Where do you hold your stress and tension?

Our bodies speak the truth — even when our minds try to ignore it.

Stress doesn’t just “disappear.” It finds a place to live inside us.
Whether it’s tight shoulders, an aching jaw, or a dull heaviness in your lower back… your body remembers.

Every area of tension holds a story. And often, it’s more than just physical.

Common Areas We Hold Tension — and What They Might Mean

As a massage therapist, I see these patterns again and again. Each client arrives with their own emotional landscape, and their body often speaks first.

Here’s what I’ve learned from working closely with women’s bodies, stories, and nervous systems:

Head

Mental overload, stress, perfectionism
Constant thinking, people-pleasing, or needing to get everything “right” can show up as tension headaches, pressure at the temples, or jaw clenching.

Jaw

Holding back words or emotions, frustration
We literally “bite down” on what we want to say. Jaw tension often links to suppressed emotion — anger, grief, or the habit of staying silent.

Neck

Feeling stuck, torn between choices, or under pressure
Tension in the neck can reflect indecision or carrying responsibilities that feel out of alignment.

Shoulders

Carrying too much — emotionally or physically
This is one of the most common areas of tension. Shoulders bear the weight of “shoulds” — others’ expectations, invisible loads, and years of self-sacrifice.

Lower Back

Lack of support, financial or emotional strain
This area can reflect a deeper sense of “I’m doing this alone.” It may tie into safety, stability, and the feeling of being held.

Pelvis

Stored trauma, tension around creativity or intimacy
The pelvis is deeply sensitive — often where past experiences, shame, or fear settle. Massage here (even indirectly, through hips or glutes) can begin powerful release and reconnection.

Massage Is More Than Just Physical

Massage can help you release more than muscle tightness — it helps you reconnect with yourself.

Through gentle, trauma-aware bodywork, your body can begin to feel safe enough to soften.
Often, clients say things like:

“I didn’t realise how much I was holding, until I felt it melt.”
“I had no idea how much I needed that — now I feel like myself again.”

You Deserve to Feel Light Again

If your body is holding tension, it’s not broken — it’s wise.
It’s communicating, and you don’t have to decode it alone.

Whether it’s your jaw, shoulders, or somewhere deeper — I offer safe, holistic massage in Warwickshire that invites your body to breathe again.