Fascial Connections is an Ottawa-based Myofascial Release practice dedicated to individualized, whole-body care, with a particular focus on Women’s Health, Chronic Pain and Complex Conditions.
Founded by Registered Massage Therapist Tara Hagan-Fields, Fascial Connections reflects 20 years of clinical experience, continued learning and a deep curiosity about how the body adapts, compensates and responds to the experiences of our lives.
Our approach is rooted in the John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach™, while also drawing from structural integration, visceral manipulation, craniosacral therapy and broader fascial principles.
Rather than focusing solely on where symptoms appear, we explore patterns of restriction and adaptation throughout the body, recognizing that physical, emotional and mental experiences can all influence how we feel and move.
We believe in giving the body time and space to change—without force.
Many people come to Fascial Connections after exploring other approaches without finding the changes they had hoped for. We recognize that when someone has been living with persistent pain or discomfort, they may be looking for more than temporary symptom relief. They may be looking for a different way to understand and experience their body.
How Fascial Connections Began
Fascial Connections was founded in 2016, ten years into Tara’s career as a Registered Massage Therapist.
What began as a vision for thoughtful, whole-person care grew into a multidisciplinary clinic offering Registered Massage Therapy, Physiotherapy and Manual Osteopathy, connected by a shared interest in Myofascial Release.
Over the next decade, Fascial Connections became home to a wonderful group of practitioners, each contributing their own knowledge, experience and perspective.
Together, they supported countless individuals through different stages of health, recovery and personal change.
That chapter of Fascial Connections remains an important part of our story, and we are grateful for the practitioners and patients who helped shape it.
A New Chapter. A Renewed Focus.
In 2026, after ten years of leading a multidisciplinary clinic, Tara made the intentional decision to reshape Fascial Connections into a smaller, more focused practice.
This evolution was about more than a change in location or clinic structure.
It was about creating a sustainable practice that allows Tara to continue offering the individualized Myofascial Release care she loves, while creating space for learning, exploration and new ways of supporting others.
As demand for one-to-one care has grown, so has Tara’s desire to share more of what she has learned over the years.
Through Myofascial Release Series: Less Fixing. More Listening., existing patients now have opportunities to explore self-treatment, gentle movement and body awareness in small-group educational sessions.
The intention is not for patients to become dependent on treatment, but to develop the curiosity, confidence and tools to participate more fully in their own care.
Fascial Connections is also expanding its vision beyond human care.
With ongoing education in Canine and Equine Myofascial Release, and Catherine’s developing work in canine massage and bodywork, we’re preparing to welcome four-legged companions into the practice.
Different bodies. The same curiosity. The same respect for individuality.
The space has changed. The practice has evolved. But the heart of Fascial Connections remains the same.
Tara’s Experience with Myofascial Release
For Tara, Myofascial Release has always been about more than learning a technique. It has been an ongoing exploration of what we can feel, observe and understand when we become curious about the body as a connected system.
As an Expert-Level John F. Barnes Myofascial Release practitioner, Tara continues to build upon that foundation through advanced education, clinical experience and her work assisting in the training of other therapists.
Tara shares:
“Since beginning my journey with John F. Barnes Myofascial Release, I have learned so much—and felt so much.
I’ve become more open to allowing, accepting and listening to what the body may be quietly communicating.
Over the years, my understanding of the fascial system has continued to evolve. I’ve learned to look beyond the location of symptoms and explore the patterns and adaptations that connect different areas of the body.
Can restrictions through the diaphragm and pelvis influence shoulder mechanics? They may.
Can experiences from years ago continue to influence how the body responds today? They can.
Our bodies are continually adapting to the experiences of our lives.
For me, Myofascial Release is about becoming curious about those patterns, giving the body time and space to respond, and supporting change without force.”
The Heart of Fascial Connections
Every body tells a different story.
Whether we’re working with someone experiencing persistent pain, helping a patient develop greater awareness through self-treatment, or exploring how this work may support our canine companions, the philosophy remains the same.
We listen beyond the pain.
We remain curious.
And we recognize that meaningful change doesn’t always come from doing more or pushing harder.
Sometimes, it begins when we give the body the time and space to be heard.