Type of therapy?

Hi, I remember reading about a type of therapy (I can't remember the name) where the theory is that many of the emotions and traumas we have experienced settle into our muscles, and each muscle holds a memory of the emotion or trauma that we experienced, resulting in illness, and pain/sensitivity. Has anyone ever heard of this? I believe there is a technique that certain psychotherapists use to "release" the emotion trapped in our muscles, resulting in better overall health (both physical and mental).

I brought this up to my instructor in school (Massage Therapy) and she didn't know. She brought up techniques used by Massage Therapists to release muscle tension, but I know I read somewhere about this type of therapy, and I believe it was done in Psychotherapy, and not Massage Therapy. Thanks to anyone who might know! (Or not know, for that matter )

Zen

Ummmm...sensorimotor psychotherapy? I'm not sure.

But here are a couple very good books on the topic:

The Body Remembers

Waking the Tiger

Thanks, Emily! I will check out those links.

Zen

You could also ask someone who knows about yoga, as yoga gets into that too.

I know it under The Relaxation Response... that might not be the term you heard, but I'll bet it is the procedure??? http://www.ucop.edu/humres/eap/relaxationrespone.html

Here's another take on it: Progressive Muscle Relaxation http://www.chronic-pain-haven.com/relaxation.html

and this: http://www.satyamag.com/nov01/drier.html

Thanks Rapunzel and Sky! I found the word that I was looking for, and I found a site www.alternativesforhealing.com.

The method in question is called Kinesiology (strange, I learned about this definition in school!) which is a study of the movement of muscles. Anyway, I remember being in the hospital, and receiving literature about it, and other alternative healing methods. It was during a meeting about stress and self care, and a psychologist was the one telling us about it.

I woke up this morning remembering the definition, so I looked it up online and came up with the above site.

Best Wishes,
Zen

oh yeah. lol That is the movement of muscles (and other such things) but I didn't realize it had changed to encompass holding the pain and memories also. Kewl.