Embodying emotions by de-armouring
Our emotional armouring is the habitual patterns of tension we hold in our bodies throughout our lives. We somatically defend ourselves when we are faced with overwhelming emotions, such as pain or fear. Although there is no rule for what is ‘too much’ for the body’s system and this kind of protection serves us well at the time, but at some point if the tension is built up and not released, (which is where de-armouring can help), this will manifest into physical symptoms.
For example, if we are involved in a serious accident, we may need to defend against feeling a huge amount of pain while we get out of a situation that continues to be dangerous. By contrast, in school, we may have needed to defend against feeling even a mild amount of fear, because we discovered that if we showed signs of weakness we would be bullied. If we don’t feel safe and attuned around our primary caregivers our body maybe in a state of constant tension or contraction and as a result we are unable to feel an appropriate emotional response to bring the nervous system back into balance.
As our lives progress, much of this armouring no longer serves us. When we have agency over our situation, it is better to feel our emotions, because emotions are an embodied experience. There are two very significant, rational, reasons for that: firstly, when our emotions are blocked, our decision-making is substantially impaired because we are missing a vital source of information: how we feel about the situation. Our body’s are important messengers to an experience so that we can be in the moment and make informed choices. Secondly, when an emotional response exceeds our capacity to feel, the response 'turns into' a symptom (which could be, for example, a chronic illness or a repetitive behavioural reaction).
Once we let go of our emotional armour and feel more attuned to our inner landscape we can feel more connected and alive; both our internal and external experience is more aligned.
De-armouring can happen through any process that results in the re-setting of our physiology away from chronic tension or hypo relaxation. That can include breathwork, meditation, massage, yoga, somatic experiencing and of course full body de-armouring, which combines breath, sound, movement and touch in a gentle manner. Everything in my sessions with clients are an invitation and nothing is forced. De-armouring may well be slow and without an immediate sign of progress, but that's usually the best way to make changes that have huge lasting impact.
The following section will be to discuss two areas of the body and the emotions which are associated with both these areas:
The Heart Area: Grief, Loss, and Emotional Hurt
The heart area is central to feelings of love, connection, and loss. Pain or heaviness here is often associated with grief or emotional wounds, such as heartbreak or betrayal.
Pain in the Heart Area: Can feel like tightness, heaviness, or even sharp pain. This sensation often arises from sadness, loss, or unexpressed love. Chronic stress can also cause physical effects like increased heart rate or chest tension.
Releasing Emotions: Practices like heart-focused meditations, journaling, or simply allowing oneself to cry can help ease the burden. Physical exercises like yoga’s “heart-opening” poses can also promote healing.
The Throat: Communication and Suppressed Expression
The throat is often where we “hold back” our words. As children we may not have been allowed to say something or we were told off for being ‘too much’. Suppressing the urge to speak, express, or cry can create tension and even physical pain in the throat.
Pain in the Throat: Linked to unspoken emotions, fear of confrontation, or feeling silenced. People who suppress anger, sadness, or their truth often report tightness or soreness in the throat.
Releasing Emotions: Singing, chanting, or talking to a trusted friend can help open this area, to feel lighter. In my sessions I de-armour the throat both externally and internally which can help release tension at the the back of the throat, clients express how much more open and lighter they feel in that area. See my blog post on what is throat de-armouring?
Feel free to message me with what works for you.
