Epigenetics and the Body: Can Trauma and Healing Be Inherited?

The Case for Intergenerational Bodywork

At Myofascial Release of St. George, I often meet clients who feel like they’ve “tried everything” yet still carry pain, tension, or emotional heaviness that they can’t quite explain. Sometimes, they’ll say, “This feels bigger than me.” Science suggests that they might be right.

Epigenetics is the study of how life experiences, including trauma and healing, influence gene expression. Unlike inherited genes, epigenetic markers don’t change our DNA sequence, but they do affect how genes function. Research has shown that trauma can leave these kinds of epigenetic imprints—and they can be passed down through generations.

For example, a study published in “Biological Psychiatry” found that children of Holocaust survivors carried distinct epigenetic markers linked to stress regulation, different from those without that family history. This means patterns of chronic stress, tension, and even physical pain may not start with you, but they can end with you.

I see this reflected in my work with Myofascial Release (MFR) every day. Clients often release not just long-held physical restrictions but also emotions and memories that feel surprisingly ancestral. This isn’t just about the body holding tension; it’s about the body holding history.

How Trauma Travels Through Generations

When we experience trauma, whether emotional, physical, or environmental, it affects how our bodies function. Over time, those stress responses can shape how genes are expressed in the systems that control everything from immunity to emotional regulation.

And, the fascia, the connective tissue web that I focus on during MFR, plays a powerful role in holding those patterns. Fascia responds not just to physical strain but also to emotional and neurological input, making it a storage site for both trauma and resilience.

The Body as a Storyteller

Unlike massage that focuses primarily on relaxing muscles, Myofascial Release listens more deeply. Through gentle, sustained pressure, I help the body unwind hidden restrictions, often patterns that don’t originate from a recent injury but from something much older.

Clients often describe emotional releases that feel tied to family history: themes of fear, grief, or anxiety that show up across generations. In his book The Body Keeps the Score, trauma researcher Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes that the body holds on to these experiences in ways words cannot always access. Myofascial Release creates space for those patterns to shift.

Breaking the Cycle: The Power of Intergenerational Bodywork

You don’t have to carry what isn’t yours to hold. Myofascial Release offers a gentle, patient-centered approach to releasing inherited stress patterns, helping break cycles that might otherwise quietly persist.

When fascia softens and restrictions release, it doesn’t just create relief for today; it helps reset the body’s deeper systems, including the nervous system and immune responses. In this way, MFR becomes more than physical therapy; it’s a tool for intergenerational healing.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns of pain or stress that don’t quite make sense, know you’re that not alone and that healing is possible. By addressing the body’s hidden layers, we open the door to transformation that reaches beyond just one lifetime.

Ready to break the cycle? Let’s explore what’s possible together.