active release therapy

i had never heard of active release therapy until i went to a crossfit endurance certification. the way it was explained made me realize that i needed to try it. 
shortly after starting crossfit i began having trouble with my right shoulder/shoulder blade area...obviously if i didn't treat it, my crossfit career would be limited. so i did a search for active release therapists in eugene. my search was over as quickly as it started. there was 1 practitioner according to google. usually when that happens, i feel uneasy about trying it...simply because i like options. i like the ability to compare. but i needed relief...
so i called and made an appointment. when i first met brian gervais i could tell by his accent that he wasn't from the northwest. he sounded like my neighbors to the north while growing up... he is in fact from minnesota... his handshake was firm (always a good sign)and he asked what brought me in.
i informed him of crossfit and the shoulder issues i was having. he immediately went to work and started to manipulate my shoulder. it's mobility was severely limited. he asked what i did for a living...
hmmm, just sit on my butt all day and look at a computer. he laughed and said it was obvious. my posture was poor..
he worked super hard. i had NO clue that my range of motion was so limited. this of course was an eye opening experience. i was ignorant as to how labor intensive it is for an active release therapist to treat people. it was impressive to see how dedicated he was to getting my body to work properly even though it drained him physically.
the great thing about brian and the office he works at is that they don't want to see you more than they need to...not because they are anti social and not because they don't like you...it's because it's their goal...it's brian's goal--- to serve the greater purpose--get you well--
and after that...maintenance instead of promoting a reliance on this method. he doesn't seem insecure or that he is dependent on your business in order to pay the bills. and he will tell you if active release isn't for you...it takes a person who believes in what they do-- to be willing to admit...hey, i'm not the right guy...or hey, emilee, i think you are good to go...i remember when he told me that he didn't think it would be necessary to come back in.

i had been rehabilitated and was ready to be thrown back into the wild crossfit kingdom. and honestly, my upper body movements improved a lot!!
when people ask me what it is about active release therapy that i like the most...i respond almost as i do when asked that question regarding crossfit....i say...because i had a great experience...was treated by a knowledgeable staff and because it gets me in tune with my body. soo many people seem afraid to get to know their body and the amazing things it can do...and they truly do not understand how TAXING on your body it can be to do....NOTHING
and then i meet people who have made it their life...to own a gym or become an active release therapist so that people can have a place to go to live their life...to know their body...and i am so grateful to know these people...
even when i broke my foot brian was able to administer an electrical treatment to it that seemed to really help improve circulation to the area...
if you have had a nagging issue with some part of your body or don't feel like you are functioning the way you should...i would totally recommend checking it out. i truly believe it will be of value to you...

**** definition taken from a website i found
ART is a patented, non-invasive, soft tissue treatment process that identifies and removes scar tissue and adhesions that have been known to cause pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, numbness and biomechanical dysfunctions associated with repetitive strains and injuries. Active Release Techniques is classified as a multidisciplinary procedure which is practiced by numerous healthcare professions including Chiropractors, Physiotherapists, Massage Therapists and Sports Physicians.

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