What to expect: The somatic mfr session
Before you arrive at my Nolensville home, you will be asked to ponder one question: “How am I doing spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically in this moment?” In this moment is where we will begin.
You will enter through the front door, and we will walk together to the treatment room. If you need to use the restroom or change, you will be given space to do so, and then we begin by listening either on or off the table. You will share your present state and focus for the session. This is an intentional pause to take a breath before the session begins. It gives you a chance to adjust to the room, to the quiet, to my touch, and to the commitment of being present. It gives me a chance to hear anything you want to share while also listening to your body.
My hands will be placed over or under clothing, with your permission. The work is slow. Each hold lasts between two and thirty minutes.
The key is that I do not “drive” the session. We are both listening. Reclaiming your voice-to-body connection is the center of this work. From the moment we arrive on this Earth, we are asked to disconnect from our bodies in order to make others comfortable. Toddlers can sense emotion and attempt to “please” caregivers. By the time we’re seven, our core programming has solidified how to react to survive. Our school system then teaches us to sit for uncomfortably long periods of time without fidgeting, all while ignoring our own bladders in favor of someone else’s schedule. In short, we’re taught to prioritize our bodies last.
Somatic Myofascial Release puts your body back in the priority position. Together, we find old patterns and release them. It doesn’t always look like the theater you see on Instagram; we don’t need a production to be productive.
What Does Somatic Myofascial Release Feel Like?
Somatic Myofascial Release feels more like energy work with a somatic component than massage. This work targets the fascia, which is the connective tissue that surrounds and influences every muscle, bone, fluid, and cell in your body.
Many of my clients describe the physical sensation as a slow stretch or the gentle pulling of taffy. Initially, you may feel little to no sensation, but as we maintain each release, the body begins to awaken.
Common sensations during a session:
-
Physical Release: Bubbles, popping, muscle twitches, or pulses.
-
The “Voice”: Vocalizations like sighs, moans, or even words that have been suppressed.
-
Movement: A desire to ‘unwind’ or move your body. Unlike in a classroom, there is no requirement to stay still here. If you want to move, move.
-
The Drift: Feelings of sleepiness, yawning, or seeing colors and shapes.
-
The Emotional Surge: Unexpected joy, laughter, or tears.
-
Nothing: You may feel absolutely nothing. That is an acceptable and valuable experience.
We will also work with your fascial voice. This “voice” is often a quiet whisper that speaks away from where my hands are actually resting. For example, I may be holding a release over your bladder, but you feel the response in your shoulders. We listen to that whisper together using curiosity and non-judgment. Because this work is about moving out of your “thinking” brain and into your felt experience, you may notice a variety of sensations. None of these are “wrong”; they are simply your nervous system responding.
After the Session: Nurturing the Shift
After a session, I ask that you protect and nurture whatever you are experiencing. If it is pleasurable, stay in that space as long as you can. If it is uncomfortable, honor that your body is processing a pattern it has held for a long time.
Possible post-treatment experiences:
-
The “Healing Crisis“: Temporary fatigue, headaches, or a brief intensification of symptoms as stress hormones adjust. Drink water and rest. If you want to learn more about the healing crisis process, please head here.
-
Emotional Sensitivity: Vivid dreams, irritability, or feeling “raw.” These feelings are coming to the surface to be felt, not managed.
-
Physical Freedom: Decreased stress, lightness, or a sense of bodily bliss.
-
The Resistance: You may feel a reluctance to return. This is often the “Protector” part of your brain, reacting to the work’s vulnerability.
-
Nothing: Again, feeling “the same” is a valid part of the process.
The “Truth” Comparison: Somatic MFR vs. Massage
To help you decide if this session is right for you, it’s helpful to understand how Somatic Myofascial Release differs from traditional massage.
-
Clothed and Collaborative: Unlike traditional massage, this is a clothed modality. This allows your body to move and process without the restriction of heavy blankets. We will agree on a clothing plan that ensures you feel secure, private, and in control.
-
Stillness Over Sliding: Massage uses gliding and sliding strokes to manipulate muscle. MFR is “still” work. My hands stay in one place, applying slow, gentle pressure to wait for the fascia to respond.
-
Dry Touch: I do not use oils or lotions. Lubrication makes the hands slide; we need a dry grip to connect with the fascial system. Please refrain from applying lotion before your session.
-
Depth over Distance: A massage usually tries to cover your whole body in 60 minutes. In a somatic session, we are focused. We may spend the entire hour on a single hold. Because the fascia form an interconnected web, a release in one area often reverberates throughout your entire system.
When Should I Book Again?
When you feel the urge to book another session, I want you to stop and ask: Is this my body asking, or is it my mind?
Our minds can become addicted to the “process” of healing. Spoiler alert: The goal of our session is not for me to heal you, but to open the door so you can heal yourself.
While my door is always open to you, the most powerful work we can do is to break the pattern of believing we are “broken” and in need of constant fixing. We are whole exactly as we are, even as we move toward better versions of ourselves.
After our session, we can discuss your specific next steps, whether that is a return to the table when you hit a plateau, or a focus on your own self-regulation.