When the Body Laughs — and Cries — With You: The Truth Behind Emotional Holding
Kate McKinnon said it best — “Physically, I feel fine. Emotionally, I am being beaten down.” And, while we can laugh, our bodies probably nod in agreement.
In her hilarious Hot Ones interview, Kate McKinnon jokes about how stress and emotion don’t just live in the mind; they live in the body. We laugh because it’s true: the jaw that clenches when we’re anxious, the shoulders inching toward our ears, the exhaustion that lingers long after an emotional storm. Humor, it turns out, often points to what the body already knows: emotions don’t just happen in the mind; they happen to the body.
The Body Keeps the Feelings, Too
When emotions go unexpressed or chronic stress becomes a constant hum, the body adapts. The fascia begins to tighten and brace in response. This is the body’s emotional armor.
Scientific research supports what many of us feel intuitively:
People living with depression show increased stiffness and reduced elasticity in their myofascial tissue.
Emotional stress alters fascial tone, influencing posture, circulation, and even immune response.
Fascial networks communicate continuously with brain regions involved in emotional regulation—a process called myofascial interoception.
So, when someone says your pain is “just stress,” your body knows better. It’s not imagined; it’s embodied.
Where Myofascial Release Bridges Body and Mind
Myofascial Release (MFR) offers a direct pathway to this intersection between physical tension and emotional holding. By applying gentle, sustained pressure to areas of fascial restriction, MFR allows the tissue to soften and unwind—often releasing what words could not.
As the body shifts out of protection and into trust, clients frequently describe waves of lightness, warmth, or even emotion surfacing. These aren’t random sensations; they’re the body’s way of integrating long-held experiences.
“The fascial system is a sensory organ,” explains researchers in an article featured in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, “deeply intertwined with emotion, coordination, and perception.”
What Emotional Release Feels Like
Emotional release during MFR isn’t theatrical; it’s subtle, somatic, and deeply human. It might look like:
A spontaneous sigh or breath that feels freeing
Shoulders dropping or the jaw unclenching
A few tears, a quiet laugh, or a deep sense of calm
This isn’t about reliving the past; it’s about liberating the body from how the past was stored. In a safe, trauma-informed environment, MFR helps the nervous system shift from fight-or-flight into rest-and-restore, allowing true healing to unfold.
It’s Not in Your Head; It’s in Your Fascia (and It Can Change)
For those who’ve been told their symptoms are “psychological,” understanding the fascial connection can be profoundly validating. The fascia doesn’t separate structure from story; it records both.
Because fascia is dynamic and living, change is always possible. With consistent, gentle care, fascial restrictions can melt, nervous system patterns can rebalance, and the body can remember what freedom feels like again.
Ready to Feel the Shift?
If you’ve been carrying emotional or physical tension that never fully resolves, Myofascial Release can help you reconnect with your body’s natural intelligence. At Myofascial Release of St. George, I create a safe, compassionate space where your body can unwind at its own pace, no force, no pressure, just deep listening and lasting release.
Book your session today and begin the process of letting go — physically, emotionally, and completely.
