Beyond Tension: The Power of Massage & Somatic Work in Nervous System Regulation
The Nervous System Holds the Key to True Relaxation
At PRESS Modern Massage, we know that tension isn’t just about tight muscles — it’s about how stress lives in the body. Many clients come in feeling like they can’t fully relax, carrying chronic tightness in their shoulders, jaw, and lower back. More often than not, their nervous system is stuck in a loop of fight-or-flight, keeping them in a state of high alert even when the stressor is long gone.
Massage is one of the most effective ways to signal safety to the body, helping shift the nervous system into rest-and-digest mode. Through slow, rhythmic techniques and deep, intentional touch, we calm overactive nerves, lower cortisol levels, and support vagal tone — all essential for true relaxation and recovery.
Why Touch Matters
Therapeutic touch communicates directly with the nervous system, telling the body it’s okay to release tension. It’s why people often feel lighter, clearer, and even more emotionally balanced after a session. Massage isn’t just about loosening muscles — it’s about creating a felt sense of safety, which allows for deep healing on both a physical and emotional level.
The Missing Piece: Somatic Work
While massage helps the body let go, somatic work helps us understand and reshape how we hold onto stress in the first place. At Kaia Evolutions, Eileen Kielty takes this one step further, working with the nervous system, energetic residue, and subconscious belief patterns to create lasting change. She’ll share how somatic integration helps bridge the gap between physical release and long-term regulation, allowing you to not just feel better — but stay better.
What does “somatic” mean?
Have you ever had a gut feeling about something? Or noticed your shoulders creeping up to your ears when you're stressed? That’s your body speaking to you — whether you’re aware of it or not.
The word somatic simply means “relating to the body,” but in the world of healing and self-awareness, it goes deeper. Somatic practices help us connect with our bodies — physically, emotionally, and energetically — so we can better understand our experiences and respond in ways that support our well-being.
At its core, somatic work is about tuning into our body's natural language: sensation and movement. By becoming more aware of how we hold tension, process emotions, and react to stress, we can shift old patterns and create more ease in our lives.
When the Body Gets Stuck
Our nervous system is designed to ebb and flow, naturally expanding and contracting as we move through life. But in a culture that encourages us to push through stress and ignore discomfort, our bodies often don’t get the chance to complete their natural cycles.
For example, imagine you have a near-miss while driving. Your body might instinctively shake afterward to release the leftover adrenaline—that’s your nervous system resetting itself. But if you suppress that response (perhaps by forcing yourself to “calm down” quickly or just moving on with your day), that stress energy can get stuck. Over time, this can leave us feeling tense, disconnected, or stuck in survival mode without realizing it.
Somatic work helps us complete these natural processes so we don’t stay in a state of partial contraction, always bracing for the next stressor.
Reconnecting to Your Authentic Self
When we override our body’s signals — whether by ignoring fatigue, dismissing anxiety, or forcing ourselves into situations that don’t feel right—we lose touch with our natural rhythm. This can make us feel reactive, overwhelmed, or disconnected from ourselves.
Somatic practices provide gentle, effective ways to restore balance, release tension from past experiences, and build a sense of trust and safety within our own bodies. This allows us to move from survival mode into a state where we feel more choice, connection, and authenticity in our daily lives.
Many of the behaviors we think are just “who we are” (like always needing to stay busy or struggling to say no) are actually patterns shaped by our past experiences. With somatic work, we can begin to shift these patterns in a sustainable way.
Somatic Tools for Nervous System Regulation
Somatic practices don’t have to be complicated or intimidating. Simple, everyday actions can make a big difference in how we feel.
Some supportive tools include:
Consent-driven, trauma-informed practices (to honor what feels safe for you)
Breathing exercises (to regulate and soothe the nervous system)
Gentle stretching (to release stored tension)
Authentic conversation (to establish and practice boundaries)
Writing prompts (for self-reflection and awareness)
Guided meditation (to build presence and relaxation)
Self-touch (like placing a hand on your heart for comfort)
Movement sequences (to restore natural flow and rhythm)
Actionable goal-setting (to move into more self-efficacy)
Grounding techniques (like walking barefoot or focusing on sensation)
Energetic discernment (to recognize what is and isn’t yours)
Sensation awareness (to notice warmth, tingling, or tightness in the body)
While positive affirmations can be helpful, they don’t always work if our nervous system is in a dysregulated state. If the body doesn’t believe what we’re telling it, those affirmations can feel frustrating or ineffective. Instead, somatic work helps us create real, embodied shifts—so our nervous system can trust the changes that we are intentionally making.
The Power of Somatic Coaching & Massage
Just like a massage therapist can help release tension in the muscles, a somatic coach supports the release of deeper, stored patterns in the body. Combining somatic work with body-based therapies, like massage, can provide a holistic approach to nervous system regulation, helping you feel more at ease, balanced, and in tune with yourself.
If you're curious about how somatic practices can support your well-being, explore the offerings at Kaia Evolutions for coaching and guidance. Your body holds wisdom — are you ready to listen?
