15/07/2026
When Stress Gets Stuck in the Body!
Last night, my back went. A sharp pain that seemed to resonate from the back of my lower ribs, but seemed to be affecting my diaphragm, which was taking my breath away.
I hadn't lifted anything heavy. I hadn't twisted awkwardly. There was no dramatic injury.
My body was just done.
The last few weeks have been quite stressful. I've carried on working, parenting, travelling, organising and dealing with life because that's what I do.
Mentally, I thought I was coping.
My muscles had a different opinion 😂
This morning, my partner (who I have trained up well ) massaged my back for me and he couldn't believe how much tension I was holding. As I worked into the area myself, I could feel it too. Tight, guarded muscles that simply weren't letting go.
And this is something I see in my treatment room all the time.
When we're stressed, the nervous system can keep the body in a heightened state of alert. Muscles brace. Shoulders creep upwards. Jaws tighten. Breathing can become shallower. We hold tension through the neck, back, hips and sometimes even the legs.
Do that for long enough and the body starts to feel different.
Movement becomes restricted. Muscles become sore and fatigued. You can feel heavy, stiff or completely drained.
This is what I often describe to my clients as disrupted flow.
I'm not talking about blood suddenly stopping or something being physically “blocked”. I'm talking about a body that is no longer moving, breathing and relaxing as freely as it should.
And sometimes, you don't even realise how tense you are until somebody puts their hands on you.
That's where the right massage techniques matter.
I don't believe every tight muscle needs attacking with an elbow.
Sometimes the body needs persuading to let go.
Heat. Slow deep pressure. Myofascial techniques. Gua sha. Cupping where appropriate. Breath. Working with the nervous system rather than fighting against the muscles.
The aim is to help interrupt that stress–tension–pain cycle and give the body an opportunity to soften.
My back reminded me of that this morning.
You can feel like you're coping mentally while your body is quietly carrying the load.
Sometimes your body speaks before you do.
And sometimes, you just need someone who knows how to listen to it.
Peace and Love
Just Relax with Emma 💚✨
