Your Body Is Holding Stress—Here’s How to Let It Go

Ever have days when your shoulders feel glued to your ears from tension? 

Or your jaw is aching because you’ve been clenching for hours without realizing it?

That’s not “just tension”...

That’s your body physically holding onto stress!

If you’re stuck in go-go-go mode, juggling work, family, and never-ending to-do lists, your body is probably carrying way more stress than you realize.

You already know it isn’t healthy to carry all that baggage, so here’s what you can actually DO about it:

Enter: “Somatic Stress Release”

It’ll help you release stress from your body instead of just trying to manage it in your head.

It might sound “woo-woo,” but it’s not, I promise. 

It simply uses gentle movements and breathing patterns to reset your nervous system and build mind-body awareness.

Here are the most common places our San Jose clients hold tension (and why it might show up!)  (do any of these sound familiar?):

• Neck & shoulders: “I’m carrying the weight of the world.”
• Jaw: Unspoken words or clenching without realizing it.
• Low back & hips: Tension tied to feeling unstable or unsupported.
• Chest: Shallow breathing, anxiety, or pent-up emotions.
• Gut/stomach: Digestive upset or emotional overwhelm.

Below is a quick somatic release routine you can try right now.

TIP: It takes about 3-5 minutes and might look kind of weird, so you probably want to do it somewhere private.

1. Body scan – Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and slowly scan from head to toe. Acknowledge areas that feel tight or tense, but don’t let your brain go down the rabbit hole of judging yourself for being stressed.
   
   
2. Neck & jaw release – Gently roll your head side to side. Open your mouth wide like a yawn, then slowly close it. (This is one of my favorites.)
   
   
3. Shoulder rolls – Roll your shoulders up, back, and down 5-10 times. Breathe while you do it. (Rolling your shoulders back can also help counteract the effects of sitting all day.)
   
   
4. Shake it out – Literally. Stand up and gently shake out your hands, arms, shoulders, and legs.
   
   
5. Deep breath + sigh – Take a big inhale, and let it go with an audible sigh. Repeat a few times.

It seems simple and might feel a little strange at first, but building a strong mind-body connection can make a BIG difference over time.

Try it and let me know how it works for you!

Committed to your success,
The Method3 Fitness Team