“Unwinding” – How to release trauma from the body
Has anyone ever told you to relax – you need to switch off? Or maybe you’ve told yourself a thousand times that you need to relax (like me!). Well, today I want to talk to you about the word “unwinding” and how it has taken on a completely different meaning to me – and how it can help release trapped trauma in your body and cells.
What is “deceleration”?
I always thought “unwind” was just a word that meant calming down, relaxing, watching Netflix for example – you know, things like that. However, this changed when I visited my massage therapist for visceral manipulation treatment.
We talked as he worked on the parts of my stomach that were “stuck and embedded”. If you are not aware of the benefits of visceral manipulation, I strongly recommend that you do your own research. It made a HUGE difference in my healing journey and my intense PMS symptoms!
However, while we were talking, he brought up this concept of “unwinding”. The Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System has a great explanation for this, and I’ve added some of my observations:
The word “unwind” refers to a repair process for the tightly “twisted” areas of our body. This refers to the tight, deep muscle and connective tissue in our physical body. The tightness we have in our body is usually a response to an emotional and / or physical trauma. An interesting note on this: Sometimes long-term tension in the body can lead to both tight and weak / flaccid cores.
In their experience, most people begin to form early in life, and once it is in place, it persists as a protective mechanism. The past trauma basically triggers the fight or flight response which “gets stuck” in the middle of the swing as we usually stop the process. People seldom allow the fight or flight process, as is the case in nature. Therefore, a traumatized deep core like a metal spring that is tightly coiled and has energy within it prevents graceful, coordinated movements as well as free flowing conscious emotional expression.
The reality is that we use an incredible amount of energy to maintain this tension and the associated emotional charge. We find ways to adjust our physical coordination, posture, personality and emotions; Answers about tension.
There are so many great points in this article, and I highly recommend reading it in full – but I want to focus on these three points specifically:
1.) “Unwinding” is basically a body movement that is used to express yourself and to physically release the trauma it contains.
This article put it best – emotional expression – and there is no right or wrong way to do it! Start breathing and literally start moving wherever the body wants to go. This movement signals your brain and body to move through the trauma it is holding onto and to safely release it.
The above article recommends starting this form of trauma resolution with a slight stretch with diaphragmatic breathing. This type of mouth breathing activates the sympathetic autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight or flight response. At the same time, deep connect breathing is actually responsible for building an actual physical charge in the body. This is because oxygen is converted into energy in the body.
That being said, you should move around as your body commands – not based on anyone else or what is recommended.
This is your journey from your traumas So honor this space!
I like to think of it as a dance / movement for the soul, and isn’t it true that we FEEL so much better when we dance and let go? The same principles apply here.
2.) Usually we do not allow our body to complete the trauma process or the “fight or flight” response. Since we are not allowing it to come to its full completion due to our own fear and discomfort (because trauma does not feel!), We stop the free flowing energy and healing that comes with the process taking place. When you actually MOVE your physical body the process can be continued to completion and in return you can begin to really heal those traumas.
3.) The physical pain / tightness we experience is usually an emotional or physical response to trauma we have experienced. Many people have chronic pain, but what they often fail to investigate is why is this pain there?
For example, neck pain could actually be related to a knee injury trauma that you had years ago. This is just an example of course, but it makes sense, just because you have ____ pain in the _____ location doesn’t mean the trauma occurred there.
Our bodies react differently to different situations, so stay open as you explore why You have a certain pain in a certain place. For example, why you have high calprotectin levels but no other symptoms, or what important message an abscess is conveying to you. What is the message your body wants to convey to you? You can see this has been a recurring theme across the LTYG blog.
Use techniques that actually UNLOCK the trauma
Light, gentle body movements or emotional expression can signal your body that you are fine and that you can begin liberation.
Whether it’s breath work, EFT tapping, emotional expression (or whatever your chosen technique is), Jini advises making sure that you are both exploring the awareness of the trauma / pattern / belief and actually going into the cells and tissues.
So make sure that with every therapy you use, both layers are accessed and integrated because that’s actually how you release it from the body so it does not get stuck and is held there.
This is why Jini created their groundbreaking Lazer Tapping healing course for our LTYG readers and others struggling with chronic health issues, disempowerment, lack of abundance, unsupportive relationships, and boring lives. Because our unresolved / unhealed manure is holding us back!
I have personally found tapping to be so helpful in “developing” and releasing any trapped trauma I have experienced, and I use it in conjunction with meditation on a daily basis. You can join Jini for a free session here!
Did you find something helpful to resolve trauma? Let’s share our resources with one another in the comments below!
Linsy is Jini’s assistant. From a highly sensitive / reactive case of ulcerative colitis to complete freedom from medication and surgery using exclusively natural methods, Linsy understands the interplay of mind / body / soul on the healing path firsthand.