Marty Fry Remedial Massage

07/04/2026

I often get asked how do i make a start on a breathwork practice?

Well.....it's not really that hard.

Breathwork has a growing scientific backing for its many benefits but you dont have to be an expert to start practising.

Most people are drawn to breathwork for the effect it has on your nervous state, focus  or to help performance.

Most people underestimate this…

Your breath is one of the fastest ways to influence your nervous system.

You can shift from stress to calm in minutes, if you use it correctly.

Here’s how to make a start 👇

Start Simple

You don’t need complex techniques.

Try this:

• Inhale through your nose (4–5 sec)

• Exhale slowly (6–8 sec)

• Repeat for 3–5 minutes

You can also try this only using the nose. 

Longer exhales help activate your parasympathetic nervous system (your “calm” state)

Why it works:

• Slow breathing increases vagal activity (your relaxation response)

• Improves heart rate variability (HRV) — linked to stress resilience

• Reduces anxiety and physiological arousal

Other Beginner-Friendly Techniques:

Coherent Breathing (Best starting point)

5–6 breaths per minute

Box Breathing (Focus + control)

4 in → 4 hold → 4 out → 4 hold

Physiological Sigh (Fast stress reset)

2 short inhales + long exhale

The key is consistency. Forget perfection.

It's only 5 minutes daily.

Consistency is what creates lasting nervous system change.

Caution:

If you feel dizzy — slow down.

Breathwork should feel controlled, not forced

So whats holding you back?

Start now:

Take a slow breath…

Long exhale… let your body relax.

✔️ You have started on your breathwork journey

02/04/2026

Wishing you a safe and happy Easter.

The clinic will be closed from Friday 3rd of April and reopen on Thursday 9th of April.

31/03/2026

Training your brain 🧠 should form a part of your movement training. A great way of doing this is utilising small balls as part of your routine.

Ball-based activities like catching and bouncing:

✔ Increase grey matter (brain processing)

✔ Improve white matter connectivity (brain efficiency)

✔ Enhance visual–motor coordination

✔ Strengthen attention and cognitive processing

✔ Drive task-specific neuroplasticity

These exercises work because they combine:

Sensory input (vision, touch)

Motor output (movement)

Cognitive demand (attention, prediction)

These exercises increase how much your brain has to process—more timing, more coordination, more thinking. That’s what drives real change in movement, not just stretching or strengthening

18/03/2026

Client self-care in Remedial Massage isn’t just a “nice extra”—it’s what turns a single treatment into long-term results. Without it, clients often fall into a cycle of temporary relief followed by recurrence. Client self-care can influence:

Longer-lasting treatment results:
Massage helps reduce pain, improve tissue quality, and calm the nervous system—but those effects can fade if nothing changes between sessions.

Self-care (like mobility work, hydration, breathwork, or load management) helps:
Maintain tissue changes
Reinforce what you did in-session

Improved client outcomes (not just symptom relief):
Self-care addresses the cause, not just the symptoms.
Examples:
Desk worker= posture breaks + mobility
Runner= load management + recovery work
Stress-driven tension=breathwork or down-regulation techniques

Increased body awareness (proprioception & interoception)
When clients engage in self-care, they start to:
Notice early signs of tension or fatigue
Understand movement patterns

Better nervous system regulation:
Many self-care strategies (especially breathwork, gentle movement, or relaxation) support parasympathetic activity and vagal tone.

15/03/2026

An enjoyable day presenting a Move-Stretch-Breathe workshop for Massage and Myotherapy Australia in Hobart. A great day shared with a fantastic group of therapists.

27/02/2026

Don't miss our upcoming Hobart hands-on workshop ‘Move-Stretch-Breathe for Self-Care and Clinical Practice’ with Remedial Massage Therapist and Movement Trainer Marty Fry on Sunday 15 March at Rydges Hobart.

In this workshop we will begin with an overview of the theories behind mobility, flexibility and breath. We will discuss the implications they can present, why we need to be functional in these areas and their impact on the way we move. Don't miss out, register today!

REGISTER
Move-Stretch-Breathe for Self-Care and Clinical Practice: https://tinyurl.com/mrxenbch

08/02/2026

05/02/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴:

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻–𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Multi-task movements challenge the motor cortex, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex at the same time. This improves coordination, timing, and motor planning—skills we use constantly in daily life and sport.
*Better movement efficiency with less “thinking effort.”
𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆
Combining movement with cognitive or sensory tasks increases neural demand, encouraging the brain to build new and stronger connections.
Great for: Injury rehab, ageing populations, skill acquisition, and long-term movement resilience.
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Life isn’t single-task. Walking while turning your head, lifting while talking, reacting while moving—multi-task training reflects real-world demands.
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Adding a second task (visual, cognitive, or coordination-based) challenges the sensory systems responsible for balance and spatial awareness.
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺
Well-chosen multi-task drills can improve adaptability of the nervous system, increasing tolerance to stress and improving movement under pressure.
*Not all stress is bad—controlled challenge builds capacity.
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Learning to move while problem-solving builds trust in the body. This is especially powerful post-injury or in persistent pain presentations.
*Confidence = freedom to move.
𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗙𝘂𝗻
Novelty increases motivation, adherence, and learning. Multi-task drills are mentally stimulating and less monotonous than repetitive movement patterns.
*Fun = consistency.

30/01/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮

Sciatica is often a mix of muscle tension, nervous system sensitivity, and movement restriction.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗯𝘆:

𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Tight muscles can compress or irritate the sciatic nerve. Massage helps reduce tone and pressure around neural pathways.

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆
Massage stimulates touch receptors that calm pain signals and help down-regulate a sensitised nervous system.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Better blood flow = improved tissue health, reduced inflammatory load, and enhanced recovery.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Sciatic pain often leads to stiffness and fear of movement. Massage helps restore mobility and confidence to move again.

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺
Chronic pain often keeps the body in a stressed (sympathetic) state. Massage promotes parasympathetic activation — supporting relaxation, sleep, and healing.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Massage is most effective when combined with mobility, neural glides, and corrective exercise — addressing both symptoms and causes.

Remedial massage supports pain relief, nervous system regulation, and functional recovery when part of a well-rounded treatment plan.

25/01/2026

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻

Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints worldwide.

 Remedial Massage may:

✔ Reduce lower back pain intensity

✔ Improve functional movement

✔ Provide short-term symptom relief

✔ Complement exercise and rehabilitative care

Best results are often seen when massage is part of a broader treatment plan including movement, education and lifestyle strategies. Remedial Massage can also complement other treatment strategies including Physiotherapy and Osteopathy.

19/01/2026

𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘
Integrating thorough assessment into remedial massage treatments has clear clinical, safety, and outcomes-based benefits, supported by professional practice frameworks, education standards and relevant research into manual therapies.

When therapists conduct structured assessments and explain findings:

*Clients better understand their condition and treatment rationale.
*They are informed on how treatment will target the root cause rather than just symptoms.
*Client's are involved in setting realistic functional outcomes to guide care and measure progress.
*They gain a understanding of which tissues are dysfunctional or restricted.
*They gain a understanding of what mechanical compensations may be contributing to pain or dysfunction.
*Client's understand why different massage techniques are used and what adjunctive exercises are most appropriate.
*They become more engaged in active self-management (e.g., home exercises, self-care).
*Shared decision-making increases adherence and satisfaction with care.

09/01/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲

Having training in multiple modalities offers significant clinical advantages for a remedial massage therapist. It gives you more tools in your treatment toolbox.
It enhances your ability to assess, treat, and adapt to a wide range of client presentations—particularly those influenced by stress, movement dysfunction, pain, and nervous system regulation. It gives you the ability to view every presentation through different lenses as no two people are ever the same.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
Training across modalities (e.g. remedial massage, myofascial release, neural mobilisation, stretching, breathwork, and movement-based therapies) allows you to:
•View pain and dysfunction through multiple lenses (biomechanical, neurological, fascial, and autonomic)
•Avoid a “one-technique-fits-all” approach
•Adapt treatment based on tissue response rather than protocol

𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 & 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
Clients with persistent pain often have multi-system involvement, including:
•Altered motor control
•Central sensitisation
•Stress-related autonomic dysregulation
•Poor movement variability

Having training in multiple modalities allows you to:
•Modulate pain via neurophysiological mechanisms, not just tissue change
•Progress clients beyond passive treatment
•Integrate education, movement, and self-management strategies

Research shows multimodal care is more effective than single-intervention approaches for chronic musculoskeletal pain (Bialosky et al., 2009; Moseley & Butler, 2015).