12/16/2025
The holidays are joyful… and often stressful.
And your body feels it too.
Stress doesn’t just live in your mind — it shows up in your muscles and fascia. When stress levels rise, the nervous system stays on high alert, increasing muscle tension. Over time, this can contribute to myofascial pain, inflammation, stiffness, and those familiar “knots” that don’t seem to go away.
Common stress-sensitive areas include the neck and shoulders, jaw, upper back, hips, and low back. These areas are particularly vulnerable when we’re sitting more, sleeping less, or carrying more emotional and physical load during the holidays.
A few ways to help manage stress-related musculoskeletal pain:
• Gentle movement and mobility work
• Intentional breath workto calm the nervous system
• Purposeful rest. Think meditation and adequate sleep
• Red Light Therapy for cellular health
• Physical therapy or massage to address myofascial tension, movement patterns, and pain at the source.
During this busy season, remember to take some time to check in with your physical wellbeing. If stress is showing up as pain, we’re here to help you move through the holidays with more ease. 💙