How Your Body Holds Stress and How to Release It

How Your Body Holds Stress

Have you ever noticed that when you're stressed, your shoulders creep up to your ears? Or that a difficult conversation leaves your stomach in knots? This isn't just in your head, your body physically stores stress.

When we experience stress, our nervous system reacts by tightening muscles, altering breath patterns, and even slowing digestion. These survival responses are useful in real danger, but when stress becomes chronic, tension gets trapped in the body. Over time, this can lead to aches, fatigue, digestive issues, and a general sense of unease.

So how do we release it? The key lies in nervous system regulation, using body-based practices to tell your system that it's safe to let go. Somatic practices such as gentle movement, shaking, and breath awareness can help unhook old tension patterns. Even something as simple as sighing, stretching, or grounding your feet into the earth can send signals of safety to your brain.

Stress release isn't about doing more, it's about feeling more, becoming aware of the body's cues and learning to respond with care. If this resonates, you'll love the practices in Your Calm Compass, my book on nervous system regulation, and The Reset, my 1:1 somatic coaching programme.

With love,
Sarah
Yoga Health and Wellness®

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