Hi, I’m Abbi, founder of Studio6, and I’m about to say something that might ruffle a few feathers: chuck away the foam rollers and stop paying for all those sports massages—at least for now. Don’t get me wrong; there’s a time and place for these tools. But if your body is constantly screaming out in pain, there’s a good chance it’s not just about tight muscles or poor posture. It’s time to look deeper.
We’re so quick to treat the symptom when it comes to pain. We think, “My back hurts, I’ll stretch it out,” or “My neck feels tight, I’ll book a massage.” But here’s the thing: physical pain often has psychological roots. If you’re someone who’s anxious, highly stressed, or never makes time for real rest, that pain has to go somewhere. And often, it shows up in your body.
The Link Between Physical and Psychological Pain
It’s no secret that our minds and bodies are connected, but we tend to think of them as separate entities. “My back pain is physical, and my stress is mental.” It’s not that simple. An anxious mind can create an anxious body. When we’re constantly in a state of stress, our bodies are in fight-or-flight mode, even when there’s no physical threat present. Our muscles tense up, our breathing gets shallow, and our bodies brace for impact—except the impact never comes. And if we stay in this state for too long, that tension becomes chronic, turning into pain, tightness, or discomfort that no amount of foam rolling can fix.
The truth is, our bodies are incredibly intelligent. They speak to us, sending out signals when something isn’t right. If we ignore these signals long enough, they get louder. If we still don’t listen, they manifest as pain, illness, or even injury. It’s like your body is screaming, “Pay attention to me!” And yet, instead of looking at the root cause, we grab the foam roller, take painkillers, or stretch it out, hoping it will go away.
Emotional Repression and the Body’s Response
Women, in particular, are conditioned from a young age to keep the peace, stay calm, and avoid showing anger. We’re taught to be agreeable, smile through discomfort, and keep the status quo. But emotional repression comes at a cost. When we push down feelings of anger, stress, or frustration, those emotions don’t just disappear—they show up in the body. Have you ever felt a tight knot in your stomach before a tough conversation? Or noticed a rash forming on your neck when you felt anxious but tried to hide it? That’s your body reacting to suppressed emotions.
And it’s no wonder that autoimmune diseases and conditions like arthritis are more prevalent in women. Research shows that women are more likely to suppress their emotions, especially anger. This suppression puts our bodies in a state of chronic stress, which weakens our immune system and triggers inflammation. It’s not just about “managing stress”—it’s about recognising that unexpressed emotions have a physical impact.
Healthy Conflict, Healthful Anger
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But I can’t just start showing my anger whenever I feel it.” Fair point. But here’s the thing—anger, when expressed healthily, is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s essential. Anger can be a signal that something isn’t right, that a boundary has been crossed, or that something needs to change. Instead of swallowing that anger or suppressing it, we need to find healthy ways to express it. Because if we don’t, it doesn’t just disappear—it gets stored in the body, manifesting as pain, tension, and discomfort.
At Studio6, we don’t just look at the symptom; we dig deeper into the root cause. When a client comes in with recurring pain, my first question isn’t, “Have you stretched today?” It’s, “When was the last time you took an intentional rest?” “When was the last time you slept well and weren’t kept up all night by your mind racing with thoughts?” More often than not, the pain isn’t just physical—it’s the body’s way of saying, “I’m overwhelmed, I’m stressed, and I need a break.”
Why We Emphasise the ‘Fluffy’ Stuff
This is why at Studio6, we emphasise what some might call the “fluffy” stuff—mindfulness, meditation, rest. These practices aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re essential for resetting the mind-body connection. When we ignore the need for rest, we’re ignoring the opportunity to let our bodies and minds recover. And in a world that glorifies hustle culture and measures success by how much you produce, it’s a radical act to slow down.
We’re not here to measure success based on productivity or how much you can push through. We’re not here to “do the most.” In fact, constantly pushing without resting makes us less productive in the long run because we end up burnt out, both mentally and physically.
An Anxious Mind Equals an Anxious Body
The connection between an anxious mind and an anxious body is real, and it’s powerful. The gut and the brain, for example, are deeply connected—what we think affects how we feel physically, and vice versa. When our minds perceive a threat (even if it’s just a looming deadline or a difficult conversation), our bodies react as if the threat is physical. The heart races, the stomach churns, and muscles tense. These are the same processes that would occur if we were facing an actual physical threat, like being chased by a predator. The problem is, the predator isn’t real; it’s in our minds. But our bodies don’t know the difference.
We live in a chronically stressed environment, and our bodies are constantly in this state of high alert. This is why we’re seeing more and more cases of chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, and anxiety-related illnesses. Our bodies are screaming out for help, but the solution isn’t another massage or another foam roller session. The solution is going inward, addressing the stress, and finding healthy ways to manage it.
The Mind-Body Connection: It’s All One
It’s time we stop thinking of the mind and body as separate entities. They are deeply connected, and one affects the other. At Studio6, we recognise this connection, and that’s why we work on mind, body, and soul. We’re here to help you unpick the narratives that have been running your life for so long, so you can rewrite them. We’re here to create a space where you can find rest, connect with your body, and allow it to heal in ways that go beyond the physical.
So, if you’re feeling that familiar ache, that nagging pain that won’t go away, maybe it’s time to ask yourself: “What’s my body trying to tell me?” Instead of reaching for the foam roller, maybe the answer lies in sitting still, breathing deeply, and giving yourself the rest and space you truly need.
Lots of love,
Abbi, founder of Studio 6
