Six years ago, Shana Barry was in chronic pain and unable to enjoy the activities that she loved. “I was going everywhere to get relief and nothing worked,” Barry says. “My mom read an article about the MELT Method in the New York Times. I sought it out and started using it as my treatment.” With the help of MELT, she is now living pain-free.

New scientific research shows the missing link to pain-free living is a balanced nervous system and healthy well-hydrated connective tissues, Barry says. “That’s what the MELT Method does,” she explains. Using specialized equipment – balls and rollers – it works small localized regions of the body in a basic pattern to restore connective tissue to its natural fluid state.

Now a certified MELT instructor trained by MELT creator Sue Hitzman, Barry hopes to help others stop the pain and maintain a healthy active lifestyle. We talked to her to learn more about the method:

WHAT IS MELT?
The MELT Method is a gentle hands-off technique that reduces chronic pain, aches and stiffness. MELT helps you stay healthy, youthful and active for a lifetime. MELT is all you need to reduce the effects of accumulated tension and stress caused by daily living. This revolutionary approach is backed by the latest science and utilized by hundred of thousands of devoted MELTers!

New research has revealed that the missing link to pain-free living is a balanced nervous system and healthy connective tissue. These two components work together to provide your body structural support and optimal mind-body communication. New York City-based manual therapist and connective tissue specialist Sue Hitzmann has transformed groundbreaking neurofascial science and hands-on therapies into a one-of-a-kind treatment method called MELT. Using specialized techniques, a soft memory foam body roller and four different specialized balls.

WHY SHOULD I MELT?
MELT quickly addresses imbalances in your connective tissue and allows the body to release long-held tension and stress that leads to restriction of movement, decrease of range of motion, stiffness and pain. MELT is gentle…you don’t have to feel more pain to get out of pain. Changes in alignment, flexibility, energy, mood and performance occur early on in your practice. Best of all your body will feel great after you leave a session.  The results that MELT provides were previously only available through time consuming costly hands-on-therapies. Now you can be in charge of your own body, return to activities you used to enjoy and be in control of your health.

WHO IS MELT FOR?
MELT is for anyone who wants to slow down the aging process and live without aches and pains. For adults that want to stay ACTIVE, MOBILE and INDEPENDENT – MELT is a must! MELT is also for active younger adults and athletes who want to maintain a fit healthy body and achieve optimal performance without debilitating stress injuries and unnecessary wear and tear. If you are dealing with pre or post surgeries, injuries, limited mobility, auto-immune disorders, chronic inflammation, chronic pain, knee and hip replacements, balance issues, or just have been told its part of aging and you just need to deal with it – you can still benefit from MELT. It’s the ideal starting point for any exercise and wellness program.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MELT?
MELT creates results that you will see and feel in a short period of time. MELT is cumulative so over time MELT heightens your body’s ability to repair and heal itself, which can create remarkable and lasting changes. MELT rehydrates the connective tissue, rebalances the nervous system, and restores space to compressed joints.

MELT improves:
Flexibility, alignment and posture, exercise routines, sleep and digestion, and overall well-being

MELT reduces:
Wrinkles, aches and pains, cellulite, tension and stress, headaches and migranes, and the risk of injury

HOW DOES MELT WORK?
Everyday life creates stress and tension in your body. Physical stressors may range from sitting at a desk to work and recreational physical activities. Emotional, environmental and mental stressors also put strain on your body.

The repetitive stress of daily living literally gets stuck in the connective tissue, which surrounds every joint, muscle, nerve, bone and organ. “Stuck Stress” accumulates and causes dehydration in the connective tissue, which interferes with the nervous system’s ability to regulate itself and slows down the body’s natural healing process.

This creates a domino effect that begins with aches and stiffness and leads to common health issues such as neck and back pain, injuries, headaches, insomnia and digestives problems. Accelerated aging and chronic health problems can follow and leave us with limited options such as medication, surgery, and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. When the connective tissue is hydrated and free of stuck stress, your body functions more efficiently and natural healing occurs daily. No other approach directly treats these two systems – including nutrition, exercise and other modalities.

IS MELT LIKE MYOFASCIAL RELEASE, FOAM ROLLING, YOGA PILATES OR PHYSICAL THERAPY? 
Although MELT is complementary with other treatments, practices, and workouts, it is unlike any other technique because it directly addresses an entirely different system of the body. MELT is to the neurofascial system (nervous and connective tissue system) what exercise, strength building, and rehabilitation are to the musculoskeletal system.

DO I NEED TO PURCHASE SPECIAL PRODUCTS?
No. All of the MELT equipment needed for the sessions is provided. Clients who want to purchase the balls or roller to incorporate MELT at home can do so at a discounted rate.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I MELT?
Every “BODY” has different history and needs. I often suggest you start out by attending a session once a week in the beginning of your practice. This gets some MELT in your system and you not only feel it, but I can assess you from there. MELT is cumulative in the body which you will experience as you continue to MELT. Together we’ll figure out how long you should MELT at each time, what approach you should take, what time of day works best for your body and activity level. Sometimes is best to MELT before certain activities or training to improve muscle performance and joint alignment other times you might benefit more after to erase joint compression and stiffness and enhance muscle recovery. People who MELT often increase their activity level because their body feels good, has more energy and is free of tension, aches and pain.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?
MELT is offered through private instruction and group classes in both Hailey and Ketchum. Contact Shana at meltwithshana@gmail.com for more info or a current schedule of times and locations.

MELT AT ZENERGY!
Join Shana for a 4-week MELT clinic – Tuesdays, 10:45-11:45am, starting June 6! Cost is $60 for all 4 weeks (or $20 for a drop-in class) for members; $80 for 4 weeks (or $25 for a drop-in class) for non-members. To sign up, click here or contact Tim at thanna@zenergysv.com.