When Your Body Speaks Up, Listen
A simple self-care technique I’m using daily to reduce shoulder restriction and keep playing.
Returning to the violin, working through restriction, and caring for the body that carries me.
I normally sing in the choir, but for Easter I agreed to play a violin obbligato for one of the songs the choir will be performing. It’s a beautiful piece—truly—but it’s also challenging. So challenging. In fact, I said yes before I really took a close look at it. I figured I had forty-two days to practice, which felt like plenty of time to get comfortable with the passages in 4th position (and some in 5th).
But here’s what I’m discovering after just four days of practice: that old injury—made worse by the positioning from a surgery I had two years ago—is making playing difficult. To hold my violin properly on my left side, I feel the pain and pull of restricted tissue. It’s like a two-inch-wide band running from my left shoulder down the back of my upper arm and forearm, all the way into my hand. The more I reach around into 5th position, the more it resists and pulls against me. It’s a dysfunction I’ve ignored for a while, but with this piece, I can’t ignore it anymore.
If I had followed my original plan to study accounting, or if I had stayed a firefighter beyond my 20s, I might be worried right now that I would never really play the violin again. Thankfully, more than 20 years ago in massage school, I was introduced to John Barnes’ approach to Myofascial Release®, and I’ve spent the last 12 years training extensively in it.
So what does that look like for me day to day? Self-care. I receive regular care from other myofascial release therapists in my area, but on a daily basis, it comes down to what I do for myself. When I agreed to play this piece, I wasn’t just committing to practicing the music—I was committing to showing up for my body and addressing the areas that feel restricted when I play.
So where do I start?
Today it looks like this: I take a soft 5-inch ball, place it between my shoulder and the wall, find a sensitive spot, and gently lean into it for 5–10 minutes without moving. Then I shift the ball to another tender area and repeat the process for another 5–10 minutes. I’m finding a lot of sensitive spots—but I also know that with daily attention and care, I will see meaningful improvement.
And I’m grateful. Grateful that I have the tools, the training, and the time to care for my body so I can continue to do what I love—make music.
If you’re dealing with pain or restriction…
…and you don’t know exactly what you need, you’re not alone.
You don’t have to understand myofascial release to benefit from it. If you’re feeling pain, tightness, limited motion, or a sense that your body just isn’t moving the way it used to, there is help.
My work is gentle, hands-on, and tailored to what your body needs on that day. Many people come in simply because something hurts—and they want relief, more ease, and the ability to get back to the things they love.
If that sounds like you, I’m here to help.
You can learn more or schedule a session here: