IMT is a hands-on, tissue specific, structural approach with roots in traditional European osteopathy, indirect myofascial release and cranio-sacral therapy. The techniques are largely indirect, meaning that the specific tissue is taken in the direction of ease, creating fulcrums and letting the tissue unwind and reset to its original pre trauma state. The approach is the opposite of i.e traditional chiropractic, where the tissue (joints) is manipulated and forced back into place. Also structure dictates function, meaning treating function alone without restoring the structural tissue to normal will in most cases have a limited outcome i.e traditional exercise based physical therapy v.s IMT.

IMT is practiced from a Systems Theory approach. The body is a closed mechanical system, which by definition means it is self-regulatory and self-healing. IMT is profoundly useful because we work on one involved system at a time, with techniques that are specific to the tissue being treated. Systems are for example the central nervous system (sympathetic/parasympathetic, spinal cord, brainstem, cranial nerves, pituitary gland etc etc), arterial system, gastro-intestinal system, uro-genital system, musculo-sceletal system and more.

Since working with the body instead of against it, the body is much less likely to put up a defense, such as muscle guarding. The techniques are very tissue specific and may be directed at joints, discs, nerves, bone bruises, muscles, fascia, organs, arteries, veins and more. The goal is to repair and reset the tissue to pre trauma conditions. That means fixing the underlying cause of dysfunction, not just managing the symptoms.