Touch by Lila Collier -TLC massage

02/08/2026

Remember how I say everything is all connected?

You are looking at the SFL = Superficial Front Line Fascia train.

I invite you to look at this picture and then think about how we sit all day. Most of us sit slightly hunched over to some degree. What do you think it does to the fascia that is running across the whole front line of the body?

It shortens it. Not just for the moment, but an actual pattern starts to form in these fascial tissues. It will affect how you breathe, how the pelvis sits, the musculature across the entire front body including psoas, abdominals and pelvic floor and it's going to create dysfunction for the back body as it tries to accomodate a shortened state across the front.

There are 12 fascia trains throughout the body. The back line goes from top to the bottom as well.

And they ALL affect the pelvis.

Like I always remind students, where there mobility there is function and where there is restriction there is more opportunity for dysfunction. Pain, numbness, loss of mobility and a whole slew of pelvic related conditions like urinary incontinence, hip and low back pain and even pelvic organ prolapse.

This is why we yoga. To create space, mobility and function. This is why there is an entire series dedicated to releasing restriction in these tissues with very specific techniques to address fascia. The Myofascial Release series currently has 23 classes to help students unwind!

01/19/2026

01/19/2026

Pathobiomechanics of Global Postural Asymmetry (Kinetic Chain Dysfunction)

The image represents a classic example of frontal-plane and transverse-plane postural deviation, where the body adapts to an asymmetrical load by creating a compensatory chain from the shoulder down to the foot. This is not a single-joint problem but a whole-body kinetic chain pathology driven by gravity and neuromuscular imbalance.

At the shoulder and trunk level, a unilateral shoulder drop shifts the center of mass laterally. To prevent loss of balance, the thoracic spine side-bends toward the lowered shoulder and rotates in the opposite direction. This creates asymmetric loading of the paraspinal muscles, with one side becoming overactive and shortened while the contralateral side becomes elongated and weak. Over time, this leads to altered scapulothoracic mechanics and reduced trunk stability.

This asymmetry is transmitted to the lumbopelvic region, resulting in a pelvic tilt. The pelvis adapts by dropping on one side, driven by weakness or delayed activation of the hip abductors (primarily the gluteus medius) on the stance side. As pelvic stability is lost, the lumbar spine compensates with lateral flexion, increasing compressive forces on one facet joint while placing tensile stress on the opposite side. This uneven force distribution is a common precursor to chronic low back pain.

At the hip and knee, pelvic tilt and femoral internal rotation alter lower-limb alignment. The femur rotates medially, forcing the knee into a rotational position it is biomechanically ill-equipped to handle. Since the knee is designed mainly for flexion and extension, repetitive rotational stress increases strain on the ACL, medial meniscus, and patellofemoral joint. This explains the frequent association between postural asymmetry and anterior knee pain or instability.

The compensation continues distally to the foot and ankle, where the medial longitudinal arch collapses. This excessive pronation increases tibial internal rotation, further reinforcing femoral internal rotation and pelvic instability. What begins as a foot adaptation to improve balance ultimately feeds back upward, amplifying stress at the knee, hip, and spine—creating a vicious cycle of dysfunction.

From a pathomechanical standpoint, this pattern represents a failure of the body’s anti-gravity system. Instead of distributing forces symmetrically through joints and muscles, the body relies on passive structures—ligaments, joint capsules, and fascia—to maintain upright posture. This increases energy expenditure, reduces shock absorption, and predisposes the individual to overuse injuries.

🧠 Key Pathobiomechanical Insight:
Postural asymmetry is a dynamic, self-perpetuating system. Without correction, compensations become motor patterns, motor patterns become habits, and habits become pathology.

✨ In biomechanics, the site of pain is rarely the site of the problem—the cause lies elsewhere in the chain.

01/18/2026

01/16/2026

01/09/2026

01/09/2026

12/29/2025

This image shows how long‑term one‑sided loading (like always sitting on one hip, wallet, or crossed leg) creates a chain of muscle imbalances through the pelvis and spine.

Key pattern in the image
The right side shows a combination of tight and weak muscles forming a spiral of compensation from low back to hamstrings.
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These imbalances shift the pelvis and spine out of neutral, so the body “locks” into an asymmetrical standing and walking pattern.
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Lumbar and hip region
The quadratus lumborum (QL) on one side is tight, which hikes that side of the pelvis up and side‑bends the lumbar spine, increasing compression on the facet joints and discs.
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The psoas on the same side is tight, pulling the lumbar vertebrae forward and down toward the femur, promoting anterior pelvic tilt and shear forces on the lumbar segments.
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Glute and thigh muscles
The gluteus on that side is weak, so it cannot effectively control hip extension and stabilize the pelvis during stance, forcing other muscles (QL, adductors, hamstrings) to overwork.
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The adductors (inner thigh) become tight as they help stabilize the pelvis and femur in the absence of strong gluteal support, drawing the thigh inward and contributing to knee and hip malalignment.
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Hamstrings and lower chain
The hamstrings on that side are weak, so they cannot balance the pull of the tight hip flexors and adductors, which further disrupts normal hip–knee–ankle alignment in gait.
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This weak‑tight pattern alters load transfer through the leg, increasing strain on the sacroiliac joint, lumbar spine, and even the cervical and thoracic regions as the upper body compensates to keep the eyes level.
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Overall biomechanical effect
The combined tightness (QL, psoas, adductors) and weakness (glute, hamstrings) rotate and tilt the pelvis, creating a functional scoliosis‑like curve in the spine.
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Over time this pattern can manifest as unilateral low‑back pain, sciatic irritation, hip/knee issues, and asymmetric posture, especially when reinforced by habits like sitting on one side or a wallet.

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas 🎄 everyone! Please stay safe!🧑🏻‍🎄

12/22/2025

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! I will not be in the office this week. Spend time with your family and loved ones! 🧑🏻‍🎄🎄they are the true spirit of Christmas!