13/08/2025
Grief in the Body: A Massage Therapist’s Guide
For those carrying loss in muscle and bone.
How Grief Lives in the Body
Grief is not just in the heart—it ripples through the nervous system, fascia, and muscle tissue. Loss sends the body into a prolonged stress state. Cortisol levels stay high, muscles brace for “impact,” and posture folds inward as if to protect the heart. Over time, this holding pattern can cause pain, stiffness, and a sense of heaviness.
Common areas grief holds tension:
• Neck & Shoulders – Guarding the vulnerable heart space.
• Jaw & Face – Unspoken words and unexpressed cries.
• Chest & Rib Cage – Collapsed posture restricts breath and oxygen flow.
• Upper Back – Weight of the “emotional backpack” we carry.
• Hips & Low Back – Storage of deep emotional pain and suppressed movement forward.
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Signs Grief is Stored in Muscle Tissue
• Chronic tightness with no clear physical cause
• Pain flares during anniversaries, reminders, or emotional triggers
• Shallow or restricted breathing
• Fatigue, heaviness, or a sense of being “weighed down”
• Increased sensitivity to touch or emotional release during massage
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Massage & Bodywork for Grief Release
When working with grief, our touch is slow, intentional, and deeply grounding.
Approaches that help:
• Myofascial release to soften the body’s protective holding patterns
• Gentle chest opening to encourage full breath and oxygen flow
• Neck and jaw release for unspoken grief and stress clenching
• Craniosacral therapy to calm the nervous system and invite emotional safety
• Reflexology & acupressure points for the lungs (linked to grief in Traditional Chinese Medicine)
• Long, sweeping effleurage to soothe the vagus nerve and shift the body from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest
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Client Care During Emotional Release
Grief can surface during a session through tears, shaking, or silence.
Your role is to:
• Hold a safe, nonjudgmental space
• Let the client lead the conversation—or the silence
• Offer grounding touch, deep breathing guidance, and warm wraps
• Remind them that their reaction is natural and welcome
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Closing Thought:
In grief massage, our hands speak for the heart.
We remind the body it is safe to breathe again.
