Is today a good or bad day, mom?
That’s the question I was greeted with most mornings from my daughter. I can’t even begin to find the words to explain how that question made me feel.
The truth is, she was right. I never knew from one morning to the next, how I was going to feel.
There were days I would literally wait in bed and pray in the Spirit, until my body would have enough strength to get out of bed.
And that was only half the battle. The next hurdle was to make it down the stairs.
A few months ago, we felt a nudging in our Spirit to publicly share; How We Live Within The Priorities Of God While Walking Through Chronic Illness.
After walking through this journey over the last 7 years, we knew it was time to share our story to encourage others who may be growing weary with their own health journey.
It was time to share how God protected us along the way. How He led us to the right doctors, and how He strategically led us to natural ways to care for our bodies.
We realized that sometimes the testimony is in the journey, not just the victory on the other side.
Sometimes our testimony is in the journey not just the victory on the other side. Click To Tweet
Our Diagnosis
Fifteen years ago I was diagnosis with Fibromyalgia and Migraines. It wasn’t until 8 years later that I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
In fact, I was in such bad shape after multiple trips back and forth to the UCLA Medical Center, my Rheumatologist felt it was necessary to take an aggressive approach. This included high doses of Prednisone, Imuran, Plaquenil, and IV Infusions (every 4 weeks).
Within three years of my diagnosis Andre was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. To say life as we knew it changed dramatically, was an understatement. This affected us personally, our marriage, and our entire family.
Although we didn’t know how our life was going to look physically, what we did know, was that we would combat this chronic illness with chronic faith!
We believe, the key to our health begins in our spirit, with God’s Word.
“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.”
~ Proverbs 4:20-22 (NLT)
We also believe, that while we wait for the complete manifestation of healing, we MUST do our part to seek God for the natural wisdom to care for our temples.
So today, I want to share with you how God led me to one of the many natural remedies we use to improve our quality of life while walking through this health journey.
My Fascia Blasting Story
Morning stiffness, joint pain, and limited physical activity was a way of life for over 5 years. The pain became my new “normal” and as the years went by, I developed a high pain tolerance.
Surprisingly, what was more debilitating to me, were the migraines. I don’t know about you, but I can faith it until I make it with muscle and joint pain.
But a migraine, that would knock me down for days. And don’t nobody got time for that!
I was getting up to about 20-25 migraines a month. Every single day I was taking numerous meds that did absolutely nothing. Sometimes the only way I was able to relieve the pain, was to make a trip to the Emergency Room.
Until the last ER visit! It literally took them over 8 hours to get it under control. Even then it wasn’t gone, it was just manageable enough to send me home.
And that was it. With tears and desperation, I sought God and ask Him to lead me to a solution, because I knew I couldn’t keep doing this.
My Rheumatologist sent me to a Neurologist that specialized in headaches. After two nerve blocks within a week apart that did nothing, they then suggested Botox.
That is where I drew the line, I just didn’t feel led to go that direction. I continued to pray and wait for God to send another way.
When I had my routine visit with my Rheumatologist and I updated her on my visit with the Neurologist it was then, that her nurse suggested I try using The Fascia Blaster®.
You’re probably wondering like I did…what is that?
My nurse admitted to me that she didn’t know much about it. Someone she knew who experienced severe migraines also wanted to avoid Botox, so she tried it and it worked for her.
So I researched it, and little did I know that this hand held device would be the answer to my prayers.
What’s Fascia?
Although I was desperate for relief, I needed to understand how this was going to get to the root of my problem because the last thing I needed was another Band-Aid.
As I started to research fascia I soon discovered that fascia is also referred to as “connective tissue” under the skin. Hello? You had me at connective tissue.
Remember I was diagnosed with RA, and Fibromyalgia. Although I was seeking help for migraines I quickly realized this Fascia Blaster® was going to have multiple health benefits.
Our entire skeletal system is covered with fascia. It’s what holds our muscles and organs together.
According to medicinenet.com the definition of Fascia is: A flat band of tissue below the skin that covers underlying tissues and separates different layers of tissue. Fascia also encloses muscles.
Meriam –Webster dictionary defines Fascia as: A sheet of connective tissue covering or binding together body structures (such as muscles).
I don’t know about you, but I love when medical science confirms God’s handiwork!
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” ~ Psalm 139:13-14 (NLT)
When our connective tissue is tight, our fascia is distorted (also referred to as cellulite), or hardened (also referred to as knots or adhesions), it can hinder blood flow, and circulation.
As a result, pain is felt in the body, in the form of; nerve pain, headaches, stiff joints, tight muscles, sensitive to touch, etc.
Therapies For Fascia Health
According the Mayo Clinic Myofascial (or Connective Tissue) Release Therapy is manual therapy by a licensed therapist using a special technique of applying pressure to trigger points and stretching.
This type of therapy has been known to help relieve headaches, back pain, fibromyalgia, heel pain, and other types of pain.
Rolfing is another therapy that manipulates the entire body’s structure by manipulating the Myofascial System (or Connective Tissue). These sessions are also completed by licenses therapist. You can read more about Rolfing here.
Another option that is much more affordable and practical is to use The Fascia Blaster® by Ashley Black from the comfort of your own home!
For us personally, as a family that’s budgeting medical expenses, and eating an organic diet, we are all about affordable healthy alternatives that can give us the same results.
The Fascia Blaster® allowed me to take control of the health of my fascia, at my own pace.
One thing I have learned is that nobody knows my body better than me. I want to control how hard I go, and how often I can endure a blasting session.
What’s Fascia Blasting?
Fascia Blasting is simply using the Fascia Blaster® to literally blast your fascia, by rubbing it light and brisk over the skin.
The light and brisk strokes breaks up the connective tissue that wraps around your muscles and organs allowing it to breathe and become more pliable, so blood and oxygen can get through.
Beyond understanding what Fascia is, I wanted to know how fascia works in the body. What would be the side effects as I am working on my fascia?
Why does fascia blasting cause bruising? What are the 4 types of fascia, the 4 types of cellulite, and the 7 freak out phases of fascia?
All of these answers and more, I was able to find on Ashley’s website, (the inventor of The Fascia Blaster®).
Tears rolled down my face as I realized I was literally in phase 6 of 7 of fascia freak out. Needless to say, that motivated me to watch a ton of her FREE TUTORIAL VIDEOS.
When I shared what I learned with my older sister Tamar, and asked her opinion, she was so convinced I needed to try it she said: “girl I’m about to order you and me one right now!” That’s my big sister for you, always looking out for me!
And that started my Fascia Blasting journey.
To my surprise, after following the migraine protocol, my migraines subsided substantially. Within 4 weeks, I was no longer getting migraines every day. I’m now down to about just one migraine a week.
Today when I feel a migraine coming on, I immediately begin to blast and it is usually is gone within an hour.
Two years ago a migraine would have meant I was out of commission for the entire day. Sometimes a few days. Not anymore. Life no longer stops for a migraine, instead I blast and keep going.
Benefits of Fascia Blasting
In my research I discovered that fascia blasting could help me with:
Increase Blood Circulation
Improve Blood Flow
Release Tight Muscles
Lessen Joint Pain
Break Up Cellulite (which is not fat, but fascia! And all the ladies say…AMEN!)
Since I experienced personal success with reducing my migraines, I started to use the Fascia Blaster® all over my entire body. What were my results?
Within a few months I was joint pain free and haven’t had any fibromyalgia pain since. That’s right, I’m going on 2 years now with no fibromyalgia symptoms or joint pain! PRAISE GOD!
My Rheumatologist decreased ALL my RA meds including my IV infusions. I went from my treatments lasting 4-6 hours down to 2 hours. (And on half the dosage!)
Last Thanksgiving, I was even able to host 20 people for the weekend without causing a flare up! Before the Fascia Blaster® I would’ve been out of commission for at least a week.
The Fascia Blaster® literally improved my quality of life, so that my daughter no longer ask the question; is this a good or bad day, mom?
We’re A Family That Blasts Together!
My family not only witnessed how much better I was feeling, they noticed the change that was taking place with my overall health. I was more active, and in less pain.
Andre was on board from the very beginning because with Parkinson Disease, sometimes he would wake up stiff and his tremors would be more prevalent.
However, he’s been able to loosen up by blasting in a hot shower first thing in the morning. Then spot blast as needed throughout the day.
Now that we both blast, it makes a great bedroom date night to blast each other in our room on the massage table!
Our son for years massaged my feet and calves every night after dinner. However, since using the Fascia Blaster®, those days are over. Of course that was good training for his future wife!
Bottom line, even our kid’s blast!
Our Favorite Fascia Blasters
Our Fascia Blasting Tools grew over time, so we can confidently speak to each one and explain which one we prefer best for different situations.
Face Blaster™
I prefer the Face Blaster™ when blasting my face and doing the upper body tension relief tutorial. The smaller claws relieve a lot of the pressure and pain.
Our daughter is extremely petite and she uses the Face Blaster™ for her entire body. It’s the perfect size for her.
I also have used the Face Blaster™ to blast away a lot of puffiness I had in my face from the long use of steroids, to improve the texture of my skin and to straighten my nose! Say What?
Blasting Tip: For the first 2 weeks I followed the upper body tension relief tutorial, twice a day. Remember my migraines were horrific so I was desperate for change.
After two weeks, I went down to once a day for a week, then every other day for a week. Now I blast the migraine protocol 2 times a week as a preventative. I will also do the migraine protocol on the onset if I feel one coming on.
Fascia Blaster Nugget™
I love The Fascia Blaster Nugget™ because I can use it on the pressure points above my eyebrows for relief. I also like to use the Fascia Blaster Nugget™ to hold pressure points at the base of my neck.
Fascia Blaster®
The Fascia Blaster® I love because the claws are bigger and feels great on my legs, back, and stomach. You can’t go wrong with this blaster.
If you have Fibromyalgia the thought of rubbing the Fascia Blaster® anywhere on your body has probably already terrified you.
When I first started blasting I couldn’t handle blasting for 10 seconds because it was too painful. Although there is a technique for people that are highly sensitive to pain, using the face blaster was much more tolerable for me.
Over time I was able to blast longer as I improved the health of my fascia. Now I can blast my legs up to 20-30 minutes with the original Fascia Blaster® without pain.
Master Blaster™
The Master Blaster™ is a new favorite of mine. It’s pretty much the Face Blaster™ but on a longer bar. I love to use this on my traps and arms, especially if they’re tense. I also love using it on my lower back.
Andre uses the Master Blaster™ solely to increase circulation and loosen his muscles. If you’re new to blasting I wouldn’t suggest starting with this blaster.
It’s better to start with the original Fascia Blaster® and get your body use to blasting, then gradually incorporate the Master Blaster™.
Mini 2™
The Mini 2™ is my favorite for those spots on my body that seem awkward when using the larger blasters.
This blaster is smaller but has the same claws as the original Fascia Blaster. I like to use it under my arms (some of us ladies refer to that area as bat wings.) I also like to use the Mini 2™ for the inside of my thighs.
How To Use Fascia Blaster® Tools
Is Fascia Blasting For You?
Not everything works for everybody. I am simply sharing how God led us to the Fascia Blaster® and what it has done for us.
With the approval of our doctors, and weekly assessments tracking our progress, we knew this was right for us.
If you are wondering if fascia blasting is right for you I encourage you to research more about how fascia (or connect tissue) works within the body, and speak with your doctor for permission first.
I would also suggest reading;The Cellulite Myth: It’s Not Fat, It’s Fascia
There are many natural remedies that God led us to that we incorporate to improve our health. This is just one area he lead me to, when I sought Him for wisdom.
The Bible tells us, if we ask God for wisdom, He will freely give it.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” ~ James 1:5 (NLT)
Well, in order for God’s wisdom to be effective in our life, we must act upon that wisdom. Because information, MINUS application is JUST information.
But information PLUS application, EQUALS transformation!
I don’t know about you, but I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. So after prayer, and researching how unhealthy fascia affected every part of my body, I decided to apply what I learned.
And what do you know, I started to see the transformation process!
In The End
Understanding how God created our bodies work, the way He intended them to function is essential for knowing how to maintain our temples.
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
I am more active today than I have been in over 7 years. The only way I am able to; raise a family, work during the day, manage the Homefront, co-blog, serve in my church, and maintain a healthy relationships with my husband, family and friends, while walking through this journey, is only because I combat it with chronic faith, AND take the necessary steps to care of my temple.
Whether you decide to fascia blast or not; I pray you are inspired to care of your temple, where the Holy Spirit resides.
References
A Must Read:The Cellulite Myth: It’s Not Fat, It’s Fascia
Just getting started and need something to follow? The Cellulite Myth Daily Companion Guide: Your 12-Week Journey to Transformation
To read FAQ’s about The Fascia Blaster® including satisfaction guarantee click here.
To watch the Upper Body Tension Relief tutorial I followed for my migraines click here.
You can view tutorials and purchase all the Fascia Blaster® products here.
Medical Disclaimer
Andre and Timberley Gray (Living Our Priorities.com) are NOT qualified to diagnosis, treat or give medical advice on this website. Our intention is only to share our personal health journey with chronic illness, and should not be considered as medical advice. Always consult with YOUR DOCTOR for medical care!
~ Timberley Gray
I love this post, Timberley! It is so encouraging to hear your testimony of faith and I can hear so much joy in your words. Thank you too for including so much scripture to encourage those who are seeking God for healing and for sharing how He has led you to grater health naturally through blasting!
Thank you Sonya! Yes I am very passionate about my faith and fascia blasting. I love sharing it with others and trust if anything it inspires people to care for their temple. Thank you for stopping by the blog to read. ~ Blessings
I have always seen your FB posts about blasting and didn’t really know what that was. Luckily I found this post today and it clears things up so much. Thanks for making it simple enough for people like me to understand.
I also like your stance on relying on God to help you to care for your body.
All the very best on this journey to health and wellness to you and yours.
Hi Joleisa! Oh yes, I get that alot. Friends and family like my post about fascia blasting but then when they see me they ask me to explain again what it is and why I do it. It has become a significant part of our healing journey and I knew it was time to share in detail what is and how I use the fascia blasting tools. Thank you for stopping by the blog to read. ~ Blessings
Wow! That’s interesting. I wonder if you ever considered the Keto diet to treat your symptoms (Fibro, Arthritis, migrains…even Parkinsons). Something to look into.
Hi Sharla, our diet is another big factor of our healing and the natural ways God has led us to care for our temple. We are actually on the plant-base diet,and have been for over a year now. It actually helped tremendously with reversing my kidney numbers, cholesterol and BMI. That’s another blog post that we will share in the near future. Thank you for stopping by to read. ~ Blessings
This was a great post and so informative! Thank you so much for sharing your health journey and I love that you are finding ways to overcome them. I will have to check out the fascia blasting for myself.
Hi Ayanna! Thanks for stopping by to read! Yes sister check it out, it’s very interesting how God knits our body with fascia.
I just came across your great article and wanted to say that your transformation is stunning! How awesome and congratulations on so much focus and dedication and hard work that takes to get where you are. You are a true inspiration and thank you for sharing your story.
I am an avid blaster and have started a website to help get the word out about the fasciablaster.
http://www.fasciablasterreviews.com
I have linked to your article in the FAQ section of the site for the question: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS of FASCIABLASTING?
You are the perfect example of all the benefits of the fasciablaster + hard hard work.
Congratulations again!
Thank you Dee for your kind and encouraging words. May God bless your work as you help spread the news about fascia blasting. ~ Blessings
I was relaxing on this long weekend and decided to check out articles of fascia blasting. I came across yours and wow, I can totally relate. I have been suffering with unexplained pelvic pain for a little over five years, I had MRI’s, ultrasounds, x rays, saw different doctors, no explaination. My wonderful GP tried so hard to find the cause. I tried so many things but one thing that was constant was prayer. And I believe that lead me to Ashely Black’s facsia blasters and eventually a wonderful, caring chiropractor. I am glad to say that today, May 23/22 I am feeling almost like myself again. The nerve pain in my lady bits that plagued me all the time is almost gone, my hypertonic pelvis is slowly improving, along with other pain that I experienced daily. My bladder is almost normal (I do have IC but flares are less) and even my bowels are almost regular again. I thank God all the time for leading me to AB and the wonderful lady (chiro) who actually listened and is helping me on my path to recovery. I sleep better, I am happy, I can do my job, my husband is happy to have his “old” wife back and best of all, I can enjoy my small, little grandchildren. Blasting is part of my life, I am about 9 months in, I love it and the rewards are amazing. I own the Mini 2, Master Blaster, Face Blaster, Paddle Blaster, little nugget, extenders and the OMG. Thank you for sharing your journey, it just reenforces what I believe and gives me motivation to continue.. God Bless you and your family.
WOW Paula thank you for sharing. Yes I can so relate to you too. It’s amazing how many natural options are available to us if we just pray and seek! So happy you are expereiencing pain relief. You’ve got a nice collection going sister!!!! God bless you and thank you for stopping by to read!