Did you know that our emotions, stress, traumas and life events can be stored and locked away in our muscles??
Emotions are deeply embedded in the body. All babies first express their emotions through their body. As they grow older, they learn to use other means, such as speech to express their emotions. Our posture is shaped and molded by your unique blend of emotions. Think about it.....have you ever asked someone how they are doing and they said 'fine', but you knew they weren't by the way they were standing, crossing their arms, the tension in their face, etc.... As our mothers used to say, our body language doesn't lie!!
Tension is created by "intention," the intention to do something for/or against someone. Therefore, emotions create tension. Tension wants to be discharged. Muscles and connective tissues, in collaboration with the bones, help us to move towards or move away, surrender or simply freeze.
Emotions tone, tense and "program" muscles and other connective tissues and they can go on doing it for as long as an emotion is present in our system. Since an emotion can last a long time, stored in the muscles and connective tissues, it gets translated into your posture. Over a period of time, the habitual and predominant use of a particular emotion creates our own signature stamp, our posture.
Emotions tone, tense and "program" muscles and other connective tissues and they can go on doing it for as long as an emotion is present in our system. Since an emotion can last a long time, stored in the muscles and connective tissues, it gets translated into your posture. Over a period of time, the habitual and predominant use of a particular emotion creates our own signature stamp, our posture.
A high stress career can cause chronic tension in the shoulders, crows feet, forward head, tension headaches, etc....
Let me give you an example:
A young boy grows up in a household where the usual and customary punishment for behaving badly was a slap in the face. He hated it! Over time, the boy got really good at sensing when a slap was coming his way. The moment he saw it coming, he would cover his face with his elbows, creating a strong shield for his face. You could hit him on the head or the elbows, but you couldn't touch his face.
To continue with the example, say, every time the boy's parents yelled at him or he felt he might be yelled at, he, externally or internally shrank a bit, lowered his head, and raised his shoulders to shield himself. He started using this shield a lot. Every time, he felt physically, verbally or emotionally attacked, he raised his shield. Thus, for thousands of times, responding to internal alarms, he would shrink his upper body, lower the head and lift the shoulders. Then, he started school. Every time he sensed a threat from his teacher or another child, he raised his shield. In fact, by this time, his shield was always up, both at home and school, but it went up a little more when he consciously sensed a threat.
Here is the picture of the boy as an adult: his shoulders habitually stay up, his neck sunk into the shoulders, and his head leans forward to present a characteristic hint of defensiveness in his posture. This is an example of a defensive posture. Likewise, people form depressive-, aggressive-, or relaxed and self-assured posture depending on their characteristic emotion or blend of emotions. When they experience other emotions, their muscles move correspondingly, but only temporarily. Once the emotional event passes, they return to their usual posture. A posture stores particular emotions and thoughts below an individual's level of awareness.
A young boy grows up in a household where the usual and customary punishment for behaving badly was a slap in the face. He hated it! Over time, the boy got really good at sensing when a slap was coming his way. The moment he saw it coming, he would cover his face with his elbows, creating a strong shield for his face. You could hit him on the head or the elbows, but you couldn't touch his face.
To continue with the example, say, every time the boy's parents yelled at him or he felt he might be yelled at, he, externally or internally shrank a bit, lowered his head, and raised his shoulders to shield himself. He started using this shield a lot. Every time, he felt physically, verbally or emotionally attacked, he raised his shield. Thus, for thousands of times, responding to internal alarms, he would shrink his upper body, lower the head and lift the shoulders. Then, he started school. Every time he sensed a threat from his teacher or another child, he raised his shield. In fact, by this time, his shield was always up, both at home and school, but it went up a little more when he consciously sensed a threat.
Here is the picture of the boy as an adult: his shoulders habitually stay up, his neck sunk into the shoulders, and his head leans forward to present a characteristic hint of defensiveness in his posture. This is an example of a defensive posture. Likewise, people form depressive-, aggressive-, or relaxed and self-assured posture depending on their characteristic emotion or blend of emotions. When they experience other emotions, their muscles move correspondingly, but only temporarily. Once the emotional event passes, they return to their usual posture. A posture stores particular emotions and thoughts below an individual's level of awareness.
We all use a "shield" of some kind whenever we feel attacked. We instantly raise our defenses when we experience fear. The shield more often is an internal work and not observable from the outside.
Traumatic events such as death, rape, post-traumatic stress (i.e.; war, violence), etc.. can also be stored within the muscles of our bodies. The body and mind instinctively protect us from ourselves so that we can function on a daily basis. Our bodies again 'shield' us from the traumatic memories and emotions associated with the event.
I can speak from experience......after my mother passed away, I went in for a massage and had some work done on my neck. All of the sudden I began to bawl. All of the grief and sadness I had been stuffing down in order to handle her affairs came screaming up to the surface, because it was no longer locked in my neck muscles. It was cathartic, and it helped in the grieving process. Massage therapists call this an emotional release.
So how is this information useful you may ask? The same mind-body connection that was formed negatively can be utilized positively. In other words, by changing your posture, you may not only change negative emotions, but also cultivate a positive attitude and experience positive emotions. Doing appropriate exercises designed to counteract your usual posture, over a period of time, you may be able to train your muscles to stay in a corrected posture. By paying steady attention and growing constant awareness, you can correct your posture whenever you try to go back to the old habit. Even temporary posture manipulation has benefits. When you feel stressed out and pressured from a problem, hold your head high, lengthen the spine and open the chest. Keep your head, shoulders, hips and lower legs in a straight line. It may help you to feel differently about the situation.
But don't stop there. While maintaining the straightened and aligned posture, tense your whole body, take in a deep breath and feel it traveling throughout the body, from the nose to the toes. Then, while blowing your breath out, release and relax the entire body from head to toes.
Not only might you be feeling differently at this point, you may even begin to think differently about your problem.
But don't stop there. While maintaining the straightened and aligned posture, tense your whole body, take in a deep breath and feel it traveling throughout the body, from the nose to the toes. Then, while blowing your breath out, release and relax the entire body from head to toes.
Not only might you be feeling differently at this point, you may even begin to think differently about your problem.
Some recommendations:
- Be aware of how your body feels when you experience an emotion.....do your shoulders tense up? Does your brow furrow?
- Talk about what is bothering you.....holding our emotions in leads to emotional armoring. Find a confidant and utilize their listening skills!
- Get massaged, be aware that the emotions you are harboring may be released.
- Practice meditation, prayer, alone time......this will help you get in touch with yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually.
If your lifestyle doesn't change your body,
eventually your body will change your lifestyle!!
Blessings,
Nicolle Williams, LMT
