When Emotions Show Up as Aches: The Mind-Body Approach to Healing

At PRESS Modern Massage, we’ve seen it time and time again: a client walks in for shoulder pain, but the real cause isn’t a pulled muscle — it’s unprocessed stress. Or anxiety. Or grief that never had time to be acknowledged.

We like to say that tension isn’t just a physical state — it’s a story. And sometimes, it’s a story the body remembers long after the mind has moved on.

Massage therapy can’t erase the past, but it can help the body feel safe again. Through intentional, skilled touch, we begin to soften the places where stress has taken root: the jaw that clenches during conflict, the upper back that carries invisible loads, the hips that hold years of bracing.

Our licensed massage therapists are trained to recognize the signs of emotional holding — tightness that resists release, breath that never quite reaches the belly, a body that tenses even in stillness. We meet that with slow, calming strokes and nervous-system-aware care. Because healing doesn’t happen in a rush — it happens in a space that feels safe enough to let go.

Massage is a starting point. A way in. But what happens when you’re ready to go deeper?

That’s where our friends at Tona Therapy come in.

From PRESS to Processing

Tona Therapy is a virtual psychotherapy clinic and premier host of luxurious, in-person wellness retreats—and their approach is as holistic and heart-centered as ours. Where PRESS helps release the body’s tension, Tona helps unpack the emotions that live underneath.

Whether it’s a single tight knot or a story your nervous system is still holding onto, healing happens best when the mind and body are working together.

Let’s explore how emotions can manifest in the body—and how addressing them from both ends can offer real, lasting relief.

[Continue reading with Tona Therapy's insights into identifying, processing, and transforming emotional tension...]

At Tona Therapy, we believe that true healing comes from the connection between mind and body. We recognize that emotional pain, much like physical pain, can leave lasting imprints on both the body and psyche. As therapists, we’ve seen how grief, anxiety, and stress often show up physically—tight shoulders, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and other unexplained aches. These physical sensations are often the body’s way of signaling that we are carrying the weight of unresolved emotions.

Trauma, whether from past experiences or ongoing stress, can manifest in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Our trauma-informed approach creates a safe space to explore how emotional pain might show up in your body. By addressing both physical tension and the emotional blocks stored within, we help foster healing from both ends—body and mind.

Healing is a process. It’s about more than relieving pain; it’s about understanding its origin and transforming the emotions tied to it. Through talk therapy, mindfulness, and trauma-focused techniques, we provide the support needed to move through discomfort and toward lasting emotional and physical well-being.

Massage therapy, with its skilled touch and nervous-system-aware techniques, plays a vital role in releasing physical tension. When combined with somatic or trauma-informed therapy, that healing can go even deeper. Somatic therapy addresses how the body holds memories and emotions, and when paired with massage, we can release both the physical knots and the emotional blockages beneath them.

For example, tightness in your shoulders may not just stem from poor posture or overuse; it could also be a physical manifestation of stress or unresolved trauma. Massage helps release that tension, while somatic therapy helps process the emotions behind it. This combined approach treats both the physical symptoms and the emotional roots, facilitating more profound healing.

At Tona Therapy, we’re committed to supporting your healing journey by integrating bodywork and trauma-informed therapy. Together with our partners at PRESS Modern Massage, we help you release the physical and emotional burdens that hold you back, guiding you toward a healthier, more peaceful you.