Myofascial Release in North Texas
Gentle, hands-on Myofascial Release for your body, from a licensed Physical Therapist of 54 years who trained directly with John F. Barnes, PT (the father of Myofascial Release), and has practiced Myofascial Release for more than 35 years.
Unhurried one hour sessions (90 minutes on request) of Myofascial Release or the AromaTouch Technique, booked and paid for online before you arrive.
If you are tired of tension that always comes back, I would love to help you find out what your body has been holding onto.
Book Your Session What a session feels like
RUTH MITCHELL-GOLLADAY
PT | LMT | NCTMB | CAAS
Myofascial Release: Ruth Mitchell-Golladay, PT, LMT, NCTMB offers individualized, one-on-one Myofascial Release and AromaTouch Technique sessions at 700 East Park Blvd, Suite 206, Plano, Texas, every Tuesday and Friday from Tuesday, November 3. Sessions run 1 hour, with 90 minute appointments on request, and are booked and paid for online. Trained directly by John F. Barnes, PT, and a seminar leader for more than 130 of his courses, Ruth uses gentle, sustained pressure held for minutes at a time to soften restricted fascia so your body can move with more ease.
IS PAIN LIMITING YOUR LIFE?
Headaches. Neck pain. Shoulder pain. Back pain. Hip pain. Knee pain. Muscle tightness. Limited movement.
You have stretched. You have foam rolled. Maybe you have had massage after massage, and it felt wonderful for a day or two. Then the tightness crept right back in. Maybe you have tried exercise or medication too, but the discomfort keeps returning.
Sometimes where you hurt is not where the problem began.
Or maybe there was a fall, a car accident, a surgery or a pregnancy, and you have never felt quite the same since. Nobody can find anything "wrong," yet your body is telling you otherwise.
- Tension in your neck, shoulders or jaw that returns no matter what you try
- A back or hip that feels "off," or one shoulder that sits higher than the other
- An old injury that still limits how you move years later
- A scar that feels tight, pulls or feels numb around the edges
- Feeling stiff and braced, as if your body has forgotten how to let go
- You are a horseback rider, and you suspect your own tightness is showing up in your horse
If you have been wondering whether there is something more you can do about it, this is for you. It is exactly why I am opening my practice.
I KNOW THAT FRUSTRATION. I FELT IT TOO.
As a little girl I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Then, at 14, I had a diving accident, and through my own recovery I discovered physical therapy. In 1972 I became a licensed Physical Therapist, and a few years later I opened my own private practice right here in Dallas.
Like so many therapists, after years of practice I was frustrated. My patients felt better, but too often it did not last.
In 1987 I attended my very first John F. Barnes Myofascial Release seminar. I knew immediately I had found what I had been looking for: a way to help my patients reach lasting change, not just temporary relief.
I went on to take every course John offered, and in 1988 I began teaching alongside him. Over the years I assisted John and his sons, Brian and Mark, or led the seminar myself, for more than 130 Myofascial Release seminars. Brian even worked in my Dallas clinic for three years, and I was entrusted to work on John himself on five separate occasions.
Myofascial Release is not something I picked up in a weekend. It has been the heart of my work for more than 35 years.
That same work led me to horses and dogs, to writing three books, and to teaching therapists, veterinarians and bodyworkers internationally in eight countries. Now I am bringing it back to where it all began for me: helping people, one body at a time, here in North Texas.
People ask me why I am doing this. After 54 years as a physical therapist, I still absolutely love what I do. I am so excited to have a dedicated space to keep helping people who want to improve their movement, reduce discomfort and support their overall well-being.
WHAT IS FASCIA, AND WHY DOES IT GET STUCK?
Fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around and runs through everything in your body: every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel and organ. It is one continuous, three dimensional web from head to toe. I like to call it the body's information highway, because it is the environment every single cell lives in.
Healthy fascia is soft, pliable and comfortable. But fascia is shaped by everything you experience. It can tighten after one big event, like a fall or a surgery. It can also tighten slowly, from years of repeating the same posture or the same motion every day.
Here is the part most people never hear: because fascia is one connected web, a restriction in one place can pull on areas far away from it. That is why the spot that hurts is not always the spot where the problem started. My approach looks beyond the painful area to consider the whole person and the patterns of restriction your body has built up over time.
I often compare the body to a building. Your legs are the ground, your pelvis is the foundation, and everything above it is the floors. If you keep patching cracks at the top without checking the foundation, the cracks keep coming back.
Try this: imagine walking bent over at the waist for three days. The front of your body would shorten, the back would lengthen and weaken, and standing tall again would feel strange and difficult. Your body simply adapts to how you use it. Form follows function. Myofascial Release helps your body let go of the old pattern so it can find a better one.
TWO WAYS I CAN HELP YOU
I offer two services. You can choose one, or we can talk about which suits you best, or we can combine them.
Myofascial Release
A gentle, hands-on approach that addresses restrictions in the fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds and supports every structure in your body. Restrictions in that tissue can contribute to pain, stiffness, limited movement and a lot of other problems. What I really love about Myofascial Release is that we do not just look at the spot where you are hurting. We look at the areas that might be contributing to that discomfort.
AromaTouch Technique
A gentle touch technique where very specific doTERRA Certified Pure Tested Grade essential oils are applied topically in a set sequence. It is a wonderful way to promote relaxation and support your overall wellness. Aromatherapy may also be incorporated into a Myofascial Release session when it is appropriate for you, and you can always choose a scent-free session.
WHY WORK WITH ME?
There are wonderful therapists in North Texas who offer Myofascial Release. Here is what I bring to your sessions.
Trained at the source
I learned Myofascial Release directly from John F. Barnes, PT, and went on to teach his seminars for years. Many therapists were trained by people I trained alongside.
A licensed health professional
Licensed Physical Therapist (Texas #1010064), Licensed Massage Therapist (Texas #131111) and Nationally Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (#005538-00). Your body is in experienced hands.
The whole you, not just a part
When someone tells me "it's just my shoulder," I look at the shoulder, and at everything that might be pulling on it. Finding where a pattern began is what makes change last.
A different level of experience
Your session is guided by decades of clinical experience, not a one-size-fits-all routine. Every session is individualized, gentle and never forced.
Part of your team
I am happy to work alongside your doctor, physical therapist, chiropractor or massage therapist so everyone is supporting the same goals.
I understand horseback riders
As a horseback rider and equine bodyworker, I know how what happens in your body shows up in your horse, and the other way around.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST VISIT
We talk
Tell me your story: what you are feeling, old injuries, surgeries and scars, and what you would love your body to be able to do again. With a full hour together, we are never rushed.
I look and feel
I check your posture, how you move, and the balance of your pelvis, then gently feel for areas of restriction, heat or tenderness.
Hands-on release
Myofascial Release is done directly on the skin with no oils or lotions, so I can feel the tissue respond. Most of your session is quiet, slow, sustained work.
Re-check and relax
We look at what changed together and I give you simple ideas for home. Because you booked and paid online, you just gather your things and leave relaxed.
What to wear
Because I work directly on the skin, please wear or bring comfortable shorts and a sports bra or tank top (ladies), or shorts (gentlemen). You will be covered and comfortable throughout.
After your session
Most people feel lighter and more relaxed. Some feel tired, a little tender, or briefly chilly as tissue lets go. That is a normal part of the process and usually passes quickly. Drink water and give yourself an easy evening if you can.
Your body may also slip back toward old habits at first. If a pattern has been there for years, it has been your body's way of feeling stable. With a few sessions, your body learns that it can move a new way. Feeling better is wonderful, but it does not always mean the work is finished.
FOR HORSEBACK RIDERS IN NORTH TEXAS
If you ride, you know how much your horse gives you. I have been bringing Myofascial Release to horses since 1994, and as a rider myself I began noticing something years ago: the imbalances I found in riders were showing up as compensation patterns in their horses. A tight hip in the saddle can become a horse that will not bend one direction.
My Equine Myofascial Release ebook, Facilitated Healing Through Myofascial Release: Putting the Pieces Together for Horse and Rider, explores that bond between horse and rider. It walks you through safety and handling, how to evaluate your horse, and gentle techniques region by region, from the back and hind legs to the shoulders, neck and dural system. Many techniques are marked owner friendly, so you can support your horse between professional visits, always alongside your veterinarian's care.
Buy Ruth's Equine MFR EbookSESSION DETAILS
Where
700 East Park Blvd, Suite 206
Plano, Texas 75074
Get directions
Easy to reach from Celina, Prosper, Frisco, Allen, Richardson, McKinney, Carrollton and North Dallas.
When
Every Tuesday and Friday, beginning Tuesday, November 3.
8:00am to 4:30pm, with appointments at 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 2:00 and 3:30.
Appointments are limited, so I recommend booking early.
Sessions
$180 per session, 1 hour. 90 minute appointments are available on request.
The same price whether you choose Myofascial Release or the AromaTouch Technique. Every session is individualized and one-on-one with me, from start to finish.
Book and pay online
You can book your appointment and pay for your session online before you even come. When we are done, there is no standing at a desk with your credit card and paperwork. You simply get up from the table, gather your things, and leave feeling as relaxed as possible.
A private, professional setting
I lease space in a very professional clinical environment, where your privacy and confidentiality are respected and protected.
Book and Pay Online Not sure yet? Book a free 30 minute chat
Have a question before you book? Contact me here and I will be happy to help.
MYOFASCIAL RELEASE QUESTIONS I HEAR MOST
What is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial Release is a gentle, hands-on approach that uses sustained pressure, held for at least five minutes, to soften restrictions in the fascia. Fascia is the connective tissue web that surrounds every muscle, bone and organ. In fact, it is the environment in which every single cell in your body lives. When it softens, your body can often move more freely and comfortably.
How is Myofascial Release different from massage?
Most massage works across the tissue with oil and movement, and the therapist decides where to go. Myofascial Release is done on dry skin, much more slowly, and I follow your tissue rather than leading it. It is a quieter, more patient kind of work, and many people find it reaches places massage never has.
Does Myofascial Release hurt?
It should not. I use lighter pressure than most people expect, because pushing hard only makes the body brace. You may feel stretching, warmth or a deep ache that eases as the tissue lets go, and you are always in charge of what feels right.
How many sessions will I need?
Everybody is different. As a general rule, I suggest about four sessions to see how your body responds and whether we are moving toward your goals. Some people then come weekly or every couple of weeks; others come monthly to stay ahead of tension.
Were you trained in the John F. Barnes approach?
Yes. I attended my first John F. Barnes Myofascial Release seminar in 1987, completed all of his courses, and began teaching with him in 1988. I went on to assist or lead more than 130 Myofascial Release seminars.
Is Myofascial Release right for everyone?
It is gentle enough for most people, but there are times to wait. Please let me know if you have an active infection, an open wound or stitches, a fracture that is still healing, a circulation concern, or recent surgery. If you are under a doctor's care, it is always wise to check with them first.
Where are you located, and which areas do you serve?
My sessions are at 700 East Park Blvd, Suite 206, Plano, Texas 75074, every Tuesday and Friday beginning Tuesday, November 3. Clients come from Celina, Prosper, Plano, Frisco, Allen, Richardson, McKinney, Carrollton, Dallas and across North Texas.
How long is a session, and what does it cost?
Sessions are 1 hour and cost $180, whether you choose Myofascial Release or the AromaTouch Technique. If requested, 90 minute appointments are also available. That gives us a relaxed amount of time to talk, evaluate what is going on, figure out your needs, and provide individualized care that is just for you, without being rushed.
What is the AromaTouch Technique?
It is a gentle touch technique where very specific essential oils are applied topically. It is a great way to promote relaxation and support overall wellness. Aromatherapy may also be incorporated into Myofascial Release when appropriate, and you can always choose a scent-free session.
How do I book and pay?
You can book and pay for your session online before you come. That way, when your session is over, you can simply gather your things and leave feeling relaxed.
Do you still work with horses and dogs?
I do. I have been working with animals since 1994 and teach Equine and Canine Myofascial Release internationally. You can explore my books on Myofascial Release for horses, riders and dogs.