how to release anxiety & trauma from the body

2025/2/18 Edited to

... Read moreReleasing anxiety and trauma from the body is essential for holistic well-being and mental health. Bodywork techniques, such as somatic experiencing, emphasize the connection between the mind and body in processing trauma. Movement therapies like dance or tai chi encourage the release of built-up tension through physical activity. Mindfulness practices, including meditation and breathwork, can also facilitate emotional release by drawing attention to bodily sensations associated with stress. Writing or journaling your feelings helps clarify thoughts and emotions, while practices like shaking can physically shake off negativity, clearing your mind. Incorporating grounding exercises, such as deep breathing, can help regulate your nervous system and enhance feelings of safety within your body. Additionally, often overlooked, self-compassion and positive affirmations are vital in allowing yourself permission to rest and heal. Emphasizing the affirmation "I am allowed to stop" reinforces the importance of taking time for self-care as part of the healing process.

Related posts

A collage showing a woman performing various yoga stretches like child's pose, standing forward bend, and a child's pose twist, with the title 'STRETCHES TO RELEASE TRAUMA'.
A woman demonstrates the Toe Touch stretch, standing with straight legs and bending forward, followed by bending knees to prepare for child's pose, as part of trauma release stretches.
A woman performs Child's Pose, kneeling with her torso lowered to the mat, followed by a Child's Pose twist with arms extended, for 30 seconds each.
Yoga stretches to release trauma and anxiety
Yoga stretches can be incredibly powerful for releasing trauma and easing anxiety. The combination of mindful movement and deep breathing helps to calm the nervous system. When practiced regularly, these stretches create a space to process emotions, reduce stress and releasing trauma. I
Thamires Cottone | REALTOR

Thamires Cottone | REALTOR

4960 likes

Stretches to Release Trauma In Your Hips
Did you know that we hold emotional trauma in our hips? Doing deep hip opening stretches has been known to make people cry or release emotions in different ways. These are some of my favorite deep hip opening stretches to release trauma in not only the body, but in the emotions as well. Make su
Delaney

Delaney

2954 likes

Stretches to Release Trauma Stored in Hips
lThe hips are often referred to as a "storage center" for trauma, and this phenomenon can be understood through a blend of physical, emotional, and psychological perspectives. 1️⃣Physical Anatomy ✨Muscle Tension: The hip area includes major muscles that can become tight due to stress, i
Abby

Abby

9775 likes

Release emotions with these 5 stretches ❤️
Release tension and let go of stored emotions with these five powerful hip-opening yoga stretches designed to help you release trauma in the hips and feel lighter in body and mind. The hips are known to hold onto stress, tension, and unresolved emotions, and these poses gently encourage both physic
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

1534 likes

A woman in Pigeon Pose, wearing a white long-sleeve top and beige pants, demonstrating a hip-opening stretch. The image features the title '5 Stretches to Release Trauma Stored in Hips' and a 'SWIPE' arrow.
A woman in Pigeon Pose, wearing a white long-sleeve top and beige pants, looking towards the camera. The image is labeled '1. Pigeon Pose', highlighting this deep hip-opening yoga stretch.
A woman in Lizard Pose (Low Lunge), wearing a white long-sleeve top and beige pants, stretching her hips and inner thighs. The image is labeled '2. Lizard Pose (Low Lunge)', demonstrating this hip flexor stretch.
5 Yoga Stretches to Release Trauma Stored in Hips
❤️ Releasing trauma stored in the hips can be a deeply healing process. The hips are often referred to as the “emotional junk drawer” because they tend to store tension, stress, and unresolved trauma. Yoga poses that target the hip area encourage release and emotional healing. Here are the top yoga
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

1864 likes

6 ways to release trauma & anxiety 🫶🏼
my healing journey changed completely when i started addressing my body as well as my mind - the tension from trauma is stored in your body. so even if you’re addressing it mentally, you won’t be able to fully let it go until you move it through your body and process it somatically! these are
carley ◡̈

carley ◡̈

758 likes

how to release anxiety from the body!!
these tips are so relaxing and help release some of that build-up from the muscles!! let me know if you try them ;) #lemon8partner #lemon8challenge #embracingvulnerability
Belle Grubb

Belle Grubb

22 likes

A pair of bare feet stands on sand next to white sandals. The image features the title "How Unresolved Trauma is Stored in the Body & Why it Shows Up as Anxiety Later On," with the Lemon8 logo and username.
An aerial view of ocean waves crashing against a rocky coastline under a cloudy sky. A text box explains that trauma lives in the body, causing anxiety, chronic stress, or physical symptoms.
A coastal landscape shows a large cliff face, a sandy beach with people, and the ocean. A text box describes the body's danger responses and how unresolved trauma keeps the nervous system on high alert.
How Unresolved Trauma Leads to Anxiety
I wish more people knew that when there are emotions that go unresolved and unaddressed, they don't just magically vanish out of nowhere... but in reality, they get stored deeply in our bodies, where it then feels as though we get anxiety "out of nowhere" or for "no reason.&#3
Diane

Diane

81 likes

A black yoga mat, a silver laptop in a black sleeve, and a glass of water with lime slices on a wooden floor. The image features text overlay "Stretches to Release Trauma Stored in Hips," introducing the article's topic.
A person in black athletic wear taking a mirror selfie, with text overlays describing "Butterfly Stretch" and "Pigeon Pose" and their benefits for hip opening and emotional release.
A close-up of a person's lower body in a yoga pose on a mat, with a city skyline in the background. Text overlays describe "Low Lunge" and "Figure-Four Stretch" for hip and lower back tension relief.
Stretches to Release Trauma Stored in Hips
Our hips often carry tension and unresolved emotions, making stretches that target this area both physically and emotionally healing. Start with Pigeon Pose, which provides a deep release for the hip muscles, holding it for a minute or two on each side. Butterfly Stretch gently opens the inner thig
HHibs

HHibs

102 likes

Try this yoga pose to release grief from hips.
Try frog pose tonight to release grief and trauma stored in your hips. When you go through something painful, your body goes into survival mode. That can make your hips tighten without you even noticing. Grief and trauma can feel like: - tight hips - heavy legs - stuck emotions - tension
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

17 likes

Try yogi squat to release trauma and grief ❤️
Grief and trauma can live in the body — especially in the hips, where emotion holds tight until we learn to release it. When we experience trauma — whether it’s loss, heartbreak, or fear — our body naturally contracts. The hips tighten as part of the fight, flight, or freeze response, holding e
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

56 likes

Try this tonight to release grief from the hips.
Try this reclined butterfly pose tonight to release grief and trauma held in your hips. When we experience the grief of losing a partner, spouse, or soulmate, the body tries to protect us. The hips tighten. The breath shortens. The sadness settles deep in the lower belly. This gentle pose
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

35 likes

5 yoga poses to release trauma, find peace 💖
Your hips are more than just a joint; they can hold onto emotional tension and stored trauma. These 5 yoga poses are designed to help you gently release and find emotional balance: ✨ Low Lunge (Anjaneyasana): Open your hip flexors and quads while strengthening your legs. Engaging your glutes dee
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

212 likes

Try this yoga pose to release grief + trauma ❤️
If your hips feel heavy or tight with emotions you haven’t had space to release, try this tonight. Grief often hides in the hips — tightening the groin, creating tension in the inner thighs, and making the whole lower body feel heavy or stuck. Frog Pose opens the hips deeply, helping you soft
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

50 likes

Where Stress Hides In The Body
Where Stress Hides In The Body (And How To Release It) #stressrelief #stressrelease #healing #relaxation #Lemon8
It’s The Real Jay Anthony

It’s The Real Jay Anthony

80 likes

A person lies on a yoga mat with a cat, bathed in sunlight, with the title overlay "HOW TO GET OUT OF fight/flight 5 TIPS." The image introduces a guide on overcoming chronic stress.
A cozy indoor scene with a brown armchair and a plant, featuring text on stimulating the vagus nerve through activities like deep breathing, meditation, singing, cold exposure, laughter, and hugging to disengage the fight/flight response.
A person's legs in athletic wear in a gym setting, with text detailing "find you-specific coping mechanisms." Examples include taking a hot bath, journaling, watching comfort shows, dancing, guided meditation, and prayer journaling.
how to get unstuck from fight/flight ➡️
when fight/flight becomes your chronic state of being, it ends up causing a negative domino effect in your life ⤵️ ❤️‍🩹 constant anxiety ❤️‍🩹 inability to rest or relax ❤️‍🩹 poor digestion ❤️‍🩹 compromised immune system ❤️‍🩹 shallow breathing ❤️‍🩹 extreme burnout fight/flight as a chroni
carley ◡̈

carley ◡̈

291 likes

Try pigeon pose to release grief from the hips ❤️
When grief builds up in the hips, even sitting still can feel uncomfortable. Many women notice hip tightness, pressure, or deep tension in the hips when grieving — it’s one of the body’s most common places to hold sadness and emotional pain. Pigeon Pose helps open the hips in a powerful yet g
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

31 likes

Healing tools to process trauma
Healing from trauma doesn’t always mean you have to relive the pain. In fact, finding gentle ways to process trauma can allow you to move forward without re-triggering old wounds. It’s about honoring your healing journey while prioritizing emotional safety. Processing trauma in this way is crucia
Logan Dawson

Logan Dawson

451 likes

How Trauma Lives in the Body
Trauma is not held only in memory. It lives in the nervous system, muscles, breath, and instinctive responses. This is why healing cannot happen through mindset alone. You may notice hypervigilance or numbness, chronic tension or fatigue, emotional reactions that feel sudden or overwhelming, or di
Rebecca Dragonheart

Rebecca Dragonheart

15 likes

A person bends forward outdoors under a tree, with text overlaying the image that reads 'SOMATIC MOVEMENT TO relieve tension'. The Lemon8 logo and username are in the bottom left corner.
A person with long hair stands with their back to the camera, arms crossed behind them, outdoors. Text on the image says 'dance physical storytelling intuitive movement energy release'.
A person is in child's pose on a yoga mat indoors, with a black cat visible on a windowsill in the background. Text reads 'low impact exercise pilates yoga walking'.
movement to relieve tension & anxiety 🫶💞
soooo much of our anxiety is stored in our bodies! sometimes we don’t even realize we can completely change our mood with a little movement :) these are some of my go-to methods ⤵️ 🌷 dance - physical storytelling - intuitive movement - energy release 🌷 low impact exercise - pilate
carley ◡̈

carley ◡̈

278 likes

Somatic Movement For Trauma Release
June is PTSD Awareness Month. Feeling Hypervigilant? Try this 5 Minute Trauma Release #ptsdawareness #nervoussystemregulation #somaticexercises #vagusnerve #traumarelease
MoveWithRani

MoveWithRani

7 likes

Try this to release grief from the hips ❤️
If your hips feel tight, heavy, or full when you’re grieving, try this gentle hip opener tonight. When we experience loss, our nervous system shifts into fight, flight, or freeze to protect us from overwhelming pain. That protection shows up in the body, especially in the hips. The pelvis and
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

31 likes

Try this tonight to release grief from the hips.
Try this frog pose tonight to release grief, trauma, and sadness stored in your hips. When you’re grieving the loss of your partner, spouse, or soulmate, the hips become heavy with emotions we never got the chance to express — or were too painful to feel. Frog Pose slowly unlocks that emotional
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

29 likes

Release stress stored within your body 😮‍💨
Hello friends! 🍋 If you’re feeling stressed and anxious, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too, and I know how tough it can be. The good news is that there are some simple ways to help release that stress and anxiety from your body. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, taking a few deep brea
Thamires Cottone | REALTOR

Thamires Cottone | REALTOR

258 likes

Naturally Detox your Mind & Body from Head to Toe🌷
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 3 Colon Cleanse Recipes I Use to Clean my Stomach and Intestines Naturally If you’ve been feeling headaches, fatigue, weight gain, or low energy, a natural colon cleanse might be just what you need. 🍋What is a Natural Colon Cleanse? 🌸A natural colon cleanse involves f
Chalie_Baker

Chalie_Baker

545 likes

Your Body Is Holding What You Don’t Release
Everyone talks about healing… but no one teaches you how to actually release what your body is holding. Emotions don’t just disappear. They stay stored in your nervous system—showing up as tension, anxiety, fatigue, or feeling constantly “on edge.” This is how your body works: Feel → respon
Emerald Intentions ✨

Emerald Intentions ✨

681 likes

Try this yoga flow to release grief in the spine.
If grief has made your body tense or your posture tight, try this gentle Cat-Cow flow tonight. When we experience grief, the spine often becomes stiff — shoulders rounding forward, chest collapsing, breath becoming shallow. The body folds inward to protect the heart. Cat-Cow gently reverses t
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

20 likes

Try this yoga pose to release grief from the hips❤️
If your hips feel heavy or hard to relax, you may be carrying emotional pain — try this to gently let it go. Grief and trauma often settle deep into the hips — tightening the pelvis, creating soreness, and making your lower body feel stuck or closed. Pigeon Pose helps open the hips and soften
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

20 likes

8 Signs You Might Be Carrying Acute Trauma
Acute trauma isn’t just a memory. It’s when one moment shocks your body so deeply it doesn’t reset. Did any of these resonate ? If so you are not alone and you are not broken. The Listening Room is open for you to unfold when you’re ready. @SarahAtGentleGrove #traumahealing #ne
SarahAtResourceSomatics

SarahAtResourceSomatics

71 likes

Try this to release grief from your hips ❤️
If your hips have felt heavy, tight, or full since your loss… try this gentle Butterfly Pose tonight. Grief doesn’t just live in the heart, it can settle deep into the hips and pelvis, where your body tries to protect you from feeling too much at once. Butterfly Pose helps open the hips and
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

23 likes

An image titled "Somatic Awareness: Listening to the Body's Wisdom" explains that somatic awareness is about tuning into the body's felt sense to listen, not fix. It notes trauma is encoded in the body, and this work restores inner safety and presence, set against a background of water and green plants.
This image defines "What Is Somatic Awareness?" explaining that 'soma' means 'living body.' It describes exploring internal landscapes through sensation, breath, posture, and presence, emphasizing feeling over thinking for healing, set against a background of pebbles and water.
Titled "Neuroscience Behind the Practice," this image details how shifting awareness to bodily sensations engages the insula and prefrontal cortex, while softening the amygdala. This regulates the nervous system, inviting presence and sovereignty, with a rainy window background.
Somatic Awareness: Listening to the Body's Wisdom
Your body is not working against you. It's been trying to protect you all along. So many of us try to heal by overthinking, analyzing, or "figuring ourselves out," while the nervous system is still holding onto survival patterns beneath the surface. Somatic awareness invites a diffe
withlovefromchelle

withlovefromchelle

25 likes

The image displays the title '5 Ways to Heal from Relationship Trauma' over a serene night landscape. A small figure stands in a field, looking towards a lit house with mountains and a crescent moon in the background.
The image shows the first healing tip: '1. Feel the hurt you're hiding.' It's overlaid on a night scene with a small figure, a lit house, mountains, and a crescent moon.
The image presents the second healing tip: '2. Name the wound they left.' It's set against a night landscape featuring a small figure, a large tree, mountains, and a crescent moon.
5 Ways to Heal From Relationship Trauma 💔
#selfdiscovery #MentalHealth #trauma #traumahealing #relationships
Smile More 🫠

Smile More 🫠

917 likes

How to release emotional trauma
✨ How to Release Emotional Trauma 💜🔥 Healing isn’t about forgetting—it’s about releasing, integrating, and reclaiming your power. 💡 Save this post for whenever you need a healing reminder & drop a 🔥 if this resonates! 🔮 Need deeper support? My blueprint readings & energy healing session
💫The Divine Academy🌟

💫The Divine Academy🌟

83 likes

How Your Body Stores Emotions
Your body is more than bones and muscles — it’s a living archive of your experiences. Every emotion you’ve ever felt, from joy to grief, leaves a trace within you. When emotions aren’t fully expressed or processed, your body quietly holds onto them, storing tension in your shoulders, knots in your
💫 Jacquelyn 💫

💫 Jacquelyn 💫

2429 likes

A vibrant sunset scene with palm tree silhouettes, featuring the title 'Signs Your Body Is Asking For Somatic Healing' and an introduction to recognizing subtle cues for deeper healing. Includes website and social media handle.
A sunset background with palm trees, detailing 'You Feel Disconnected From Your Body' as a sign for somatic healing. It suggests grounding breathwork or self-touch to reconnect with the body. Includes website and social media handle.
A sunset background with palm trees, highlighting 'You Carry Tension That Won't Release' as a sign for somatic healing. It explains tension as stored emotional energy and suggests intuitive movement or trauma-informed shaking. Includes website and social media handle.
Signs Your Body is Asking for Somatic Healing
✨ Your body always knows. If you're experiencing anxiety, disconnection, or energetic blockages—your body may be asking for deeper somatic healing. Drop a ⚡ in the comments if this spoke to you, and save this post for the days you need a reminder to return to your body. Need support? My
💫The Divine Academy🌟

💫The Divine Academy🌟

31 likes

Anxiety Hacks To Help You Blossom 🌹
Girl growth isn’t always pretty. Especially when anxiety tries to take the wheel. But healing means learning how to self-soothe, how to sit with your emotions without letting them drown you, and how to meet your nervous system with love instead of shame. Here are a few tools that have helped
QuelleChaos🧘🏽‍♀️🔮☮️

QuelleChaos🧘🏽‍♀️🔮☮️

95 likes

The image displays the title 'Repatterning Trauma Responses' and outlines key topics: 'What is trauma, How trauma affects the nervous system, and How to begin repatterning,' set against a city skyline with buildings and a bright sky.
This image defines trauma as the body's response to an overwhelming experience, occurring when an event surpasses one's ability to process it. The text is overlaid on a warm-toned stained-glass lamp.
The image lists various forms of trauma, including Acute, Chronic, Developmental, Intergenerational, and Spiritual Trauma. The text is presented against a dark background of a brick wall and metal fence.
How to Reprogram Trauma Responses ⚡️
Your trauma isn't just in your memories, it's in your nervous system. If you feel stuck in anxiety, shutdown, or people-pleasing, your body is still running patterns it learned to survive. And during a spiritual awakening? Those patterns don't disappear, they get louder. This
withlovefromchelle

withlovefromchelle

5 likes

Try seated hip circles for grief release ❤️
Grief doesn’t just weigh on the heart — it settles deep in the hips. 🌙 When we go through emotional pain, loss, or trauma, the body naturally tenses and contracts — especially around the hips and pelvis. This area is linked to our safety, creativity, and sense of emotional flow. When grief is
Ashlee Sunshine

Ashlee Sunshine

18 likes

Hip openers to release stored trauma
Tight hip flexors pull your whole posture down. This targets your iliopsoas, a deep muscle that shortens from too much sitting—and throws off your spine alignment. Tight hips = weak core = slouchy posture. Release the root instead of fighting your back. ❤️ Like & follow for more #
Gracefully Woven

Gracefully Woven

15 likes

How to Calm Anxiety/Panic Attacks
Anxiety and panic attacks are the absolute worst and can be debilitating 😣 ⛈️Here are 5 things I do when I feel anxiety and panic starting to take over: 🌸 TEMPERATURE CHANGE -Whether it’s going outside and breathing in the cool air, letting a fan blow on your face, or washibg your face and han
Allison Obregon

Allison Obregon

124 likes

See more