Over the past year, I have found myself working with more and more patients who are seeking relief from emotional pain and discomfort. Most of these emotional challenges have been accompanied by physical ones, but in some cases patients have been seeking emotional help only. Why is this happening? Why more people lately? How does bodywork help us to heal from emotional challenges? Let’s dive in…
Why is this happening? I believe that as a collective we are beginning to understand more clearly that the body and mind are not separate, but are part of an integrated whole. Bessel van der Kolk’s book The Body Keeps the Score has become very popular and has resonated with many. Somatic practices and concepts are showing up in fields like coaching and psychotherapy. I think we’ve reached a point where it just makes sense to us that the mind affects the body and vice versa. In my practice, this has manifested as referrals from therapists, naturopaths, and other patients. Patients who have been referred seem to have a pre-established trust and confidence in me. They feel safe and are ready to dive into deep healing on day one. I believe that this awareness and readiness are what has allowed some pretty profound healing sessions to unfold.
Why more people lately? In addition to what I explained above, I think that more people are seeking help from me on the emotional level because of where I am on my own healing journey. I’ve done a lot of healing work and have reached a greater level of self-acceptance, self-love, and wholeness. This allows me to be more grounded and have greater capacity for engaging in the heavy conversations and feeling into the more challenging, difficult emotions. As the saying goes, “People start to heal the moment they feel heard.” I think my ability to “hear” and hold space has evolved and expanded.
How does it work? People have asked me, “How does zero balancing (or your version of zero balancing and myofascial release) help to provide me with so much emotional relief?” This is a big question! I’ll do my best to answer this question, with the recognition that this answer will evolve over time as our/my understanding grows and expands.
Skilled bodywork promotes enhanced connection between the body and the mind. As we reconnect with our bodies (become more embodied), we become more whole and integrated. We become more in touch and in tune with how we are feeling and where in our bodies we are feeling it. When we reconnect with our feelings, we can continue to process our emotions, emotions which have often been stored deep within our bodies.
When skillful and intentional pressure is applied to the body by a bodyworker who is grounded, present, and is listening with their hands, the body can see itself more clearly and become more aware of itself and of its needs. Since the body always leans towards greater homeostasis (balance), it will begin a reorganization process to release unnecessary tension patterns. With fewer tension patterns, the body will achieve a more coherent and efficient operating state.
On a more technical level, the bodyworker is working with piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is electricity generated when certain materials are compressed. Crystals are one of those materials. Since our bones, fascia, and other connective tissues are crystalline in nature, directing pressure into the body produces electricity and stimulates energy flow from the point of pressure to deep levels within the body. This increased energy flow pushes through blockages and areas of stagnation, allowing the body to move toward more balance, symmetry, and proper function.
When we have been through difficult emotional events in our lives, we frequently cannot fully process the emotions during that time. We usually don’t have adequate time or space. These unprocessed emotions often become stored in the body until we can process them at a later date. During a treatment session, the body is presented with opportunities to further process stored emotion. If the timing is right and the body-mind feels safe, emotions may rise to the surface and tears may flow. Most of the time the tears are tears of relief, not tears of pain. Sometimes continued balancing and processing will ensue, which can go on for several days after a session.
Following the reorganization that occurs during a particularly impactful session, it is common to feel better emotionally and even perceive our life circumstances a little differently. Things usually feel lighter and easier. The lens (our senses) through which we perceive our lives has shifted.
Is this shift permanent? My understanding is that the answer to this is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Our longstanding patterns are usually very well-established, so we do tend to slide back into what we have been accustomed to. However, once a shift occurs and some new light of awareness has been shed, we will not revert back entirely. A new flame has been lit and we are now more easily able to see our pattern and “unstick” ourselves from it.
If this blog article has sparked your curiosity and you are wondering how these concepts might apply to you personally, please feel free to email me or bring it up at your next session. I’m happy to listen and explore with you. We are all on this healing journey together!
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