Episode Details

My interview with Sydney-based Erica Koo, a Level 3 fascia stretch therapist and former competitive powerlifter, explores how Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) can make life better for people with significant mileage on their bodies, hearts and minds.

Erica and I discuss FST’s significance in pain relief, mobility and overall health, the role of fascia in the body, its connection to movement, and how FST can benefit people over 40.

Erica also shares her personal journey (see timeline below, if you’d rather jump to that fascinating part of our conversation) from a complete non-athlete to becoming a competitive powerlifter, lyra (aerial hoop) performer and FST therapist… who’s now on the road to also completing her psychology training. (Her latest athletic obsession is sprinting….clearly, Erica doesn’t do anything halfway.)

Takeaways:

* Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is crucial for pain relief and mobility

* Fascia is a web-like connective tissue that affects movement

* Aging increases the need for fascia care due to accumulated stress

* FST works by addressing the fascial connections throughout the body

* Therapists assess the body as a roadmap of experiences and pain

* Immediate relief can often be felt after the first session of FST

* Resistance training is essential for maintaining health as we age

* FST is a collaborative process that prioritizes client safety

* Psychological benefits accompany physical relief in therapy

* Holistic health involves 5 pillars: exercise, nutrition, hydration, sleep, community

Erica Koo/fascia stretch therapy video timeline:

01:01 Introduction to FST: What is it & why you should care about your body’s fascia

02:20 How Erica evaluates pain via fascial connections throughout the body

04:50 Why fascia is so important for people over 40 to understand

10:38 “The body is a roadmap” to everything it’s gone through in life

11:24 Expectations of FST as a reliever of chronic pain

14:15 Characteristics of people whose fascia is in the best shape

15:40 Erica’s story: competitive powerlifter, aerial hoop performer, psych student

22:00 The wide range of physical & neuro issues that Erica treats with FST

28:10 The 5 pillars of healthy living: exercise, nutrition, hydration, sleep, community

“With fascia stretch therapy, the more you move the joint, the more it does let go. And in doing so, you're able to create freedom in the joint and the muscle” — Erica Koo (aka “Stretch”)

(SKIMMABLE) INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT:

Paul

Erica Koo, thanks for being on AGING with STRENGTH.

Erica

Thank you so much for having me, I'm super excited.

Paul

Yeah, this is going to be an interesting conversation because I don't know jack about fascia stretch therapy — FST as it's called.

So could you tell us what FST, fascial stretch therapy, is and why we should care about it?

Erica (01:08)

It's a form of assistive stretching that allows us to work deep in the joints and stretch the move the body in ways that the client themselves may not be able to. In doing so, what we're aiming to do is relieve pain, restore joint integrity and also improve overall long-term mobility as well.

How I would explain it to clients when they walk in is that fascia is a web like connective tissue that is all across the body. There is nowhere in our body that fascia does not exist. But the function is it helps hold our body together, but also helps coordinate smooth movements when we're walking, running, especially w