Imagine stuffing a jar with playdough. The more playdough we put in, the less space there is for anything to move.
Trauma and our digestive health works in the same way. We get used to contracting our muscles to the point that the muscles forget to breathe. It feels stuffy, dense, and heavy. I am sure that many can relate to this feeling. There are of course various impacts on the body because of trauma such as surgery or life interruptions/events. Many of our patients experience the realisation when releasing from their bodies that it is a multi-level, multi-faceted approach. It makes much more of a difference when we combine many things together. Some of these things are as simple as taking a deep breath and others as complex as other forms of bodywork. As part of our practice, we begin starting with the simple things that matter. These are things we can do every day - rituals (with some discipline of course). Creating space in our bodies so that they can move freely and prepare to release tension and trauma that we hold in. This is where momentum begins, and the natural effect is more momentum. We like to use the word 'space' because this gives us the sense of openness and freedom and liberation - like when our muscles can move, they can also release. Before we know where to create space, we need to be aware of where in our body space needs to be created and for many this can be quite daunting - how much tension and trauma we are holding. It is nice to take the approach of 'unless our body tells us, we just won’t know.'
If we can take the time to observe our bodies, we can see our patterns; we can become aware of what happens to us when we feel unsafe, when we have pain, anxiety and when we are afraid. Then, by working on the body, we begin to prepare and release these tensions - a gentle unravelling.