It’s no surprise, we were built to move; our bodies house and move our consciousness around and if we have any interest in living a full life, we need to be ever aware and taking care of this miraculous form we’ve been given.
It’s no surprise, we were built to move; our bodies house and move our consciousness around and if we have any interest in living a full life, we need to be ever aware and taking care of this miraculous form we’ve been given.Master Myoskeletal Therapist, Matthew Smith, jumps into this conversation with the idea that modern conveniences make things so easy for us that we no longer have to move much. It’s intensified in businesses that focus on efficiency and minimization or elimination of what’s considered extraneous movement. So, while we might be creating tools, systems, and processes that allow us to be more efficient and productive, we should be aware it’s taking a toll on our bodies that we will pay for over time.
Matthew goes on to explain that just 10 minutes of intentional movement and exercise a day can be as effective as an hour-long workout. The key is ensuring your movements and form are correct and that you’re not creating undesirable alignment and movement patterns in your body that will cause pain and other issues over time. “You can’t build fitness on faulty movement patterns,” he explains to Laura.
As a Myoskeletal Therapist, Matthew works with muscle, fascia (connective tissue), and bone in an effort to help his clients achieve appropriate body alignment, posture, and long-term flexibility for optimal health.
Listen in as Matthew shares his learning journey, highlighting the many experts he’s studied with along the way, and why he’s on a mission to help people live fuller lives with strength and flexibility.
If you’re interested in learning more about what a Myoskeletal Therapist is and does, check out these links:
Matthew’s Bio
Licensed and practicing for 16 years, Matthew Smith is a well-known massage therapist with excellent regional references. He is a skilled practitioner of Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, and Energy modalities, and is certified in CranioSacral therapy. Matthew also holds a Master Therapist diploma in Dalton’s Myoskeletal Alignment Technique (MAT), and is passionate about providing deep, specific work that focuses on recognizing and correcting chronic pain and postural problems and improving athletic performance. The opioid epidemic has brought unique challenges to our communities, including Matthew’s practice. He welcomes all individuals, with all backgrounds and needs.
Matthew began studying MAT in 2011 with the “big binder” of techniques and dense readings on the guiding principles of manual therapy. Each module since has become more refined, more fun, and more easily applied. Erik Dalton has done the field of massage therapy an enormous service by distilling osteopathic assessment and treatment into a cohesive set of techniques and making them available to massage therapists—the practitioners who still use touch as the primary method of interaction with their patients. The depth of knowledge that MAT training provides is valuable not only for its effective hands-on techniques, but also for its attention to principles of anatomical assessment, movement retraining, and manual application.
Away from manual therapy, Matthew enjoys metal sculpture, restoring and riding vintage Vespas, travel, cooking, exercise, and the outdoors.
