WHY SOMATIC MASSAGE WORKS
By, TJ Kropf LMT, BCTMB
What Does "Somatic" Mean?
The word "somatic" is derived from the Greek "Soma," meaning "body." When used in health and healing contexts, it describes how the physical body reacts to, and processes, emotional experiences. Somatic therapy recognizes that emotions are not just mental events—they involve the entire body and its physiological responses (Body Mechanics NYC, 2025).
The Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions, balancing the sympathetic (“fight or flight”) and parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) systems. The ANS plays a crucial role in how our bodies respond to stress and safety cues, impacting emotions and physical sensations (Kinetic PT & Wellness, 2025; Aksoy et al., 2011).
Massage therapy has been shown in studies to stimulate the parasympathetic response, decrease stress hormone levels, and encourage deep relaxation and healing (Aksoy et al., 2011).
Physiological Process of Emotions
Emotions involve both mental and physical reactions. When feeling intense emotions—such as sadness, fear, or anger—the body undergoes changes like increased heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of tears. These responses arise from the nervous and hormonal systems and are a core aspect of somatic experience (Warner, 2011).
Fascia, Emotions, and Trauma
Fascia is a complex, continuous connective tissue network that wraps around every muscle, bone, organ, and nerve in the body. It is highly sensitive to both physical force and emotional stress (Body Mechanics NYC, 2025). Leading therapists like John Barnes have suggested that fascia works in tandem with the sympathetic nervous system to protect the body during stressful events. When trauma or unresolved emotion occurs, fascia can become tense or restricted, contributing to pain and discomfort (AMTA, 2020).
The Cycle of Emotion
Healthy emotional processing requires a complete cycle: feeling, expressing, and resolving emotion. When interrupted, these cycles may leave "holding patterns" in the body—especially the fascia—manifesting as chronic tension, pain, or restricted movement. Somatic therapies like massage help restart and complete these cycles, allowing both emotional and physical release (HelloNote, 2025).
Massage Application
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a specialized form of massage aimed at restoring flexibility and reducing restrictions in the fascia. This technique can help unlock suppressed tension and revive healthy emotional cycles, supporting both physical and emotional healing (AMTA, 2020; Tozzi et al., 2023).
Neuro-sedative Massage and Parasympathetic Activation
Massage also helps shift the nervous system from sympathetic dominance ("fight or flight") toward parasympathetic dominance ("rest and digest"). This is particularly beneficial for people experiencing PTSD or CPTSD, where the nervous system may remain stuck in a state of perceived threat. By restoring balance, massage may help teach the body to identify safety and ease physical symptoms connected to trauma (Aksoy et al., 2011; WhyKnot Wellness, 2023).
What Might You Experience?
Somatic healing is highly personal. During deep release sessions, clients may feel intense emotion, cry, experience flashbacks, racing thoughts, or physical pressure. During ANS-balancing sessions, people often report feeling deeply relaxed, falling asleep, entering meditative states, or feeling grounded. Not all emotional releases happen during the session; integration continues for days afterward, and some clients have reported profound emotional release even up to 10 days after treatment (HelloNote, 2025; AMTA, 2025).
Clinical Evidence Supporting Somatic Healing
Clinical research has demonstrated that pairing massage therapy with psychological interventions can greatly benefit individuals facing emotional challenges or trauma. Studies show massage and myofascial release improve pain, flexibility, and nervous system regulation in chronic pain and trauma-related conditions (Kovács et al., 2024; Tozzi et al., 2023; Wilke et al., 2023).
Who Is This For? (Scope of Practice)
Somatic massage therapy supports people experiencing chronic pain, persistent tension, unresolved emotional distress, or symptoms of PTSD/CPTSD. As a massage therapist, I do not diagnose, treat, or cure medical or psychiatric conditions, nor prescribe medical care. This massage is designed to support overall well-being and can complement medical or psychological care. For mental health diagnosis and treatment, clients should seek help from licensed professionals. If experiencing a mental health crisis, contact emergency services or your local suicide hotline.
Somatic Healing Applications at New Age Bodywork
At New Age Bodywork, sessions combine myofascial release, neuro-sedative massage, and parasympathetic activation with grounding, pendulation, and titration. This integrated approach helps clients complete emotional cycles, release fascia-held patterns, and restore nervous system balance—always within massage therapy scope of practice (HelloNote, 2025; AMTA, 2025).
References
Body Mechanics NYC. (2025). The science of fascia: How massage therapy improves mobility.
https://bodymechanicsnyc.com/science-of-fascia
American Massage Therapy Association. (2020). Fascial therapy.
https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/fascial-therapy/
HelloNote. (2025). More than muscle deep: The science of massage therapy and its untapped potential in rehabilitation and mental well-being.
https://hellonote.com/the-science-of-massage-therapy/
Kinetic Physical Therapy and Wellness. (2025). How massage therapy affects the nervous system.
https://kineticptgreenville.com/massage-therapy-affects-nervous-system/
Aksoy, D., Aksoy, H., & Sönmez, M. B. (2011). The effects of heat and massage application on autonomic nervous system. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 23(4), 617–620.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3866776/
Warner, K. (2011). Massage therapy on autonomic nervous system activity, anxiety, and mood in anxiety prone individuals [Master’s thesis, University of Wisconsin-Stout].
https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/59274/WarnerKelly.pdf
WhyKnot Wellness. (2023). Fine-tuning your nervous system with massage.
https://whyknotwellness.com/nervous-system-massage/
Somasundaram, S. (2022). Touch: An integrative review of a somatosensory approach to the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychiatry Research, 317, 114877.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178122003942
American Massage Therapy Association. (2025). Beyond the physical: Massage therapy for emotional health.
Kovács, M., Rákóczi, A., & Kocsis, Á. (2024). Effects of connective tissue massage and classical massage on pain, flexibility, disability, and autonomic nervous system in patients with chronic mechanical low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 28, 1–7.
Tozzi, P., Bongiorno, D., & Vitturini, C. (2023). Myofascial techniques and immune function: Effects of CV-4 and myofascial release on lymphocyte subsets. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, 16(1), 45–53.
Schleip, R., & Müller, D. G. (2025). Fascia as a regulatory system in health and disease. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 35, 42–53.
Wilke, J., Krause, F., Vogt, L., & Banzer, W. (2023). Acute effects of self-myofascial release: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 55(5), 940–948.
National Library of Medicine. (2020). The effect of massage on the cardiac autonomic nervous system and blood inflammatory markers.