The Fascial Connection: How Movement, Sound, and Myofascial Release Intertwine

paulakeck
7 days ago
3 min read

I’ve been a student and teacher of movement for most of my life—first through dance, then high-intensity fitness classes, and for the last 25 years, mainly through yoga. Early on, I became fascinated by myofascial release (starting in the ’90s with a technique called Body Rolling). I have also always had a great love for sound and its impact on our mood, the nervous system and how it can support a movement practice. Through this journey I earned my credentials as a yoga teacher and trainer, a somatic practitioner, a certified myofascial release practitioner and sound bath practitioner.

But it wasn’t until recently that I fully understood just how interwoven these three modalities really are.

So what is fascia, anyway?

Fascia is connective tissue that surrounds and links everything in the body—muscles, bones, and organs. It’s made up of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which help it stay hydrated and flexible.

Think of fascia as a fluid, responsive network that keeps the body held together in a dynamic, tension-balanced system. But it’s not just structure—it’s sensory. Fascia helps us sense where we are in space (proprioception) and is now understood to be the largest sensory organ in the body.

For decades, fascia was overlooked, but recent research shows it plays major roles in:

Structural stability and strength
Body awareness (proprioception)
Metabolic regulation
Storing somatic memories, including trauma
Conducting sound vibrations through cellular and intercellular fluids

(Ding, ding, ding—did you catch those last 2 bullets? Do you see how this is all coming together??)

When Fascia Gets Stuck

Lack of movement, injury, stress, or trauma can make fascia sticky or hardened. Dr. Gil Hedley calls this the “fuzz” that forms between layers of tissue—tiny adhesions that build up over time if we don’t move or stretch regularly. This buildup can contribute to chronic pain, inflammation, fatigue, and other systemic issues.

The good news? Mindful movement, deep breathing, and myofascial release help melt the fuzz—rehydrating the fascia and restoring its natural glide and elasticity. (But that’s not all….)

The Link Between Fascia and Sound

Fascia is also piezoelectric, meaning it generates an electrical charge when compressed or stretched—just like quartz crystal. This makes it a kind of biological conductor. When sound waves move through the body, they can literally energize this electrical network, helping the fascia “remember” how to move freely again. 🤯

Because fascia is 75% water, it’s an ideal conductor of sound waves. The human body itself is mostly water, and sound travels through water much faster than nerve signals do. In other words, vibrations move through your fascia and fluids long before your brain can register them.

That’s one reason sound baths can have such a deep, whole-body effect—they don’t just relax the mind, they resonate through the body’s connective tissue network. And don’t forget the emotional layer—sometimes even humming, sighing, or singing can help release stuck energy in the fascial web.

How Sound Influences Fascia

If you want to get a bit more “science-y”, here’s what’s happening beneath the surface when sound meets fascia:

Vibration & fluid flow: Sound waves travel deep into tissues, increasing the movement of hyaluronic acid within the fascia. This helps rehydrate and soften it.
Mechanotransduction: Fascia’s sensory receptors respond to vibration and stretch, translating sound into biochemical signals that improve blood and lymph flow.
Fibroblast stimulation: Vibrations can activate fibroblasts—the cells that produce collagen—supporting tissue repair.
Nervous system regulation: Certain frequencies calm the parasympathetic nervous system, shifting us from “fight or flight” into “rest and digest,” allowing tension in the fascia to release.

Bringing it all together

Movement, myofascial release, and sound aren’t separate practices—they’re ways of connecting with the body’s own wisdom and capacity to restore balance. The more I study and work with these modalities, the more I see how beautifully they support one another.

I’m excited to keep exploring and sharing how sound and fascia connect in future classes and workshops. Stay tuned!