Sometimes Things Get Worse Before They Get Better: Somatic Healing & Massage

Somatic Healing, Deep Work, and the Body’s Protective Shell

If you’ve ever worked with me, there’s a phrase I probably said at least once:

“Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better.”

And I don’t just mean sore muscles or a little tenderness after a deep session.I’m talking about the stuff underneath that—the somatic unraveling that happens when we finally get close to something your body’s been holding onto for a long time.

You see, I’ve been a Sport Massage Therapist for 14 years now, and I’ve seen it time and time again:

People come in with pain—acute or chronic—and as we begin to work, something shifts. Not just physically, but emotionally… energetically.

That shift?It’s not always graceful. It’s not always easy. And it’s definitely not always immediate.

The Kinesphere Theory (Sandy-style)

Here’s something I’ve come to believe in my years of practice—maybe it’s not in textbooks, but it’s real to me:

I believe we all have a sort of protective kinesphere.

Think of it like an energetic eggshell surrounding your body. It’s your subconscious armor—the space you move within, built to keep you safe. Especially if you’ve lived with pain, injury, trauma, or just the weight of life for a while.

When we do deep work—especially with chronic stuff—we don’t just dive in and fix it.We have to work through that protective field.And that takes time, trust, and often... discomfort.

Sometimes, it takes multiple sessions just to gently knock on the door of that shell.Sometimes, we break through.And when we do?

That’s when it can get worse before it gets better.

The Somatic Response: More Than Muscle

Not everyone talks about this. Some people aren’t ready for it. And that’s okay.

But when I say “somatic,” I’m talking about the body’s emotional memory. The way you hold things—stress, grief, injury, fear—in your tissue, your posture, your breath, your gut.

So when we get in there with real bodywork, it’s not just muscles we’re touching—it’s the stuff those muscles have been guarding for years.

Sometimes that looks like:

• Feeling emotionally drained after a session

• A sudden sadness you can’t explain

• Memories or feelings rising up

• Or just needing to cry, sleep, or rest deeply after treatment

It’s wild. It’s beautiful. It’s real healing.

Not Everyone Is Ready - And That's Okay

I didn’t learn this stuff from a manual.

I was blessed to train at IPSB—shout out to my teachers, who were just f’ing amazing. They taught me how to support someone through this kind of somatic shift.

They taught me that deep work isn’t just pressure—it’s presence.

And I remember what it felt like to be on the table during my own somatic releases… to be held, not just physically, but energetically.

That kind of support?

I never forgot it.

And I try to offer it to every client, every time, in my own way.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes things get worse before they get better.

That’s not a warning. It’s not even a disclaimer, even though it's part of my mantra.

It’s a deep truth about healing.

Whether it’s a sore shoulder, an old injury, or a heartbreak stored in your ribs… healing asks us to feel, to face, and to move through.

Sometimes that means inflammation.

Sometimes it means tears.

Sometimes it means walking away from a session unsure of what just happened.

But more often than not?

It means something is finally shifting.

And that shift?

That’s where the real work begins.