News: January 2026

What Massage Actually "Releases"

You've heard of it. You may even have felt it. As a massage therapist, I live in a world where "release" is everywhere. Myofascial release, soft tissue release, joint release, trigger point release. If we're not releasing something, are we even doing bodywork?

Recently I read an article by pain science writer Paul Ingraham that finally put words to something I've been quietly wrestling with for years. Essentially, if you felt a release ... you felt a release. That doesn't necessarily mean there was a change in the body's tissues. And that distinction matters.

What do we mean when we say "release"?

At its core, a release typically means: something feels better than it did a few minutes ago. It's simple, but it's not nothing.

The problem is when we inflate that feeling into an official-sounding physical story:

• Fascia getting "broken up"
• Muscles being "loosened"
• Joints "realigning"
• Tissues being "reorganized"

So ... what's actually changing?

The answer is less magical, but more powerful. Releases are most often sensory shifts, not structural miracles.

Your nervous system notices:

• Novel pressure
• Safe touch
• Nurturing attention
• A change in expectation

For years, pain science has told us that sensory input can change pain. Sometimes temporarily, sometimes dramatically. The change can feel huge, emotional, and real - which it is. That melting, sighing, "ahhh" feeling is your brain saying, "Okay. We can turn the alarm down a notch." And that is not trivial.

But what about tight fascia? Muscles? Trigger points? Joints?

A brief summary:

• Fascia is tough stuff. Shockingly tough. It doesn't actually melt or change shape under hands or tools.
• Muscles absolutely respond to touch, but usually briefly and variably.
• Trigger points are fascinating, real-feeling sore spots that might change, but science is still playing catch-up there.
• Joints can sometimes feel like they've suddenly loosened or opened up, but that doesn't mean there was a structural shift or that they were even "out of place" to begin with. (This remains the case even when you hear or feel a "pop." The sound is simply gasses escaping from joint fluid in response to a sudden change in pressure.)

Could physical changes happen sometimes? Sure. Are they permanent or reliably repeatable? Probably not. And that's okay.

Why this makes massage even better

Massage works primarily through sensation, perception, and nervous system modulation. The result is less pain, more ease, better movement, and feeling more at home in your body. That's the release.

I still use the word, but sparingly. Sometimes "release" is the best word we've got to describe a sensation. But I no longer use it to mean "I fixed something." More like, "Something shifted - and your system liked it."

And to me, that's honest, respectful, and pretty darn wonderful.

Source: Paul Ingraham, PainScience.com

Relieve Stress and Anxiety with Heart-Opening Self-Massage

When life gets stressful, we often close off our hearts - our chest tightens, our breathing shortens, and our energy contracts. But we have the power to choose openness, to breathe more freely, and to reconnect with compassion and calm.

In this video, I'll guide you through a heart-opening self-massage and stretch sequence to gently relax your:

• Pectoral muscles (front of the chest)
• Diaphragm and ribs for deeper breathing
• Front of the throat and upper chest to encourage ease and emotional openness

You'll learn how to use your hands (and a table or chair if you want) to melt away tension, expand your breath, and create a sense of spaciousness in your heart center.

This video is perfect for stress relief, emotional reset, chest tightness, and breathwork support.

What's new with me ...

Jesse, Sienna, and I had a wonderful holiday season, celebrating Christmas and Chanukah with family, playing in the snow, and having a cozy New Year's Eve. On New Year's Day, Sienna and a friend had a blast bouncing up and down at Urban Air Trampoline Park.

We also worked hard over the break, redesigning Sienna's bedroom. And Sienna got her hair cut short!

A holiday highlight was our trip to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for a walk through the incredible Lightscape!