Somatic Massage

Somatic Massage to Release Emotions, Stress, and Trauma

A somatic-informed massage session with James focuses on releasing the emotions, stresses, and traumas stored within the body. This approach involves gentle and caring touch, coupled with guidance to help you explore your feelings more deeply, enabling a richer process than simply retelling the story of what happened.

A Gentle and Focused Approach

Although it is classified as a type of massage, somatic-informed massage takes an exceptionally gentle approach. Sessions often start by exploring various parts of the body, including joints and areas affecting postural alignment. The focus then shifts to areas where traumas and emotions are stored. During the process, visualisations or affirmations may be suggested, encouraging you to recite and notice the shifts within yourself.

Deeper Emotional Healing with Somatic Massage

Beyond promoting relaxation, somatic massage works deeply on emotions stored within the body and the parasympathetic nervous system. It encourages the body to process and release these stored experiences. James often describes it as similar to when an app on your phone crashes and needs attention to complete and close properly—similarly, emotions stored in the body need gentle support to be processed fully.

Processing these emotions does not mean having to relive or retell the entire event. Rather, it involves slowly moving beyond the point where you felt stuck until the emotions are fully processed, without overwhelming you.

Personalised for Your Needs

Every session is unique and customised to your specific needs. James provides a nurturing space where you can explore the connection between physical tension and emotional experiences. Somatic massage is effective for reducing stress, anxiety, and trauma-related tension, while also promoting emotional healing, relaxation, and overall well-being.

Somatic Massage vs. Acupuncture: Which to Choose?

The primary distinction between somatic-informed acupuncture and somatic massage lies in the level of physical contact. Massage involves more hands-on contact between you and the practitioner, while acupuncture uses only minimal touch to determine needle placement. If you are unsure which treatment is best for you, there’s no need to worry—the same practitioner provides both services in the same room, making it easy to switch.

Feel free to contact James with any questions or if you need help deciding. Many clients benefit from a combination of both therapies, as they are equally capable of fostering deep healing. The choice ultimately depends on what feels right for you.