tissue with no beginning or end. It is crucial for our body shape, posture, movement, force transmission, cellular exchange, and protection. Our fascia provides support, stabilisation, and strength and allows glide between all our structures. It runs through and between every cell in your body and surrounds, infuses, and protects every other tissue and organ.

The latest research suggests that fascial therapy doesn't necessarily release the fascia but instead affects the nervous system by enhancing sensory input and body awareness. This helps reduce sympathetic tone and soft tissue tension, which includes the fascia.

Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy - MFR, is a safe and gentle therapy that combines over 50 hands-on techniques to reorganise and rebalance the fascia, soothe the nervous system, and trigger an anti-inflammatory response. This can help to restore fascial function and hormonal balance, reduce pain perception, and support the body's innate healing processes.

She helps individuals with symptoms like stress, chronic fatigue, pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, hormone imbalances, stiffness, and restrictions related to and caused by many different health conditions.

Alex blends all her skills, knowledge, and experience to provide you with the most comprehensive treatment and care possible. For over fifteen years, she has supported countless individuals in improving their lives by enhancing their mobility and emotional and physical well-being.

Alex is here to help you get back to doing the things you love and want to do in life.

Click here for more information on Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy.

Alexandra Shave is a qualified Advanced Integrated Myofascial Release Therapist and Health Coach with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences, BSc (Hons), for which she specialised in Remedial Massage and Neuromuscular Therapy (2012).

Besides being certified in Advanced Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy from Myofascial Release UK, she has certifications in health coaching, mentoring, counselling L2, pain science, Ayurveda, meditation and Reiki I/II, has a keen interest in nutrition and is a dedicated yoga and mindfulness practitioner -her knowledge of how the body and mind work is exceptional.

Alex helps you to reduce your symptoms like stress, chronic fatigue, pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, hormone imbalances, stiffness, and restrictions related to and caused by many different health conditions. This can be life-changing.

Alex is here to help you get back to doing the things you love and want to do in life.

Fascial glide & mobility

Thickening fascia can become stiff, leading to impaired flow and gliding ability, which can cause a range of symptoms. The body can feel heavy and sluggish, leading to pain, oedema, poor balance, and more. The flow in the fascia can be impaired, causing collagen fibres to stick together and exerting higher pressure on nerve receptors, leading to pain and impeded signals. Muscles can also go into convulsions as they receive constant signals to contract.

Inflammation may occur when transport and communication throughout the tissue are disturbed, and the immune system tries to solve the problem. A tight connective tissue chain can distort the skeleton, so the balance is disturbed and joints wear.

The entire locomotion system is affected by poor coordination and endurance. The causes may be many: overload, damage by external trauma, inflammation due to lifestyle, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, anxiety, depression or other issues.

Our bodies need motion to maintain optimal metabolism and circulation to the tissues. If we stop moving, the flow will decrease, and the fascia will stick together. It is a good idea to move after rest or being sedentary. Yawning with a deep inhalation and then a slow exhalation can also stretch the lungs. However, if the movement is obtuse and it hurts, it is easy to avoid activity, leading to stagnation in the flow.

Hyaluronan, found in the fascia's ground substance, binds water over 1000 times its weight, can quickly change viscosity ('thickness' of a liquid), and is an important component in tissue glide. Hyaluronan has many bodily functions and is one of the most important components of the fascia.

Psychological aspects also affect our patterns of movement. A person who is nervous and tense keeps their movements tight and builds up tension, whereas a more energetic person often is more mobile and relaxed.

It is important to regularly engage in strength, mobility, and flexibility training to maintain the health of your fascia.

The benefits of healthy fascia

uncompromised movement
improved body symmetry and alignment
increased blood flow, which means faster exercise recovery
reduced appearance of stretch marks and cellulite
scar tissue breakdown
reduced risk of injury
less perception of pain
improved sports performance
You can receive many of these benefits from integrated myofascial therapy and holistic health coaching.

Fascia facts & functions:

Fascia connects, separates, integrates, protects, communicates, helps us move, transfers load, and is involved in the cellular exchange of waste, oxygen, and nutrition.
It has an estimated 250 million nerve endings and constantly sends signals to the brain concerning movement and position (proprioception), our internal environment (interception), and potential tissue damage (nociception).
Fascia is able to store and release kinetic energy, which can help movement, speed, agility and power.
Fascia responds and adapts to its environment due to its elasticity and resilience.
It transmits forces throughout the body to prevent injuries.
The gel-like ground substance of the fascia helps our tissues glide. When this thickens, the tissue gets stuck and thickens, which can potentially cause dysfunction.
Fascia is affected by age, health, nutrition, sleep, injury, physical and emotional trauma and other bio-psycho-social factors.

Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy - MFR works with the body-wide fascial system. Fascia includes all our collagenous soft tissue in the body. It’s a fluid-filled, dynamic, web-like 3D network of connective tissue with no beginning or end. It is crucial for our body shape, posture, movement, force transmission, cellular exchange, and protection. Our fascia provides support, stabilisation, strengthens, and allows glide between all our structures. It runs through and between every cell in your body and surrounds, infuses, and protects every other tissue and organ.

Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy - MFR is a safe and gentle therapy that combines over 50 hands-on techniques to reorganise and rebalance the fascia, soothe the nervous system, and trigger an anti-inflammatory response. This can help to restore fascial function and hormonal balance, reduce pain perception, and support the body's innate healing processes.

Alex is here to help you get back to doing the things you love and want to do in life.

Clients seek treatment for, incl. but not limited to:
• Stress, anxiety, fatigue
• Chronic pain: back pain, migraines, headaches, myofascial pain

• Body stiffness

• Women's Health; any pelvic issues

• Emotional injury

• TMJ & jaw problems

• Scars

Alex can help with many other symptoms related to health conditions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out or make an appointment if you experience something not on the list above. Alex welcomes all people (under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult).

Contact Alex at alex@alexandrashave.com if you are unsure if iMFT can help you.

Click here for more information on Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy - iMFR

Click here for more information on Self-Myofascial Release Therapy - SMFR

Click here for more information on Holistic Health Coaching

Feel - Soften - Connect - Restore

book online

Self-Myofascial Release Therapy
- the gentle way -

Regular practice of SMFR techniques will help you manage your pain, stiffness, fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, headaches, mood swings, IBS and many more benefits.

What is Self-Myofascial Release Therapy?

Learn to self-treat like a Pro.

SMFR is the self-care form of Myofascial Release Therapy that uses specific SMFR tools, different techniques, and movement to help increase interception: awareness of how your body feels. This has a calming effect on the nervous system. Turning down the body's fight/flight response has many benefits. Amongst others, it reduces soft tissue tension, including that of the fascia, decreases inflammation, changes pain perception, and relaxes the body and mind.

One of the main principles of Myofascial Release Therapy is that working on one part of the body affects other parts and the body as a whole. Fascia is everywhere; it supports, surrounds, protects, and separates every human body cell, organ, muscle, bone, nerve, and blood vessel. Even the fluid-filled spaces are part of our fascial system.

Online sessions, workshops, weekly in-person classes, and one-to-ones are available. Group classes are more general, and one-to-one sessions are tailored to your needs.

Who are these sessions for?
This is for everyone who can do with a little or a lot of TLC. It's for all ages, abilities, genders, shapes, and sizes. Previous knowledge or experience is not required. SFMF will support you from any starting point.

Although self-MFR may challenge you, it shouldn't be painful and will always be within your tolerance.

Further information on SMFR

SMFR is a comprehensive, gentle approach to self-care that combines techniques and tools designed to apply sustained pressure on soft tissues for full-body benefits. The sessions are designed to teach you how to perform SMFR. You learn how to use the tools and techniques to do them on your own at home or in the workplace.

SMFR helps to enhance sensory modulation and improve body awareness (interception and proprioception). This allows down-regulation of the nervous system's fight-and-flight response and reduces soft tissue tension, including that of the fascia. Regularly working with your fascia can help you feel, move, and sleep better, and it can promote overall health. Plus, it beautifully complements your 1-2-1 treatment sessions for maintenance and progress. It's also a fantastic way to connect with like-minded individuals on a journey to better health.

For more information and bookings, click here.

What others say

After suffering from chronic pain and being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I researched Myofascial Release Therapy and discovered Alex at The Fascia Clinic in Cheltenham.

It has been an incredible and life-changing experience to the point where the majority of my pain has subsided. I have full flexibility back, as I could hardly move without being in pain before, and I am now in the position to start rebuilding my core strength and stamina. Also, I’m able to look forward towards a positive future.

Alex is an awe-inspiring practitioner and teacher, offering not only amazing therapy but also support, knowledge, coaching, mindfulness and a safe space to let go and be present.

I can honestly say I do not know where my life would be without her. And I will be forever grateful for what she has done for me and how she continues to help others.

Alex’s treatments aim to get to the root of your physical issues (and sometimes your emotional ones, too ;) Historically, I am a deeper-the-better type of person when it comes to physical therapy, but Alex’s techniques have made me realise that a more gentle approach can be deeply and profoundly effective. Five Stars!! :))

Michael W, Cheltenham

Louisa Q., Cheltenham

Alex has had such a positive impact on my life. I had a long list of health niggles, literally from head to toe, and she has taken the time to discuss and understand them.

I was in a lot of pain, which was impacting many areas of my day-to-day life.

The myofascial release treatments that she does are just amazing,

and I feel so much better! Highly recommend.

Lisa P., Cheltenham

Alex took the time to research my symptoms and provide a massage that completely improves my condition. Alex is very calming and knowledgeable and changes the treatment each time as my condition demands.
I wholeheartedly recommend Alex, she is amazing.

Ali D., Cheltenham

I had a fabulous massage from Alex. She has a really intuitive touch and a holistic approach. Felt super-chilled afterwards, and she sorted out some of my niggles. Definitely recommend!

Lucy L., Cheltenham

I went for a Myofascial Release treatment with Alexandra Shave and didn't really know what to expect, but as I've been to Alex before for other treatments, I already trusted that whatever she was providing would be of a high standard. There was a form to fill out before going along, including questions about ailments or issues.

During the appointment, Alexandra Shave is 100% focused on your wellbeing and making sure that every touch is beneficial to your ongoing health. It's described as 'gentle whole-body hand-on soft-tissue therapy' which is quite a mouthful but sums up perfectly what's going on. Before you jump onto the couch, she will explain to you about the role and importance of your body's fascia and how specific touch will help to melt away the hardness that builds up as you live your life. Once settled comfortably lying down with a blanket over you, she'll guide you to breathe more deeply and slowly as she pushes further and further with her hands into the fascia of whichever areas your aches, pains or problems are occurring. Your body relaxes, and this allows her to push and stretch your body as required. Nothing she did was uncomfortable, and I can honestly say I feel very much better already. If at any point you feel discomfort (5 or more on a scale of 0 to 10) she will ease off as soon as you say. I was expecting to ask her to ease off but that didn't happen. The way she works on your body's fascia feels almost like it's something she's always had as a gift/skill and the learning she's done has merely drawn out and refined that into a comprehensive and holistic treatment. When she worked on my head and neck I became drifty and felt like I had a tiny sleep although wasn't fully unconscious. Very nice feeling, which I would describe as 'out of this world'!

I've been lucky enough to sample many treatments as part of my job over the last 10 years and this has exceeded all expectations. I feel like sometimes we don't know how much we needed something until we're actually experiencing it. Sometimes it gets to the point where we have tried everything for certain health problems and end up turning to holistic/traditional practitioners as a last resort, when actually their treatments could have been preventative all along.

I lay there feeling grateful and almost guilty for receiving such a wonderful treatment which I wished everyone else could experience for themselves and their ailments too. I hope this write-up does Alex's beautiful therapeutic treatments justice because I really can't sing her praises enough! x

Sali W., Cheltenham

I’ve seen Alex for treatment twice so far, and I can honestly say I have never had a treatment like it! It’s absolutely AMAZING. I have read about fascia and how it connects every part of your body, how it has more nerve endings than your muscles and ultimately, tight fascia can be the source of discomfort or pain. Alex’s treatments aim to get to the root of your physical issues (and sometimes your emotional ones, too ;) Historically, I am a deeper-the-better type of person when it comes to physical therapy, but Alex’s techniques have made me realise that a more gentle approach can be deeply and profoundly effective. Five Stars!! :))

Louisa Q, Cheltenham

Your treatment has had a significant effect :) I had much more energy straight away; I've slept a better; I feel quietly confident; and most importantly, when I went to my volunteer job, I had almost no tremor which has never happened! I can't wait to work with you more and I'll see you on Friday.

Emma G, Cheltenham

Sessions are held at:

Cheltenham Holistic Health Centre (CHHC)

Camargue House

32 Wellington Rd

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

GL52 2AG

You can book here

Contact Alex for more info on Integrated Myofascial Release Therapy

John Barnes

Tom Myers

Richard Harty

J.C. Guimberteau

John Barnes

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEBSITE IS NOT MEANT TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN OR QUALIFIED HEALTH PROVIDER FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING YOUR MEDICAL CONDITION, MEDICATIONS, OR PRECAUTIONS.