Isabelle Brough Soft Tissue Therapy

01/05/2026

30/04/2026

Is « Toe Clawing » ruining your balance? 👣

If your toes « grip » the floor for dear life, you are actually shutting down your foot’s stability. When we claw, we reduce our surface area and create unnecessary tension.

The Drill:
1. Ball of the foot on a tennis ball.
2. Wrap the forefoot without « scrunching, » keeping the toes long.
3. Look for those knuckles!

This is Part 1 in my « Ground Up » series. 👣 🎾

In Part 2, I’ll show you how to maintain this « unclawed » position during a single-leg stand.

Follow to prime your foundations and check the link in my bio for my book, Mindful Feet, and my full Foot & Ankle course on Etsy! 📚

29/04/2026

Understanding Scapular Winging

If your shoulder blade pops out during movement, you might be lacking stability in the serratus anterior. This is the muscle responsible for holding your scapula flat against your ribcage.

To fix this, it is all about the stack.

Shoulder stability does not start at the joint; it starts with your alignment #. Use these cues to get the most out of your wall slides:

• Tuck the pelvis and ribcage: This creates a stable base for the shoulders to move from.

• Keep the neck long: This prevents the upper traps from taking over the movement.

• Maintain active pressure: Keep your arms pressed into the door throughout the entire slide to engage the correct muscles.

Retraining a winging scapula takes consistency. However, if your range of motion feels blocked by persistent tightness, soft tissue therapy can help clear those restrictions. ✨

Book a session via the link in my bio to get things moving properly again.

28/04/2026

Unlock Your Shoulders 🔓💆‍♀️✨

Ever feel like your shoulders are glued to your ears?
Soft tissue therapy is the ultimate “reset” to help you feel more comfortable and mobile in your own body.

But the real magic happens when you pair that treatment with mindful movement.

This Scapular Clock routine is the perfect way to maintain that post-session “lightness” and keep your joints moving smoothly until your next visit.
Why This Combination Works:

• The Therapy: modulates the nervous system, reduces perceived stiffness, and increases blood flow to tired tissues.

• The Movement: teaches your brain how to use that new range of motion so the tension does not immediately return.

Invest in your body today and notice the difference in how you move and feel tomorrow.







What is the main area where you tend to hold the most physical tension?

26/04/2026

Are you a toe scruncher? 👣

As a soft tissue therapist and the author of Mindful Feet, I often feel the “claw” long before I even look at your feet.

I feel it in your chronically tight calves and hamstrings, and that persistent lower back tension.

Watch the difference:

Video 1: The “Clean” flexion. A controlled, subtle lift of the arch. This is the foundation of a functional body.

Video 2: The “Claw”. This is more than a foot habit. It is a compensation. When you scrunch, you are gripping for stability, which keeps your entire posterior chain in a state of constant, defensive tension.

How soft tissue therapy helps you “unclaw”?

If your intrinsic muscles are stuck in a shortened state, no amount of coaching will make this movement feel easy. In clinic, we work to:
• Release the grip: Manual work on the flexor muscles and the sole of the foot creates the physical space for your toes to lie flat.
• Decompress the midfoot: Restoring movement to the small bones of the foot tells your brain it is safe to stop gripping.
• Calm the calves: Releasing the posterior chain reduces the tugging on your feet, allowing for a cleaner connection to the ground.

Why should you care?
Manual therapy is the reset button, but the “short foot” is the permanent fix.

Master this to unlock:
• Glutes that finally fire and take the load off your back
• Calves and hamstrings that can actually relax and lengthen
• Tissue health that lasts between our sessions

Stop gripping for dear life. Build a foundation that supports your movement instead of fighting it.

Isabelle | The Movement Primer

26/04/2026

Nature is the ultimate therapist.

🌿 While soft tissue therapy tends to the physical, the earth offers a deeper kind of restoration. ✋

💦 The land holds you steady, the running water washes the mind clear and carries your worries away. 🦶🏼

☀️ The sun warms the skin and bones, and the trees offer the very breath you need to begin again. 🌳

| Isabelle Brough Soft Tissue Therapy

23/04/2026

The best thing for posture isn’t a special chair or a “perfect” sitting position. It’s understanding your body’s movement needs.

This has been a favourite for my clients and me this week. Allowing the shoulder blades to glide along the rib cage to find that V shape is the perfect way to undo tension from a long day of massage work. 🥰

Here are five hashtags for your post, including one focused on that “reset” feel:

23/04/2026

A green space offers a sanctuary for my weary body and frazzled mind.
💚
Spending time in nature and feeling connected to the land, trees, sun, wind, blossom and other living beings through the five senses is not a luxury but a physiological need.
💚
It guides me towards a slower pace of life and kinder feelings towards myself and others.
💚
What is the role of green space in your life?
💚

22/04/2026

The Movement Primer: More Than Just a Rest Stop ⚡️🌿

Why “The Movement Primer”? Because a session here is a launchpad, not just a place to switch off.

Look at that view in Slide 1.
It is a reminder that what we do on the table is all about preparing you for what happens out there.

Whether you are gearing up for a triathlon, a tennis match, or simply want to feel more comfortable during a long week at your desk, in the clinic or outdoors, we work together to ensure your body is ready for whatever comes next.

It is a balance of two worlds:

🛋️ The Space (Slide 2): From the consultation desk to the treatment table, this is where we map out your movement. We use the whole room - the table, the floor, and the doorway - to check your form and recalibrate.

📖 The Science (Slide 3): We use anatomical insight to understand your discomfort. We do not just treat symptoms; we look for the “why” so you leave with a deeper understanding of your own body.

🧘 The Art (Slide 4): We do this in a space designed for calm.
By lowering the daily noise, you can finally tune in to what your body is trying to tell you.

The goal? Preparation. We mobilise what is stiff and stabilise what is too mobile, leaving you balanced and ready for action.

Your body is meant to move. Let’s prime it. 😁

Click the link in the bio to book. ♥️

22/04/2026

👣 Our feet are packed with sensory receptors that don’t get to do their job inside shoes.

🌿 Taking a moment for some “natural vitamin G” (grounding) helps prime the body for better movement and helps the brain map out where we are in space.

💡 A Quick Movement Tip: If you’re feeling tight in your lower back or calves, try five minutes of barefoot grounding. Changing the sensory input to your feet can actually shift how the rest of your kinetic chain responds.

20/04/2026

Massive well done to my client for conquering the Stratford Triathlon yesterday.

It was a pleasure helping them prepare for the start line with some pre race bodywork.

That medal is very well deserved. 🥇 👏

12/04/2026

Squat challenge in the sunshine. ☀️

Walk, swim, walk. A good movement filled day. 😁