Get the most from water   As the rain falls on Solano County it soaks into every crevice enriching the earth and bringing forth life. Unfortunately, the human is a little more complicated than soil. Fascial tissue can go for decades in a dehydrated state regardless of water intake if it is in a contracted condition. The kidneys work in cycles and when not needed the water is simply sent to the bladder for discharge. To learn how to make water work for you and more, read on. First of all, what is fascia anyway? In the connective tissue group of cells high in collagen and elastin fibers, it is the package around every fiber of muscle and then the muscle itself and then that group of muscles. One of its qualities is its slipperiness which allows for smooth action during movement. That clear window of material under the chicken breast is one type of fascia. It is slippery because it is wet and as such it is a freeway for the movement of fluids. When you sprain an ankle most of the fluid of the swelling is from and sent along the fascial system.  It also has tremendous structural responsibilities as it covers the whole body in a network of webbing. Its patterns can make a case for an ankle being connected to a headache at the base of the skull.   Injury, pain and even emotional armoring can cause fascia to contract and thicken which not only creates restrictions but causes it to dry out. Until it is ready to relax (as in when a Bowen move signals it that the emergency is over) it will resist water like a ducks back.  This has happened – A client finishing a Bowen session at 8 pm then drinks 3 glasses of water before retiring and doesn’t need to make a trip to the bathroom that night because the water was absorbed into the tissues where needed. One of the primary concerns after a session is that the client drinks lots of water. After a basic Bowen session the body will initiate a liver and kidney detoxification and water is needed as a carrier and cleanser. For those who always ask what liquids they can substitute for water. Which would you rather flush your liver with coffee or diet Pepsi? Although not a flashy contender in the water wars, distilled water is the best sponge in the detox category. Here’s why, water is 2 H’s and an O’s, anything else including minerals fill up the potential chemical bonds that are available to grab the bad guys. Although a great choice for a week or so it does not provide the essential minerals that are needed in the long run. How much water? Just like stretching, it’s not about the numbers it’s about listening to your body. So pick a number of ounces or glasses as a way to get you in the habit, (a recent baseline guide suggests divide your body weight in half and that number equals the number of oz. for the day. I.e. 150 lbs x .5 = 75 oz.)  and then start sensing thirst and flavor. If water tastes flat wait about 15 minutes and try again.  The kidneys will tell you when they are cycling and need water because it will taste good again. Therefore the answer to the question of how much to drink is - until it stops tasting good.  If you are not a regular water drinker at first the taste may seem off until your palate gets used to it, particularly if you are accustomed to sweetened drinks. The thirst reflex is also often confused with the desire to eat. Separate the two and you may even loss some unwanted weight.  For some reason aging reduces thirst but not the need to drink so just stick with it until you develop a taste for it again. Once you are rehydrated you will begin getting thirsty more often.  Bowenwork and water work together to make you the best that you can be.   Return to Articles