Massage releases stored emotional tension—such as sadness, anxiety, fear, or frustration—trapped in body tissues due to stress or trauma. As the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, clients often experience a profound sense of relief, peace, or unexpected vulnerability, often manifesting as tears, laughter, or shaking.
Vagus nerve stimulation through touch can enhance emotional regulation, sometimes leading to the release of pent-up emotions. This is why some individuals may feel a sudden urge to cry or experience a wave of nostalgia during a session.
Physical Sensations
Tremors or Shaking: These involuntary movements can occur as the body releases stored energy associated with traumatic experiences. Tingling or Warmth: You may feel tingling sensations or warmth in certain areas of your body as trauma is processed and released.
A massage helps pre event by increasing the level of positive hormones around the body. Increasing the positive hormones endorphins, serotonin and dopamine encourages relaxation. An increase in relaxation reduces the feelings of anxiety and nervousness, decreasing stress and tension.
Knots pop during a massage because of natural changes within the muscles, fascia and nervous system. It is simply a moment of release. The true goal of massage is not sound, but softness, ease and improved mobility throughout the body.
Massage red flags include professionalism issues (no license, unsanitary space, unprofessional boundaries, inappropriate touch, poor communication, body shaming) and physical warning signs (sharp pain, numbness/weakness, nausea, intense pain that takes your breath away, symptoms that worsen or don't improve). Trust your instincts if you feel uncomfortable, and prioritize a therapist who respects your boundaries, communicates clearly, and maintains professional standards for hygiene and draping, as indicated by this article from All Bodies Massage Therapy.
But in my experience, emotional healing happens in seven stages: awareness, acceptance, processing, release, growth, integration, and transformation. We don't move through these seven stages in a straight line, but we do pass through them all eventually on the path to healing.
Physical sensations such as tingling, warmth or a sense of energy may occur. Some people experience muscle twitching or shaking as tension is released.
Smiling or laughing when disclosing trauma can be an indicator of shame. Some trauma survivors hold deeply entrenched feelings of self-blame and other distorted and inaccurate thoughts about the role they believe they played in their abuse.
In addition to absorbing a client's emotional or physical discomfort, many bodyworkers unconsciously engage in energy matching. This occurs when a practitioner instinctively mirrors a client's emotional state—such as anxiety, sadness, or agitation—in an attempt to create rapport or help the client feel understood.
Know the 5 signs of Emotional Suffering
Many people experience unexpected emotional releases during or after deep tissue sessions—crying, spontaneous memories, or a profound sense of lightness. This isn't random. Our muscles and fascia can store emotional trauma. By working through these layers, massage provides a safe outlet for release without words.
Muscle manipulation during massage releases toxins into your bloodstream. This sudden influx may result in nausea or a headache. Furthermore, the increased circulation affects bodily fluids and chemistry, potentially causing dizziness or fatigue.
Scientists believe that crying can make you feel physically and emotionally better. 'Having a good cry' is thought to rid the body of toxins and waste products which build up during times of elevated stress – so it's logical then that a person with PTSD may cry much more often that someone without the condition!
For patients with significant muscle trauma or scar tissue buildup, deep tissue massage offers a powerful option. This massage therapy technique works by applying slow, sustained pressure into deeper muscle layers, breaking down adhesions and improving mobility.
Recognizing the physical signs your body is releasing trauma is a powerful step in your healing journey. Signs, such as muscle tremors, changes in breathing, gastrointestinal changes, and more, are your body's way of letting go of the stress it has carried, sometimes for years.
Physical symptoms that people with SSD may have include:
8 Trauma Release Exercises to Try at Home
The “90-second rule,” introduced by Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, reveals that an emotional surge in the body lasts only about 90 seconds—unless we mentally keep it alive.
Physical Sensations: You might notice physical sensations in your body. These include tingling or warmth that feels pleasant. These sensations can indicate that your body is letting go of stored stress and tension.
First and foremost: don't make excessive noises in the room. Even if you're having a fantastic massage and can't quite believe how great it feels, it's important to keep your vocalizations to a minimum—you don't want to distract your therapist from what they're doing!
What Are The 5 Basic Massage Movements? The five basic massage movements are effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, friction, and vibration. Each of these movements is designed to provide a different type of massage experience.
Muscle Tension and Trigger Points
Once you're on the table, your massage therapist's hands become their primary tool for gathering information. As they begin the massage, they can feel areas of tension, knots, or trigger points, those tender spots that seem to radiate discomfort.