The Stories Your Body Tells - Using Writing to Release Physical Tension

Release tension

My shoulders carry everything—literally and figuratively. From years of carrying, lifting, and holding space for others, the top of my shoulders have become my body's storage unit for stress.

But here's what I've learned: our bodies don't just hold tension, they hold stories. That tightness in your neck might be from the words you didn't say. Those aches in your back could be from the weight you've been carrying for others. When I'm overstressed, my hair falls out in small, eraser-sized spots—my body's way of saying "enough."

Writing becomes a way to release physical tension and what the body has been holding, to give those stored emotions and experiences a place to go besides our muscles and tissues.

💫 A Reiki Moment: Starting from the Ground Up

In my practice, I usually begin at the soles of the feet—they ground us to the earth and remind us we're supported.

Sit comfortably and place your hands on the tops of your feet or simply direct your attention there. Feel your connection to the ground beneath you. Breathe deeply and imagine roots growing from your feet into the earth.

As you breathe, say silently:

"I am supported. I can release what I no longer need to carry."

Slowly move your attention up your body—legs, hips, stomach, shoulders, neck, head—noticing where you hold tension and sending breath to those places.

📝 Words of Encouragement

Your body has been keeping score, but it doesn't have to keep carrying the weight.

Anytime I feel anger toward a person or situation, I write to release it. I know anger is toxic to the body—it can wreak more havoc than depression when it's held inside. But writing gives that energy somewhere to go.

Your physical tension isn't just physical. It's emotional. It's energetic. It's the accumulation of experiences your body has been storing because there wasn't another place for them to live.

Writing offers your body relief. When you put the stories on paper, your muscles can finally let go.

✨ Put It Into Practice

🖊️ Prompt: Scan your body from your feet to the top of your head. Where do you notice tension or discomfort? Write: "What story is my [body part] trying to tell me?"

Let your body speak through your pen. Don't judge what comes up—just listen and write. Your body has wisdom you might not have known was there.