Introduction
Hello, My name is Hidefumi Otsuka, providing Rolfing sessions in Shibuya, Tokyo.
“Trauma” Stored in the Fascia
Since June 2015, I’ve been providing Rolfing sessions. In a previous article titled “The Difference Between Rolfing and Massage/Manual Therapy – Symptoms or Structure?”, I explored how Rolfing differs from other bodywork methods. One essential point is that working directly with the fascia itself holds deep meaning.
Why? Because psychological trauma may be stored within the fascial tissue, and by releasing fascial tension, it is sometimes possible to generate effects similar to those of counseling or coaching.
Let me explain this idea in more detail.
The Autonomic Nervous System Holds the Key – Trauma and Fascia
Peter Levine, a Rolfer and trauma therapist, observed animals and discovered a striking difference between them and humans.
When animals encounter a threat, they typically respond in one of two ways: by fighting or fleeing (“fight or flight”). However, when neither is possible, they resort to a third strategy: freezing.
All three reactions are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which is not under voluntary control.
In the video below, you can see an impala being attacked by a leopard. The impala goes into a “freeze” response and later begins to tremble—a movement that helps discharge the energy produced by the shock of the event.
Animals can continue living without being trapped by trauma because they naturally release the energy of the shock in this way.
Humans, on the other hand, tend to interrupt this process due to the presence of the neocortex. For instance, crying or shaking after a shock may be perceived as embarrassing, and this mental resistance can prevent full discharge—leaving the trauma trapped in the body.
What’s especially compelling is Levine’s perspective.
He shifts the focus away from:
Who caused the trauma, and what happened?
And instead looks at:
How incomplete discharge of shock energy gets stored in the body—especially in the fascia—and causes symptoms.
He proposed that trauma can only be truly healed when the body completes the same discharge process animals go through. He demonstrated this through the successful treatment of several clients.
Working with Fascia – Counseling Without Words
People who carry psychological trauma often seek verbal counseling to talk through their experiences. In contrast, Rolfing sessions aim to minimize verbal processing and focus instead on working with the fascia. The practitioner simply holds a space of presence to witness how the body, including the autonomic nervous system, responds and changes.
Words cannot always express everything. Many core issues lie deep beneath the surface, beyond what can be verbalized—and thus, beyond what can be resolved through conversation alone. Unless we can reach the stored memories in the body itself, true healing may not occur.
That’s why I place great importance on creating a safe and secure space.
Because only when a person feels safe can they allow themselves to change. This is what’s commonly known today as “psychological safety.” In fact, “the body knows where it truly belongs.” The practitioner’s role is not to lead, but to facilitate. Eventually, the fascia begins to move on its own and settles into a place that feels comfortable and right.
Conclusion
In this post, I shared some reflections on the relationship between fascia and trauma.
I hope that these thoughts may be helpful in some way to those who read them.