I would love to share with you something that happened during a recent massage session with a client just because I believe it may provide a lot of clarity for those dealing with certain tension, pain, or tightness in their body and who are unsure about the underlying causes.

A client’s tale

Prior to the start of our session, she shared with me that I should be particularly sensitive when working on her left shoulder. She didn't know what it was about, but she consistently felt discomfort in that area. It would often draw her attention throughout the day, yet she couldn't attribute it to poor posture, prolonged hours at the laptop, or any specific life event.

‘Her left shoulder felt like a door someone was trying to keep shut from the inside‘

During our session together, I could feel what she had described and was still surprised as well. Contrary to the expectation of tight and tense muscles, her left shoulder felt like a door someone was trying to keep shut from the inside. There was a sense of spaciousness beyond the resistance (meaning it wasn't tension in the muscle, as the tissue remained soft), but she felt unable to fully open it up.

The collective framework

I believe there are certain elements that resonate within a collective framework. This does not mean it has to be true for each individual, yet there are commonalities that many humans can relate to. Oftentimes, when we hear about someone else's experience and it resonates, we can find a lot of comfort in clarity in being able to put words towards our own experience. I've worked with many people, and I have started to see recurring patterns in their internal stories, challenges, and how these manifest within their bodies.

‘There are commonalities that many humans can relate to’

The symbolism of our bodies

The shoulder could symbolize responsibility - the literal weight we carry on our shoulders. Our shoulder blades, in particular, can serve as both wings and protective shields (similar to the ribs on the front of our chests).

This means that when we are open in our bodies, we can feel liberated and connected with the world. On the contrary, we can use it as a literal defense mechanism, not to feel what we're afraid to feel, as we're not sure if we can trust what could unfold from that open space.

‘Our shoulder blades can serve as both wings and protective shields‘

To make this concept more tangible, consider posture. When we feel secure, our bodies naturally become more open, with the chest forward and the shoulders relaxed. Conversely, when we feel unsafe, we tend to close off our chest and tense our shoulders. The connection between our emotional state and our body's response can be very obvious in that sense.

Our bodies often act out of automatic responses. Certain patterns were our way of coping in the world at a certain time, and they have become automated. So even though they might not be necessary now, we can honor them for having done their duties at that time. From a place of understanding and compassion, great healing can be done.

‘From a place of understanding and compassion, great healing can be done.’

I'm super curious. Do you ever notice how your body holds itself when you're feeling certain emotions or telling yourself specific stories? What do you think about it? 

I would love to hear your story!