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The Body Memory Phenomenon in Massage Therapy

By Jonathan Tripodi, NCTMB  |  About the Author

Recurrent symptoms commonly treated by massage therapists, such as tension, pain, poor alignment and movement problems, can be caused by body memory - a phenomenon in which stress from past experiences is held in the body. Although the body memory phenomenon was discovered years ago, it has only recently been validated by science.

The Evolution of Body Memory
Historically, it has been the brain alone which has been considered the source of the body’s memory and intelligence. However, pioneers in biophysics and cellular biology have recently discovered that every cell is like a mini-brain - capable of receiving, storing and transmitting thoughts, emotions and sensations – the building blocks of human experiences.

Since the early 1900’s, scientists, physicians and therapists speculated on the concept of body memory. Only recently, has science validated its existence. Earlier references for body memory were cellular memory, tissue memory, somatic memory, energy cysts and frozen time conglomerates.

Recent Scientific Discoveries
In the 1990's, world renowned neuroscientist and pharmacologist, Dr. Candace Pert, conducted break through research which provided evidence that chemicals, called neuropeptides, attach to cells and deliver encoded messages of emotion. In 1999, her book “ Molecules of Emotion” revealed that feelings are not localized in the brain but are chemically present within and around the cells of the body.

In 1992, former medical school professor and research scientist, Dr. Bruce Lipton, discovered that the cell’s membrane (outer layer), functions like an organic computer chip equivalent to a mini-brain. In the lab, he removed all the inner organs of the cell and observed that the cell membrane continued to function - revealing a brain-like intelligence in the membrane itself.

At the turn of the 21 st century, Stuart Hameroff, MD, a professor at the University of Arizona and authority on cellular consciousness, produced compelling research that further revealed that the cell membrane receives stores and transmits human experiences with the aid of a specialized protein called collagen.

The Body: A Living Matrix
In his book “ Energy Medicine in Therapeutics and Human Performance,” Dr. James Oschman compiled an unprecedented anthology of historical research from multiple disciplines. He describes how connective tissue completely interconnects all the cells of the body, penetrates the cell membrane and interfaces with the genetic material (DNA). Dr. Oschman refers to this vast web-like continuum, composed primarily of hydrated collagen, as a living matrix that communicates human experience via charged subatomic particles (electricity), vibration and light.

Connective tissue intimately surrounds and interconnects every other structure in the body, including cells. Collagen is the primary ingredient of connective tissue. When connective tissue is hydrated by the body’s fluids, it becomes a crystalline semi-conductor of energy. According to recent scientific discoveries outlined by Dr. Oschman and others, this crystalline matrix is capable of storing, recalling and processing consciousness and memory throughout the entire body.

Collagen consists of microtubules, smaller proteins which are suspected to be the information keepers of the body. The theory is that microtubules arrange themselves in specific sequences that encode and store the many facets of human experience. When microtubules disassemble, memory from past experiences is recalled and released through the body.

The Freeze Response
When an experience exceeds a person’s unique threshold for sensation, emotion or psychological acceptance, the body’s fight or flight response is activated. First, the body is triggered to take action by dealing with the stressor head-on, i.e. fight; or by getting away from the stressor, i.e. flight. When the person is unwilling or unable to confront or escape the threatening or overwhelming experience, they freeze.

The freeze response is triggered due to a perceived or actual state of helplessness. Similar to the “deer in the headlights” effect, when the body freezes it becomes tense and immobile. While in the protective state of the freeze response, experience is stored within the body and remains stored until the person comes out of the freeze response.

Studies indicate that most animals come out of the freeze response immediately after a threatening event is over at which time the shake as the energy of stress (electricity) is discharged through their body.

In his book, Waking the Tiger, Phd psychologist Peter Levine notes that human beings can and often do remain in the freeze response long after a stressful event has passed and therefore can accumulate body memory for years. This may be one important reason why so many individuals suffer from the same reoccurring pain, tension and stress.

Effects of Body Memory
The effect of long term body memory is body armor – a palpable and visible protective posturing and hardening of the body. Years of unresolved experiences create hardened tissues that fixate movement and pull the body out of its natural alignment. Common deviations are a forward head, elevated shoulders, rounded upper back, increased lumbar lordosis, protruding abdomen, unbalance hips and rotated shoulder and hip joints. Body armor is evident in people of all ages, including children and the elderly.

Signs & Symptoms
Anywhere in the body that is tense, tender, painful or hard is a likely indicator of body memory, especially if it has been that way for a long time. The most common symptoms of body memory are movement problems, spasm, pain, fatigue, mal-alignment of the spine and joints, headaches, stress, phobias and recurrent emotional challenges. Fatigue is often experienced because it takes energy to suppress body memory, especially unresolved emotional energy. Michael Ryce, Ph.D., author of, “Why is This Happening to Me Again,” believes that as much as 90% of our personal energy is used to suppress body memory. The question isn’t if massage clients have body memory, but how much and to what degree.

Treating Body Memory
For the past fifteen years, I have specialized in body memory transformation. I have learned that body memory is a natural byproduct of life and should be released regularly to maintain health, movement and vitality.

As a massage therapist, your touch can bring awareness of the freeze response and begin to release body armor. With training, you can deepen your therapeutic effectiveness to include body memory. Below is a five step hands-on protocol I teach at the Body Memory Recall seminars which I developed in 1997. This protocol has proven over the years to provide consistent results facilitating body memory transformation in all systems of the body.

Step 1: Lay your hands on the body, chakra or energy field first. Contact only establishes trust and begins the release of the freeze response. It also gives you time to become aware of the resistances or barriers to movement under your hand.

Step 2: As the body softens, add pressure & stretch in the direction of ease until you engage another movement barrier. Movement barriers can be subtle to obvious and are present within the human energy field, muscles, fascia, joints and bones.

Step 3: Maintain pressure and stretch at the movement barrier without force over time until increased movement is felt.

Step 4: Gently and slowly add pressure and stretch in the direction of increased movement until another barrier is felt.

Step 5: Repeat the protocol from step 2.

Be aware that body memory cannot be forced to release, only supported. The presence of body memory indicates that a person is still actively protecting them self from a past, feeling, sensation or awareness. Underlying protection is fear. Even with the best intentions, force causes the body to protect even more. Begin with contact only, then lighter sustained touch that deepens gradually as the body softens and releases.

A Call for Education & Training
I have discovered that 95% or more of my massage clients have never heard of body memory. Although they may exercise, eat well and receive good massage care, they still suffer from recurrent tension and pain that I have found to be rooted in unresolved body memory.

Clearing body memory is crucial for individuals to achieve a healthy, vital pain-free body.