How Stress Lives in Your Fascia (and What Moms Can Do About It)

Stress affects your fascia and pelvic floor. I see this everyday when treating patients. The more tension there is on a body, the more that person is typically in fight, flight, or freeze modes. These patients heal the fastest when we work on the nervous system first!


Between daycare drop-off and pick-up, patient care, managing a business, and two boys who constantly need me every 5 minutes, stress has been my constant companion. What I didn’t realize for years is that stress doesn’t just live in your brain, it lives in your fascia, the connective tissue that wraps around every muscle, organ, joint, blood vessel, and nerve. When fascia gets tight, your pelvic floor overworks, your back aches, and tension builds everywhere. Think of those knots on the tops of your shoulders and neck.

The Fascia-Stress Connection

• Fascia holds tension from chronic stress, poor posture, repetitive movements, and emotional/physical traumas

• Tight fascia restricts movement and can compress pelvic organs and muscles, making the pelvic floor work harder

• The vagus nerve regulates relaxation; when it’s underactive, fascia and muscles stay tight and those pelvic organs don't function how they should. (think constipation, urinary frequency, and pain)

Tools to Release Fascia and Stimulate the Vagus Nerve

1. Self-Massage or Rolling: Light massage, gua sha, dynamic cuppin and gentle rolling can free stuck fascia.

2. Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Humming, gargling, or slow exhalations signal your body to relax.

3. Movement Breaks: Short walks or stretching while the kids play keeps fascia from stiffening under stress.

After adding a few minutes of fascia release and vagus nerve stimulation into my day, my pelvic floor tension eased, my neck was less of a contributer to headache, and I had more patience to handle work and parenting without feeling constantly wound up.

Stress and tension don’t have to run your life.
In my Stress Reset for Moms Workshop, I show busy moms like you how to release fascia tension, calm your vagus nerve, and give you back the energy you need for the chaos of daily life. [Reserve your spot today!]