Who Created Myofascial Release?
After suffering a back injury, John F. Barnes began a personal search for lasting pain relief when surgery and traditional physical therapy failed to help. Through his own exploration, he noticed that when he applied deep, gentle pressure to his body and allowed it to be sustained over time, the tissue began to soften, unwind, and change. His pain decreased in a lasting way.
What started as personal discovery grew into what is now known as the John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release Approach®, a method he went on to teach to over 100,000 therapists worldwide, fundamentally changing the landscape of hands-on healing.
Today, MFR is recognized as one of the most effective training approaches for physical therapists and massage therapists worldwide. Current research in fascia, poly-vagal theory and somatic therapy all validate and support John’s teachings on MFR.
As a teacher & mentor, he taught the importance of listening, of feeling rather than forcing, and to trust what unfolds when we create safety in the body. He gave us language and permission to honor the mind-body connection that is so often ignored.
“Intuition is the highest form of intelligence.” - John F. Barnes
John was not just a teacher; he was a pioneer.
Learning from him was one of the most profound experiences of my life, both professionally and personally. Myofascial Release is not simply a technique for me; it has been a doorway into a deeper inner journey of healing, awareness, and trust in the body’s wisdom.
Beyond his brilliance, John was deeply human. He was witty, generous, and full of stories. He loved people, loved the work, and believed fiercely in our innate wisdom, long before it was fashionable to do so.
John had a very special and loving energy and a very strong presence. When he walked in the room, it felt like the atmospheric pressure changed, kind of like when your ears pop when you’re driving through a mountain range.
He was an incredible healer and had a powerful presence. I was hoping to see him one last time when I was in Sedona this past fall, but he unfortunately was in the hospital.
John’s legacy will live on in all of the practitioners that he taught to listen instead of fix, to trust instead of force, and to create space for true healing to unfold.
I am endlessly grateful to have known him and that through his training, he has and will continue to relieve pain, release emotional suffering and align countless bodies and lives.
I wanted to share a few of my favorite quotes from John that continue to echo through my healing work every single day:
“Myofascial Release is not alternative therapy—it is authentic therapy.”
“If you have a body… you have fascial restrictions.”
“Unwinding happens in an environment of trust.”
