Your Body Stores Emotion - This Is How Movement Heals It | Jason Van Blerk
Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition
Fascia, mood and depression research
Sarah and Jason review an RCT linking stiffer neck/upper-back fascia to depression and how self-myofascial release improved mood bias.
You think your posture is just muscles and bones. But what if the “scaffolding” that holds you together is also storing your emotions, shaping your face, and quietly dictating how you move through the world?
This week on Live Well Be Well, Jason Van Blerk - biomedical physiologist, kinesiologist, and co-founder of Human Garage - joins me to explore fascia: the body’s intelligent, water-rich network that connects everything. We unpack how rotation, breath, and vibration can unwind tension, release emotion, and restore flow - often in minutes.
Jason shares his journey from injured athlete to fascia educator, the simple daily maneuvers he teaches, and the surprising science that links stiffness, mood, and the nervous system. We also talk barefoot living, grounding, and why “be the change” is more than a quote - it’s biology.
Here’s what we dive into:
How fascia functions as an intelligent, water-based organ that sends and receives information.
Why emotions like fear and desire shape movement, posture, and even facial structure.
How counter-rotation and breath unwind restrictions more effectively than linear stretching.
What a living fascia looks like under magnification, and why dead-tissue dissections miss the point.
Why stiffness in the neck/upper back correlates with low mood, and what one session can shift.
How daily micro-manoeuvres (15 minutes) restore flow, reduce stress, and change how you see the world.
What vibration and sound do at a cellular level, and how your words “program” your body.
How barefoot walking and grounding re-charge cellular voltage and improve whole-body mechanics.
Why self-care comes first: the limits of quick fixes, and the power of simple, repeatable practices.
How to start today with one shoulder release and a gentle rotation sequence you can do anywhere.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
Low HRV: Should You Worry? Making Sense of Baselines, Trends, and Daily Swings | Dr. Andy Galpin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5any9P3bTG4
NAD+, NMN and Longevity: What Human Studies Actually Show | Dr Rupy Aujla | Be Well Momentshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBKdIkBmKwU
***
Guest
Jason Van Blerk - Co-founder, Human Garage
Instagram: @jasonvanblerk
YouTube:@HumanGarage
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
Introduction to Fascia(00:00)
Exploring the Quantum Nature of Fascia(04:11)
Fascia Magnified: A Visual Insight(10:51)
Fascia and Trauma: Storing Emotions(14:00)
Personal Transformations Through Fascia Work(18:42)
Fascia and Posture: Realigning the Body(31:30)
The Impact of Stress on the Body(36:43)
Practical Exercises for Reducing Tension(40:17)
Understanding Vibration and Its Effects(44:18)
The Importance of Barefoot Walking(01:03:45)
Concluding Thoughts on Self-Care and Healing(01:10:48)
***
Love what you’re hearing? My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
The AI-powered Podcast Player
