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My name is Ephraim David Roman but
I answer to Frank. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, grew
up in Miami, Florida then eventually migrated out west to
Los Angeles, California. I’ve lived here in the Los Feliz
area of L.A. for two decades.
 I
earned my B. A. degree in Communications with an emphasis
in Public Speaking and a minor in Creative Writing from Southern
College in Tennessee now, Southern University.
I received my Level I Certification in Myofascial
Release Techniques from the Myofascial Release Seminars sponsored
by John F. Barnes, PT (www.myofascialrelease.com) and approved
by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage
and Bodywork, NCBTMB. I am also completing my Licensing in
Massage Therapy from the Los Angeles Vocational Institute
which is accredited by the American Massage Therapy Association
and the NCBTMB.
I acquired my certification in Massage Therapy in order to
better understand the techniques used in massage work as well
as to better my personal body mechanics used for my own clients'
treatments. I also acquired my certification in Myofascial
Release from John Barns, PT (physical therapist, author, lecturer)
in order to incorporate these new techniques of Myofascial
Release into the work I do with Tension Therapy the Ephraim
Method.
Please feel free to read through this website if you'd like
some more information about the release of Myofascial Tension.
I've got some links to other sites in the FAQ page that give
independent insight into the Myofascial System. Determine
for yourself if this kind of non-invasive body stretch therapy
is for you.
I believe thought is the ‘force’ or 'Chi' that causes energy
to move. This force of energy has an affect that is expressed
by the body as e-motion (energy in motion). An emotion is
simply a physical reaction to energy that’s been put into
motion by thought. When I react physically to my own thoughts
or to the ideas of others this thought-energy is expressed
through my emotions. I then physicalize my reaction to that
energy (express my emotion, emote) or store it in my Myofascial
System for later expression.
Since the sophisticated Myofascial system
records physical and emotional memory, even unto the cellular
level, I feel it is important to consider the client’s emotional
state of mind and determine how that relates to the state
of their Myofascial System. Physical as well as emotional
stress can accumulate in the body’s Myofascial System and
then manifest as chronic pain.
I also believe that the posture a person
assumes in order to induce sleep is directly related to the
perpetual accumulation of stress in the Myofascial System.
Please read the page about Sleep and
the Myofascial System.
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My
awareness to touch therapy started in Los Angeles in the
late nineties. I had become accustomed to managing my life's
affairs with a stiff neck and sore shoulder from waiter’s
stress. Having been treated with massage therapy and deep
tissue, I thought the only way to relieve my chronic pain
was to apply a strong pressure on my sore muscles. I attempted
to apply this force on my muscles every time they were sore,
which was often.
However, one sore
shoulder-day in particular, putting great pressure on my
muscles to make them relax, proved to be futile. It was
during that evening’s meditation, that I somehow tuned into
a kind of a meditative frequency and heard some kind of
cosmic voice.
Here's how it happened that night. While meditating,
I continued to apply heavypressure to my stiff shoulder.
As I was doing this, I heard a voice say inside my head
say: ”Not so hard.” I was confused because I didn’t understand
how I was hearing this idea/voice. Because I was so concentrated
on hearing that voice again, I hadn't realized how I had
unconsciously lightened my grip.
As I lightened the pressure on
my shoulder, I felt an immediate surge of energy in my neck
and I felt the muscular tension release. The shoulder dropped
as a consequence of the neck’s muscular release. Needless
to say, I was quite surprised by what I felt was an involuntary
physical reaction. My second try at achieving the same result
took longer for me. But, once I lightened the pressure,
I did feel that unusual release again. It was exciting.
At first, I only practiced this new
“massage” on myself. I would experiment with all kinds of
hand placements on my body. My intent was to achieve that
same muscular release but in different parts of my body.
I began registering the noticeable results I was having
with my own body from this new release technique. But, regardless
of these advancements in the decompression of my own body’s
tension, I wanted outside verification. I had to be sure
this musculo-skeletal movement in my body wasn’t just my
own mental dictates fooling me into believing my muscles
and bones were realigning.
I tried out my new technique on some of
my highly tense over worked friends. They expressed enthusiasm
at how quickly they could feel their tight muscles loosen.
I continued refining this new method of light touch therapy.
Later, I became certified in Quantum Touch TM to improve
the focus of my healing energy through breath control and
to learn how to lighten my touch. I researched the theories
of Quantum Touch and studied the techniques here in Los
Angeles.
This past Summer I also completed a Level 1 Certification
Course in Myofascial Release with John F. Barnes, PT. (www.myofascialrelease.com)
This gentleman is like the 'Grand-Pobah' of this burgeoning
advanced body therapy with a wealth of insight and perspective
on the human anatomy and pain. I have registered for two
more seminars in advanced Myofascial Release techniques
and theories. This fall, I'll also be completing my Certification
and Los Angeles City Licensing requirements in Massage Therapy.
Practicing on family and friends has now morphed into working
on paying clients. There was a twofold consensus amongst
my clients. Not one of them had ever had this kind of bodywork
done on them but all of them were eager to experience Tension
Therapy the Ephraim Method again.
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