Fascia

James Drewe
3 days ago
5 min read

Fascia neatly bridges traditional taiji and qigong principles and contemporary science, because it touches both structure and subtle sensation.

What is Fascia?

"Fascia is a sheath of stringy connective tissue that surrounds every part of your body. It provides support to your muscles, tendons, ligaments, tissues, organs, nerves, joints and bones.

"When your fascia is healthy, it’s flexible and stretches with you.

"When your fascia tightens up, it can restrict movement and cause painful health conditions." (Cleveland Clinic)

If you've ever opened up a chicken, you will know about fascia. It's that elastic, stretchy substance wrapped around e.g. the breast of the chicken.

Through the microscope it looks more like this, but what you cannot see from this photo is that the fluid is constantly moving within those lines, and that the structure is never constant and is always changing.

To get an idea of the flow and change within the fascia, there are some excellent videos on Youtube about how it functions. THIS is just one example.

Average Adult Weight of Fascia

The average weight of fascia in an adult human is approximately 18 to 23 kilograms (about 40 to 50 pounds). (50 pounds is the equivalent of 6 gallons of water).

Some of the Functions of Fascia

Other than wrapping around and separating muscle groups (Separation & Compartmentalisation), and acting as a form of lubrication between those groups, here are some other functions of fascia that might be less obvious:

Structural support
Force transmission
Shock absorption
Movement and flexibility
Communication
Blood flow
Lymphatic flow & drainage
Nervous system communication
Proprioception (the sense of self-movement, force, and body position)
Nociception (the sense of detecting and responding to harmful stimuli)
Healing & repair
Now thought to be how acupuncture/pressure, reflexology etc. work
Link between body & consciousness

Fascia and the bones

I have read conflicting information about this, but the general view seems to be that fascia does not pass through bones.

It surrounds and supports bones, (as well as muscles, organs, and other structures in the body), and helps maintain the integrity and function of these structures. In itself, it doesn't make the bones more flexible, but does make the supporting structures more flexible. Healthy fascia allows muscles to move freely, which can enhance the range of motion around joints.

Interaction with bones

Shock Absorption: Fascia contains elastin, which allows it to stretch and absorb shock. This property helps protect bones during movement and impacts.
Movement Facilitation: By providing a lubricated surface, fascia enables smooth movement between muscles and bones, reducing friction and potential injury.

Exercise and Fascia

Fasciae (or fascias) of young people – shown as (A) on the left – express more often a clear two-directional (lattice) orientation of their collagen fibre network. In addition, the individual collagen fibers show a stronger crimp formation.

In contrast, fascias from older people (B) show a more irregular alignment with less crimp formation. As evidenced by animal studies, proper exercise can induce an altered architecture with increased crimp-formation.

Lack of exercise, on the other hand, has been shown to induce formation of a multidirectional fibre network and a decreased crimp formation. https://elsevier-elibrary.com/contents/fullcontent/58608/epubcontent_v2/OEBPS/xhtml/B9780702034251000246.htm

'Crimping' or 'Clumping' Fascia

Fascia, when 'unhealthy', can clump or cluster.

This is not unlike a fishing net that you find on the beach after it has been in the sea for a long time; it's stiff and rigid, and yet, after pulling it around in various directions, it eases up and becomes looser.

Classical Tai Chi & Qigong Concepts in Fascia Terms

Peng (掤): Think of Peng not just as an "energetic expansion," but as fascial tensegrity — the whole-body web distributing load and maintaining elastic suspension (a net hammock).
Song (鬆): Instead of “relax,” think of it as releasing unnecessary tension so that fascia can lengthen, rehydrate, and transmit force.

This bridges traditional language with modern anatomy.

Tai Chi & Qigong Focus

Elastic Loading/Unloading: Taiji’s & Qigong's spiralling and coiling actions preload fascia like a spring, then release it.
Variability of Movement: Modern fascia research shows it thrives on varied, non-linear stresses, e.g. circles, spirals, twists, and multidirectional stepping (e.g. opening the pelvis to step to sides or corners), rather than repetitive linear drills.

Imagery Techniques that Resonates with Fascia

Active Imagery: Visualise performing Tai Chi forms mentally. This technique helps reinforce muscle memory and enhances the connection with fascia. Imagine the flow of energy through your body as you visualise each movement.
Elasticity Visualisation: Picture your fascia as a stretchy, elastic web. Imagine it expanding and contracting with each movement, allowing for fluidity and ease in your practice.
Body Awareness: Envision your body as a whole, interconnected system. Imagine how each part moves in harmony with others, emphasising the role of fascia in maintaining balance and coordination.

Examples that might work for some people

“Imagine you’re moving through a thick, stretchy fabric.”
“Feel your arms as if they’re suspended from elastic bands inside your torso.”
“Let your body move like a net being pulled from the edges, not like separate parts.”

Flowing Water

Imagine your movements as flowing water, smooth and continuous. This imagery helps in creating fluidity in transitions and enhances the connection between movements and fascia.

Elastic Bands

Picture your fascia as elastic bands that stretch and contract supporting your movements. This helps in understanding the elasticity and responsiveness of fascia during practice.

Web of Light

Picture a web of light connecting different body parts, enhancing awareness and connection.

Warm Light: Visualise warm light spreading through your body, relaxing your muscles and fascia. This can help in releasing tension and enhancing the feeling of energy flow.

Connected Web: Visualise your fascia as a web connecting all parts of your body. This imagery emphasises the interconnectedness of movements and promotes awareness of how different body parts work together.

Radiating Energy: Visualise energy radiating from your core, expanding outward. This helps in feeling the qi flow and its connection to the fascia.

Balloon Expansion Envision the body as a balloon, expanding and contracting with each breath, promoting relaxation.

Tree Roots

Picture your feet as roots anchoring you to the ground. This imagery promotes stability and grounding, allowing for better energy flow through the fascia.

These metaphors map well on to both taiji (or qigong) and fascia.

Further thoughts

Fascia connects muscle to muscle, not just muscle to bone.
Hydrated fascia = Smoother movement, which is why taiji feels “fluid”.
Taiji’s slow, continuous spirals are fascia-nourishing because they constantly pump and reorganise connective tissue.

Fascia shouldn't replace tradition but should deepen understanding.

James Drewe teaches Tai Chi and Qigong in both London and in Kent and online.

Details of weekly classes both live and online can be found on the website, and there are classes for 2-person Tai Chi on one Saturday a month.