Have you wondered why it is that people get tense when they remember something traumatic or stressful? There is a lot of emerging evidence that the body tissues can contain memory of previous events, including trauma or stress or previous situations. Also, by changing the body using techniques such as massage, yoga, myofascial therapy or stretching, it can help people recover from previous stressful events.

If you don’t have time to read more, then the short answer is Yes, it does seem like the body stores memories. This is why tuning into your physical responses helps you also understand your emotional and thought processes. So go and book yourself a massage, yoga class or myofascial therapist now. Exercise such as cycling or swimming is also very useful.

If you are interested in reading more, then read the summary below (or read the full article, which is attached by the link at the end). After reading, go and book yourself a massage, yoga class or myofascial therapist. :-)

Article summary..

The idea that tissues may possess some sort of memory is a controversial topic calling for research and clinical exploration. Many bodyworkers, at some point in their practice, have experienced phenomena that may be interpreted as representing a release of memory traces when working on dysfunctional tissues. This feeling has been accompanied by some type of sensory experience, for the therapist and/or the patient. In some cases, early traumatic experiences can be recalled. When this happens, the potency of the memory may be erased or eased, along with restoration of tissue function. Hence the questions: can memories be held in the fascia? Are these memories accessible during physical massage? Modern research has proposed a variety of different interpretations as to how memory might be stored in soft tissues, possibly involving other forms of information storage not exclusively processed in the brain.

It appears that the body, the physical and energetic system, is capable of conducting messages. It is an informational network that distributes regulatory signals throughout the body, coordinating cellular and extracellular activities involved in growth and regeneration. It is suggested that manual therapy might affect various forms of memory, producing profound tissue changes.

Full article link.. https://www.iahe.com/docs/articles/does-fascia-have-memory.pdf

Reference

Does fascia hold memories? FASCIA SCIENCE AND CLINICAL APPLICATIONS: EDITORIAL, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies (2014) 18, 259-265

Keeping sane is a priority. If you aren’t looking after yourself then how can you help anyone else. Read on to see how having a little bit of focus during these uncertain times can help you:

- Make time for regular self-care. Schedule it in your diary so you do it regularly.

- Find a project that motivates you, either a hobby or for work or with another person, and keep it going towards a goal.

- If you don't yet have an idea then search internet photos with key words that are inspirational (eg. Health, Home-business, Fun, Connection, etc) until you find your inspiration. Make finding your goal your first step and think on this regularly until you find what motivates you.

- Make the goal specific enough that it can be achieved. Make it something you want. For example, a goal can be as simple as deciding to have a relaxing lavender bath at least once a week for the next 4 months, updating your resume, learning a new recipe, etc.

- Limit how much you watch media. This is an important step.. look at essential news but limit the rest of your watching of the media.

- Keep in touch with friends. Talk with each other about what you enjoy doing and about achieving your goals.

- Get a routine going that improves your mental and physical health. Think of achieving your goal as a wiggly line rather than a straight one so that when you have setbacks you view it as part of the process and keep going.

- Set goals for fun or productivity and then break them down into small achievable steps and just focus on achieving that one next step. This helps us to feel balanced and grounded when the news around us can seem so uncertain.

- If you've got something you always wanted to start doing at home but haven't done it yet, now is the time.

This is a free event so tell your friends and work colleagues..

Your work, your way: Boosting your wellbeing, passion and meaning at work

Date: Thursday 2 December                            Time: 7-8pm AEDT (This is 4pm Perth, WA time)  

When you think about work are you feeling tired? Wanting a change? Or motivated for the future? Whatever your job or industry, there are psychological tactics you can use to boost your wellbeing, passion and meaning at work. Whether you live to work, or work to live, everyone benefits from mentally healthy workplaces.

Come and listen to experts in psychology and workplace wellbeing speak about what you can do to take control of your working life.    Register here https://psychology-au.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_woYyZV6gR0qJIl8qGVyJAA