I was talking to a client about myofascial release, a kind of hands-on treatment that I use, and we were discussing the idea of past trauma, which myofascial release can help with. This client is in touch, with good body awareness, and meanders down a spiritual path that has her exploring ways to heal body, mind and soul. I asked her, “have you had any past trauma that you can remember?”, “anything where you feel like you were injured physically or mentally or just something you remember as difficult?” She looked at me and thought for a moment. ”I really don’t remember any real trauma, I mean I am lying here trying to think of something and I really haven’t had anything.” ”Well, there was that car thing.” She finally says and her eyes well up as she starts to tell me the story.
In the years that I have known this patient, she has never brought up “the car thing.” As we worked together to allow her story to come out and to let her feel the thing in the tissues of her body, some more tears fell. After all that time (several years) she was able to feel a piece of the trauma that had been stuck in her body so that she could let it go. This process is called a somato-emotional release, which can manifest as tears, shaking, heat, therapeutic pain, tingling, etc…..
The idea here is that fascial tissue of the body, the whole body system of connective tissue inside of us, acts as a super highway for light and energy and fluid. This tissue has memory and intelligence. If someone has an injury or trauma, the energy of that force can get lodged in this tissue. Sometimes for years. We tighten and constrict and protect around the area of restriction. For years. This dehydrates the tissue over time which can then lead to many pounds of pressure being put into pain sensitive structures of the body. We hurt, but we can’t remember doing anything to cause the hurt.
The key to this deep kind of healing is a combination of things. First you must practice awareness. Notice the sensations, symptoms, and emotions in the body with your feeling senses. John Barnes, the founder of myofascial release says, “without awareness there is no choice.” In other words, you have to feel to heal. The problem here is that fear and resistance get in the way. We really don’t want to go there. This kind of healing is not for sissies people. For my taekwondo friends, it is a little like when you spar for the first few times. A little scary but you know it is good. Once you begin to uncover the layers that keep your essence from shining, you will wonder why you didn’t go there sooner.
The practitioners, including myself, that work this way with their clients practice these things themselves. We do the hard work of healing ourselves so that we can help others. Finding a skilled practitioner is important. They can provide a safe space and they can teach you self treatment techniques that will allow you to continue your journey on your own.
If this blog makes you wonder about something in your own story then why not explore it? I would love to help you go there! I know what kind of gifts it might bring.
