Northside Myofascial-Release

06/26/2025

Unfortunately, Northside Myofascial Release is permanently closed due to the untimely passing of the owner, Ron Reach, in October of 2022. 💔

In loving memory,
Windsor Reach

11/01/2022

11/01/2022

This is Windsor Reach, Ron's daughter. I regret to inform all of Ron's clients and professional contacts that my father passed peacefully in his sleep from sudden cardiac arrest October 10, 2022.

He was a pillar of the Myofascial Release community here in Atlanta, and will be greatly missed. My father took his work very seriously, and if he were still with us today I know he would want to thank you all for entrusting him with your care. He lived to spark joy in others, and to help people find their own path to healing.

Several of you have reached out to me personally to let me know how much he helped you, and how much he cared, and I truly appreciate hearing from you all. 💓🙏💓

Obituary linked below:

https://www.georgiafuneralcare.com/obituaries-for-georgia-funeral-care-and-cremation-services/blogauthor2/ronald-reach-acworth-ga-funeral-homes

Ronald Edward Reach passed peacefully from this life at his home in Marietta, Georgia on October 10, 2022. He was 55 years old. He is survived by his beloved daughter Kathryn Windsor Reach, his mother...

01/09/2022

The profoundly important psoas muscle! Myofascial-Release is the *best* therapy to treat this area... Gently and effectively.

Tucked deep in your hips and lower back, the psoas muscle won't get you any compliments at the beach—but keeping it strong and flexible is crucial to keeping your body feeling good.

12/06/2021

Northside Myofascial has been included on this list of "30 Best Atlanta Massage Therapists" by Expertise.com!!! So grateful to do this work over the past 15 years, and to have the opportunity to help my fellow "Atlantans" remain pain-free! Onward.... Much Gratitude! 🙏

Find and connect with Atlanta's best Massage Therapists. Hand picked by an independent editorial team and updated for 2021.

04/14/2021

The following link provides a list of some very excellent teachers on YouTube that offer free full classes of Yin Yoga.

For beginners, you want to pick a class that says beginners or “restorative.” Find a teacher that resonates with you, and then DO IT!

Also, you may want to read up on Yin Yoga or use books instead of videos.

(It helps to do both.)

Click this link for access to some excellent Yin Yoga on YouTube: https://blog.feedspot.com/yin_yoga_youtube_channels/

Click this link to read the entire blog post about Myofascial Self-Treatment with Stretching: https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-stretching

04/12/2021

Myofascial Stretching

This is simply a term that I’ve chosen to use for sustained, passive stretching.

Whereas resistance stretching is an active stretch, myofascial stretching is the opposite, and the entire goal is to fully release and LET GO.

Without a doubt, the best and most accessible system to achieve this is Yin Yoga.

Unlike active forms of yoga-like Vinyasa, yin is very slow, meditative, and done from primarily a seated position.

This is an ideal form of yoga to unwind, fully relax, and begin to rehabilitate.

The teacher will often ask you to hold a stretch for four minutes or longer.

Sustained stretching is what identifies this type of stretch as myofascial stretching because as with myofascial release, sustained states of tension create a deep and profound change in the nervous system and allow the body to gently adapt itself to a positive change.

Also, sustained stretching of this nature will stretch the ligaments and joints, which is so very important to the rehabilitation of injured muscles.

Yin Yoga classes are abundant on YouTube, and in my blog linked below, I provide a few links.

One link provides a list of some very excellent teachers on YouTube that offer free full classes of Yin Yoga. Click below to access.
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-stretching

04/09/2021

For Resistance Stretching you will need a special resistance strap to do this type of stretching.

(I do NOT recommend trying these stretches with rehab bands. Resistance stretching does not use resistance bands.)

These specialized static straps are an excellent addition to your fascial tools arsenal.

They are made with multiple loops to provide many options for your hands to hold onto the strap.

Several are available in the market, but the “original” is called the “OPTP Stretch Strap”.

My preference, however, is the first version listed, which is made of nylon seatbelt material.

It’s virtually indestructible, comes in a variety of colors, and will last you forever!

I have sold both from my office and believe they are both excellent, and on my blog, I provide a link to both.

In addition, you will find a couple of excellent books on resistance stretching on my blog.

For instruction, there are many qualified exercise professionals on YouTube that can teach you to do this type of stretching. Most are physical therapists or personal trainers, and on my blog (the link is below), I provide a few to get you started.
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-stretching

04/08/2021

Resistance Stretching

This form of stretching has been around for many years but has been predominately practiced by the patients of physical therapists.

In other words, they have existed in the past as assistant stretches, but it is quite easy to attend this type of stretching on your own.

Also known as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), or Isometric stretching, this type of stretching brings a muscle or limb to its range of motion and then resists in the opposite direction.

This motion causes the muscle fibers to stretch internally and also strengthens at the same time.

This is an excellent way to rehabilitate a weak muscle, as it requires a very limited range of motion, and it is impossible to push the muscle past its ability.

Often, people go into the gym to rehabilitate their muscles with weights and push themselves past their current limitations, causing the injury or weak muscle to get even worse.

Resistance stretching eliminates this risk.

For a link to my favorite resistance band, click the link below.
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-stretching

04/02/2021

Myofascial Self-Treatment Part 2: Stretching

In addition to the use of tools for self-treatment, you must also incorporate unique and varied forms of stretching.

Most people have no idea about how to stretch and are still doing the same type of stretching they learned in middle school gym class.

Doing the hurdlers stretch and a couple of side bends as a warmup is fine – but it’s frightful to an aggressive, bouncy style stretch!

Trust me when I say this type of stretching doesn’t work, and it can cause you more damage than good.

There are far better ways to stretch!

Finish reading about stretching on the blog today using the link below.
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog

03/31/2021

There are so many tools in the market nowadays, it’s overwhelming.

I have purchased and tried many of these tools over the years, and some of them are very valuable and effective.

But there is one tool that I love, and I’d like to share that with you now.

It’s called a THUMBBY. (Stupid name, phenomenal tool.)

It’s a little pricier than most treatment balls, but then again, it does things the other tools can’t do!

Worth every penny.

The Thumbby is a cone made of silicone. This provides a very nice surface and a gentle point for very specific pressure. In addition, the bottom of the cone is concave, helping it sticks to the wall. This can be extremely convenient if you’re trying to get to a particular spot in your shoulder, or on your hip flexors, glutes, etc.

It does many other tricks and can be used for multiple self-treatment applications.

There are too many questions to go into here but ask me how the THUMBBY can be used to treat your particular issue and I will oblige.

I occasionally keep them in stock in the office but click here to purchase online at your convenience.

Don’t forget to come back for part two in a few days to learn all about myofascial stretching.

Talk soon,
Ron Reach, LMT
To read this article in full, click this link: https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-the-right-tools

03/30/2021

Last week, I introduced massage balls as a form of myofascial self-treatment.

Today, I want to teach you how to use them.

As I mentioned, there is no shortage in variety of massage balls on the market.

I know you’re thinking, “What am I supposed to do with these balls? Just roll around on ‘em?”

This is the concern from 9 out of 10 people who come to my office asking the very same question.

So let me guide you through properly using a massage ball in myofascial self-treatment.

Lay on the floor & briefly roll around on the ball until you find a “spot”, a tender or painful place where pressure might benefit the facilitation of the tissue and nerves in that area.

(After I’ve worked on you, you’ll be very familiar with where some of the spots maybe!)

Once you find "the spot"… MELT INTO THE BALL.

That’s right, just take a deep breath, sink into it, and allow gravity to do its work. Now, LET GO.

You don’t want the intensity to be through the roof; you want to feel it, but only to a tolerable degree.

And I’m not talking about “No pain, no gain.”

In fact, being aggressive with these tools can increase the pain.

You just want to calmly relax into it, take a deep breath, and melt.

If the intensity of the ball is too much, you won’t be able to relax into it.

This may be remedied by trying an “easier” ball or moving to a softer surface.

Should a massage ball not satisfy your needs, there are other tools to consider.

Click through to continue reading about them now...
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-the-right-tools
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Myofascial Self-Treatment, Part 1: Tools