A massage to relieve body pain… and belly fat?
Last week, I emailed a photo of myself to my podcast guest, Deanna Hansen, and she read my fascial restrictions.
Her assessment?
My lingering back pain and the random knee, ankle, and foot flare-ups are likely starting in my feet.
From there, tension winds up through my lower legs and into my diaphragm… which is collapsing inward and forward.
Her prescription?
Rub between my toes.
Massage right under my ribcage to release my diaphragm.
And keep working on breathing into my abdomen because I am still a chest breather. (Grr I thought I had that fixed!)
It’s humbling. And a good reminder.
Even when you know better, it helps to have a coach who can see what you can’t.
Since recording the podcast, I’ve been:
- Rubbing between my toes nightly
- Releasing under my ribcage
- Practicing abdominal breathing (again)
And wow! The nervous system really loves to stay wired in fight-or-flight when breathing patterns are off.
Here’s what really got me thinking.
During the episode, Deanna mentioned the connection between diaphragm restriction and belly fat.
The longer we live, the more life experiences we accumulate and the more time we may spend subtly stuck in stress mode.
So I started asking myself:
What if stubborn belly fat isn’t just about cortisol…
but about abdominal fascia that’s been bracing for years?
I’ve supported plenty of women with cortisol-lowering protocols and sometimes the belly fat doesn’t budge.
So here’s my current experiment:
- Toe release
- Diaphragm fascial work
- The peptide KPV (lysine, proline, valine)
- A micro-micro dose of Retatrutide (a triple-action peptide that works similarly to Tirzepatide but also supports inflammation and fat metabolism on a deeper level)
My goal?
- Wake up moving better
- Reduce lingering post-leg-day pain
- Shift the stubborn belly fat
After just one week of toe massage?
My back feels looser.
My knee hasn’t been “talking” to me.
I’m intrigued.
And I’ll be putting it to the test during my annual two-week adventure in the Cayman Islands next week.
If you want to see how Deanna releases the diaphragm and how she does the toe massage don’t miss the podcast episode 599 HERE.
I truly believe mastering self-fascial work is one of the keys to maintaining circulation to your organs and moving well at any age.
I’ll be sharing more about how to pair this work so you can wake up feeling amazing in your body every day.
Here’s to feeling amazing, one massage at a time,
Dr. J
P.S. Want to stay active in your sport or hobby for decades to come? Join me for my free workshop:
The Art of Staying in Your Sport, Hobby, and Being Epic-Adventure-Ready at Any Age
March 18th | 5:30 PM PST / 7:30 PM CST
Register here to grab the free replay – HERE
