by Jo Rayl, LMT – Vital Living Integrative WellSpa
Ever notice how your shoulders creep up toward your ears when you’re overwhelmed? Or how your jaw clenches without you realizing it?
That’s your body holding stress—and it doesn’t let go easily.
We carry tension in more places than we realize—not just emotionally, but physically. Stress settles into the muscles, pulls at our posture, and even affects how we breathe. It’s not just “in your head.” It’s in your neck, your back, your hips—wherever your body decided to brace for impact and never got the message that it was safe to let go.
Let’s break down why that happens—and how massage therapy helps reset the system.
Why Muscles Hold Stress
The body is built to protect us. When we feel threatened—whether it’s a real emergency or just the relentless pressure of daily life—the nervous system shifts into survival mode (the sympathetic response: the classic “fight, flight, or freeze”). This floods the body with adrenaline and cortisol, preparing us to react.
Heart rate increases, breathing becomes shallow, and muscles tense as blood flow shifts away from digestion and healing toward survival.
In a real emergency, this response helps us act fast. But modern stressors don’t resolve in a single burst of energy. They linger. And so does the tension.
The problem? Our stress rarely ends. The demands don’t stop. The messages, the bills, the expectations—they keep coming. And our bodies stay braced long after the trigger is gone. Over time, those protective contractions become the norm. Fascia—the connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscle—begins to stiffen. We adapt to living tense.
Where We Carry It
Everyone holds stress differently, but some areas are almost universal hot spots:
- Neck and shoulders – Hours at a desk, holding back tears, internalized pressure. This all translates into chronic contraction and upper-body pain.
- Low back – Financial fears, emotional instability, carrying the weight of others—physically or emotionally—often lands here.
- Jaw – Unspoken words, people pleasing, perfectionism. We clench through discomfort or frustration, leading to TMJ dysfunction and headaches.
- Chest – Anxiety and shallow breathing tighten the muscles of respiration, limiting oxygen exchange and reinforcing tension.
- Hips and glutes – The pelvic region is often home to unprocessed emotion, particularly fear and anger. It’s especially reactive in those who’ve felt unsafe or overextended themselves.
This kind of tension doesn’t resolve on its own. It needs an exit strategy.
How Massage Helps Let It Go
Massage therapy does more than feel good—it teaches your body how to feel safe again.
Here’s how:
- It calms the nervous system.
Massage shifts the body out of sympathetic (fight-or-flight) mode and activates the parasympathetic system—rest, digest, and heal.
- It restores circulation.
Tight muscles restrict blood flow. Massage brings oxygen and nutrients back into tissues, while helping remove what no longer serves.
- It releases fascial patterns.
Fascia can become dense and sticky over time. Skilled bodywork helps unwind these restrictions so your body can move freely again.
- It supports emotional release.
It’s common to feel unexpected emotion during or after massage. That’s because your body holds memory. When physical tension releases, emotional residue can rise—often without needing to relive the story.
- It creates space for integration.
Massage doesn’t just “fix.” It reminds your system what ease feels like. Over time, sessions help retrain the nervous system to soften, recalibrate, and heal.
Letting Go Isn’t Weakness—It’s Wisdom
Tension isn’t failure. It’s your body doing its best to cope. But we’re not designed to live in a permanent state of readiness. Eventually, that vigilance drains us.
Massage therapy offers restoration—not just physically, but emotionally and energetically. It reconnects us to ourselves. Not through force, but through permission.
The Bottom Line
Your tension tells a story. It speaks of what you’ve held, carried, powered through. Massage helps you loosen your grip—and find ease again.
At Vital Living Integrative WellSpa, we don’t just chase knots. We listen. Your body deserves more than just getting through the day—it deserves to feel safe living in it.
About the Author:
 |
Jo Rayl is a seasoned Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) and Usui Reiki Master Teacher (RMT) with over 20 years of experience in holistic and therapeutic massage. A graduate of Irene's Myomassology Institute and trained by the Colorado Center for Healing Touch and the Upledger Institute, she offers an array of healing techniques including Swedish Massage, Carpal Tunnel Therapy, Myofascial Release, and Reflexology. Jo specializes in deep, targeted work for chronic pain management, particularly in areas such as the glutes, shoulders, and neck. Her integrative approach to therapy is informed by her belief in the importance of maintaining personal health as a gift to the world. Jo is available for appointments focusing on individualized care to promote wellness and alleviate discomfort. Book Now |