Your Nervous System Shapes More Than You Think
Valerie Vazquez, Licensed Massage Therapist, Reconnect Massage Therapy, downtown Fort Worth. .
Last month, we explored how your body is always communicating with you. This month, let’s look at why it holds onto tension.
Have you ever noticed your shoulders creeping toward your ears during a stressful week? Or your jaw feeling tight by the end of the day, even though you haven’t done anything physically demanding?
Many of us assume muscle tension comes only from posture or overuse. Sometimes that’s true—but there’s another important piece of the puzzle.
Your Nervous System Is Always Paying Attention
Your nervous system is constantly asking one simple question:
“Am I safe?”
When your nervous system senses stress or overwhelm, it may increase muscle tension to keep you alert and ready to respond. That response can linger long after the stressful moment has passed.
The good news is that your nervous system is adaptable. Small moments of safety and awareness, practiced consistently, can help it learn that it doesn’t always need to stay on high alert.
That’s why stretching or massage doesn’t always “fix” tight muscles on their own. Along with hands-on care, your nervous system also benefits from cues of safety that help muscle tension begin to ease.
One of my favorite parts of massage therapy is seeing clients shift from frustration to curiosity about what their bodies are communicating. That shift alone can change the way they experience tension.
A Simple Practice This Month
The next time you notice tension, pause before trying to fix it.
Take one slow breath. Inhale gently through your nose, then exhale a little longer than your inhale. A longer exhale can help signal to your nervous system that it’s safe to begin settling.
Then ask yourself:
- What might my body be responding to right now?
- Have I been rushing from one thing to the next?
- What would help me feel a little more supported?
You don’t have to solve the tension immediately. Sometimes a slow breath and a moment of awareness are enough to begin creating change.
A Thought to Carry With You
Your body is always communicating. The more we meet it with curiosity instead of frustration, the more opportunities we create for healing.
Until next month, take a moment to notice what your body has been communicating.
Warmly,
Valerie
To follow along
If reading the steps is not your thing, watch the square. Same practice, seventeen seconds.
Box breathing, 4-4-4-4 by Pocket Breath Coach, Luke Horton, on YouTube
Common questions about this
Why does a longer exhale help?
A slower exhale is one of the few direct signals you can send your nervous system that it is safe to settle. It does not need to be dramatic, just a little longer than the inhale.
The session this supports: Therapeutic Bodywork Session, 90 min, $180. Book · Read more about how I work with this
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