Fascia: What It Is and Why It Matters is the "must-have" book for everyone wanting to learn more about fascia as a tissue and a system. This second edition maintains the high standard of the first book while expanding on everything that made it so popular. By focusing first on the fundamentals of fascia as a tissue that surrounds, supports, and permeates all the muscle, bones, nerves, and organs, Lesondak takes the reader on a journey throughout their entire body from the perspective of the fascial system, making many stops along the way to ensure the reader understands what's important and why it matters to the body. From the new rules of biomechanics, biotensegrity, cellular processes, musculoskeletal issues, proprioception, neuroscience and cognition, somatic dysfunction, and restoration - Lesondak deftly weaves all these concepts together with a deep appreciation for the history of science, fine storytelling sensibilities, and a sense of humor as well as a sense of wonder. David's book is an enthralling clarification of all things fascia related. He distills the anatomical history, evidence and modern day practices of this lesser-known body part and weaves all threads together with a rock and roll sensibility. It's must read non-fiction for movement educators, clinicians, manual therapists and anatomy geeks. -- Jill Miller, author of The Roll Model, and Body by Breath I love the way David tells his story by first relating the facts and theories we all need for such a complex subject as fascia. Yet he covers extensive but essential material in a way that leaves you refreshingly in a state of wonderment instead of exhaustion. From there he departs from other authors by weaving in his own perspectives and unique experiences with fascia: as an experienced clinician; as a videographer of anything fascia; and as a genuinely thoughtful, feeling person who cares deeply about what he writes. I thoroughly enjoyed it and so will you. -- Chris Frederick Fascia: What Is and Why It Matters is a remarkably lucid text for such a multifaceted topic. Once again, David Lesondak demonstrates his extraordinary ability to distill complex science and clinical practice into remarkably compelling and lucid prose. His creative illustrations lure you in to keep on exploring, page after page. As an interested scientist and diagnostic pathologist, reading this book stretches my imagination and gives meaningful contexts for everything I see under my microscopic. What a delight! -- Neil Theise, MD, Professor of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine An essential primer for professionals, this book gives a clear and easy to understand explanation of what the fascia is and the role it plays in the body David Lesondak, BCSI, ATSI, FST, FFT, VMT is an Allied Health Member in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He serves as the Senior Structural Integrator and Fascia Specialist at UPMC's Center for Integrative Medicine. He is a Board Certified Structural Integrator, Frederick Stretch Therapist Level 2, Fascial Fitness Trainer, and Visceral Manipulation via the Barral Institute. He hosts the podcast, BodyTalk with David Lesondak. David is the author of the international best seller Fascia: What it is and Why it Matters. His follow up book, Fascia, Function, and Medical Applications was nominated for a 2021 British Medical Association award. He has also contributed chapters to the 2nd Edition of Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body, and the 2nd edition of Metabolic Therapies In Orthopedics. He has also contributed to the 4th edition of Joe Muscolino's Kinesiology. David sits on the Executive Committee of The International Consortium on Manual Therapies. A passionate and engaging speaker of all things fascia, David has been an invited speaker and workshop facilitator to such diverse groups as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Workshop on Myofascial Pain, the Academic Consortium of Integrative Medicine, the Performance, Health, and Wellness Staff for the LA Clippers , both the British and Australian Fascia Symposiums, the World Fascia Congress, the Anatomy Trains Master Class Series, the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and many others. In previous incarnations he worked in both television, radio, and the funeral arts. He maintains an avid interest in music and songwriting.