Breana Gilcher
Oboe & English horn | Massage Therapist
What is Myofascial Release (MFR)?
Myofascial release is targeted, clinical bodywork without oil. Similar to massage, it works to relieve tension and chronic pain with deep mobilization techniques, slow holds, and stretching. Myo (muscle) fascial (connective tissue called fascia) seeks to stretch the connective tissues that are still in the holding patterns of the most familiar daily movements (driving, computer work, carrying a toddler, and repetitive movements in sports or music), so that the tension disperses. This gives the body a chance to strengthen, find equilibrium, and gain more range of motion.
Body aware clients gain the most from this therapy with the opportunity to engage in Unwinding. Whether your body has seen you through a new trauma or forty years of playing piano, it knows what it needs to heal, and working with a therapist while unwinding is extremely effective for long-term relief.
As a therapist Breana’s primary goal is outstanding treatment in a gentle, soothing space in which the body feels safe to let go of what it no longer needs.
Breana holds additional certifications in Personal Training (CPT) and Music Therapy (MT-BC).
MFR for Musicians
Having struggled with playing-related injuries and found Myofascial release to be incredibly beneficial to her own recovery and maintenance, one of Breana’s passions is to provide artists with specialized treatment that understands the demands of a creative occupation, both before and/or after an injury. She carries a certificate in Performing Arts Medicine from the Performing Arts Medicine Association and completed an internship in Myofascial release for performing artists with Jenni Asher. One of her specialities is working with instrumentalist bodymechanics for injury prevention and increased artistic freedom.
Location & Hours
Eagle Rock
Meditation for Muscles: 5044 Eagle Rock Blvd Unit 2
Sundays, Mondays, & Wednesdays
Additional hours occasionally available upon request.
Musician Bodywork exists to treat musicians with injuries and help them to achieve a level of pain-free playing and through the development of healthy self-care routines. It also hopes to shed light on the problems that performing artists face (as Sports Massage Therapy does for athletes). These problems include:
• Where to go for help!
• How to prevent Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
• How to continue being a musician (practising and performing) with uncomfortable tension or injuries
• Awareness of harmful postural or technique habits
The need for Musician Bodywork has arisen from the number of musicians who cannot practice as long as their commitments demand because of physical discomfort, tension, or pain. Practically, this is devastating because a few hours of personal practice a day is typically necessary for the career, in addition to orchestra or chamber music rehearsals, private lessons, and/or concerts. Psychologically this is damaging because the musician begins to sense that their longevity in their career is in danger, and there are few places that they can seek treatment from practitioners who are well informed about their lives.
When notable physical tension or injury takes place, a musician may go to their doctor, who may inform them that they need to take time off to heal. In one of the best case scenarios, the doctor recommends a physical therapist, who can give the client exercises and stretches to aid in the healing process, or a massage therapist. But in this recommendation is a missing component, crucial to their recovery. None of the typical recommendations observes the way the client plays their instrument or sings. If the recommended practitioner does not look at this crucial aspect of the client’s condition, the client will maintain the same practice habits (bad technique, bad posture, or unrecognized tension) that contributed to the condition in the first place.