More Than Muscle

Hi Reader,

Muscle Matters…But So Does Fascia

There are moments in life that change the way you see health forever.

For the last year, I had the honor and privilege of working with someone who spent his entire life dedicated to creating and teaching art. His name was Jay Milder, and he peacefully passed away yesterday morning, May 27th, around 5:30AM. He was 92 years old.

Jay was a father, husband, brother, artist, teacher, and friend who was deeply loved.

I share his story not only because his life deserves to be acknowledged, but because working with him profoundly reinforced something I speak about often:

Movement is not just about fitness.
It is about preserving our humanity.

After suffering multiple strokes, Jay lost a great deal of sensory motor control. Over time, severe muscle loss — known as sarcopenia — dramatically changed his ability to move independently.

Every visit focused on very simple movement patterns:
standing up…
sitting down…
shifting position…
trying to reconnect the body to movement again. I also tried to get him to hold crayons so he could draw a circle or write his name. Watching the hands that once created such beautiful art struggle to do either was something I will never forget.

Sometimes he understood my instructions. Other times, because of dementia, the connection simply wasn’t there.

Watching this unfold firsthand was heartbreaking.

It’s one thing to hear about muscle loss in theory.
It’s another thing entirely to witness how quickly the body declines when movement disappears.

Many times I would arrive and Jay was still in bed. Even at around 75 pounds, helping maneuver him safely into a wheelchair required assistance because his body no longer had the strength, coordination, or resilience to support itself.

That experience strengthened my belief more than ever:

Muscle is one of the greatest protectors of independence and longevity.

But there’s another piece of this conversation that almost nobody talks about…

Fascia.

The Missing Piece of Healthy Aging

Most people think of the body as individual muscles attached to bones.

But fascia is the connective tissue web that holds everything together.

It surrounds every muscle, organ, nerve, blood vessel, and joint in your body. Imagine a three-dimensional spiderweb woven through your entire system — providing support, communication, tension, elasticity, and structural integrity.

Healthy fascia helps your body move fluidly and efficiently.

Unhealthy fascia becomes stiff, dehydrated, restricted, and less resilient.

And one of the biggest reasons fascia deteriorates?

Lack of movement.

This is why sedentary living doesn’t just weaken muscles.
It changes the quality of the connective tissue throughout the entire body.

People begin feeling:

• stiff getting out of bed
• tight when reaching overhead
• achy after sitting too long
• unstable during movement
• less coordinated and less mobile overall
• ​

Many assume this is simply “aging.”

But often, it’s the result of tissues that have stopped receiving the variety of movement they desperately need.

Fascia Thrives on Variety

Unlike muscle, fascia responds especially well to diverse movement patterns.

Walking alone is wonderful — but fascia also benefits from:

• rotation
• reaching
• twisting
• balance work
• mobility exercises
• stretching
• breathwork
• strength training
• getting up and down off the floor
• playful, multidirectional movement

Fascia also responds to hydration, sleep, stress levels, and inflammation.

Chronic stress can literally increase tension patterns throughout the body.

This is why movement practices like yoga, mobility work, foam rolling, breath-work, cranial sacral therapy, massage, acupuncture and even gentle stretching can feel so therapeutic to the nervous system.

You are not just “stretching muscles.”

You are nourishing the connective web of your body.

The Goal Is Not Perfection. It’s Preservation

One of the greatest lessons Jay unknowingly gave me was this:

Never underestimate the privilege of being able to move independently.

To stand up on your own.
To walk across a room.
To lift groceries.
To reach overhead.
To get down on the floor and back up again.
To carry yourself through life with strength and confidence.

These things are easy to take for granted until they begin slipping away.

Taking care of your muscles matters.
Taking care of your fascia matters too.

Because healthy aging is not simply about adding years to life.

It’s about preserving the quality of those years.

Strong.
Capable.
Mobile.
Resilient.
Connected.

That is the real goal.

Your future self is built by the movements you practice today.

Jay devoted his life to art, teaching, and creative expression. If you’d like to explore more of his extraordinary artwork and legacy, you can view his collection HERE. ​

Many blessings to you for abundant health, happiness and wellbeing ~

Strong and Beautiful in Midlife!

Sharon

PS: This week, I encourage you to do something your fascia will thank you for:
Take a walk, stretch, hang from a bar, practice mobility, dance in your kitchen, get on the floor with your kids or grandkids, breathe deeply, or simply move your body in ways that remind it that it’s alive.

Kuhle Body is a project of Vidya Ministerium, a faith based, private membership association. Services are available to members only. Membership is free and we are always accepting new members. You can opt out at any time. For more information, please read our PMA Declaration.​