How our muscles feel, affects how we feel

Our muscles can affect how we handle stress. Research is increasingly showing a strong link between releasing tight muscles, and an improvement in mental wellbeing. That’s what I discovered when I attended my first somatic movement session and since then many people who attend my classes say the same thing.

When we feel under attack or stress, our bodies take on some of that trauma in the form of tight muscles, headaches and physical ailments. And the reverse happens. When we start to release muscles that have been tight for months, years and even decades, we start to feel good mentally as well as physically.

A recent study found a connection between sitting up straight and a reduction in stress and anxiety. As neuroscientist Dr. Peter Strick, who led the study stated: “There’s a clear link between how we move, think and feel. The muscles that control posture, our core muscles, have an impact on an organ that is involved in stress.”

In somatic movement, we tighten muscles that have become a habit -- the brain thinks that’s the way they should be and won’t let them relax -- and then slowly, softly release them giving the brain time to notice and feel that the muscles can release.

For more information on somatic movement and to register for a class, please send me an email at balancesomatics@gmail.com.

You can listen to Dr. Strick’s full TED radio talk at - "Stressed out? It might not just be in your head. How your muscles affect your mood."