Bodywork Support During Times of

Grief, Loss, Burnout, & Life Changes

How do you tend to your body during difficult times?

If you are anything like most other humans, your answer might be…not very well. I’m with you, I get it.

The heart and soul of Tend is providing bodywork support during times of grief, loss, trauma, burnout, or the stress of significant life changes. These are the moments when we could really use the most bodywork help, but are also the times where many

Take a chance on healing. Take a chance on doing something kind for yourself in the midst of whatever pain you are experiencing.

The Impacts of Significant Stress on the Body

  • Persistent exhaustion, regardless of sleep duration, is a common experience for the grieving, those experiencing burnout due to stressful jobs or caregiving, and during times of life change or challenge.

  • Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns can result from stress and grief, leading to even more chronic fatigue.

  • Shallow breathing often emerges as a common symptom during experiences of grief, loss, burnout, and periods of heightened stress. Shallow breathing can lead to increased tension in the muscles, reduced oxygen supply to vital organs, and heightened feelings of anxiety.

  • Headaches due to muscular tension often manifest as a physical symptom of grief, loss, burnout, and stress.

  • Symptoms such as stomachaches, nausea, or changes in appetite can arise, often linked to stress or anxiety.

  • Changes in appetite during grief, loss, major stress, and burnout can manifest as either a significant decrease or an increase in food intake, reflecting the complex emotional and physical responses individuals experience in these challenging times.

  • Increased muscle tightness, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and back, can result from physical stress, posture, and prolonged periods of readiness.

  • A constant state of heightened arousal may lead to a racing heart or palpitations, indicating the body’s stress response.

  • A weakened immune system can result in more frequent colds, infections, and other illnesses, as chronic stress affects overall health. Research shows that massage therapy boosts immune system function.

  • Significant fluctuations in weight, either gain or loss, may occur due to altered eating habits and lifestyle adjustments in response to stress. While massage therapy does not directly influence weight loss or gain, it can help indirectly by helping to regulate sleep, support better digestion, decrease muscle tension, and support the nervous system in its responses to life’s stressors.

  • Times of stress and loss can trigger or exacerbate skin conditions, such as eczema or dermatitis, visible markers of internal distress. While massage does not heal skin conditions, it does help to support better sleep, nervous system regulation to stress which can help to alleviate skin issues.

Bodywork & Self-Care

During Times of Grief, Burnout, & Life Changes

Tend Bodywork & Self-Care offers support for your body during life's hardest challenges.

TEND specializes in offering massage to individuals who are experiencing the heavy weight of grief, loss, stress, burnout, significant life changes, or simply needing to honor difficult emotions that are part of being human. During hard times, you can show up as you are, with no mask of being “okay,” and you will receive acceptance and nurturing massage therapy support.

A common experience for individuals who are experiencing hardships, stress, major life changes, grief, or loss is the pressure to feel better, to move on as quickly as possible, to be positive and grateful, to get over it….etc. During hard times we often have to put aside our struggles just to get through our work days, to keep the bills paid and a roof over our heads, and to be there for our families, friends, and community. Sanctuary Within Bodywork understands the need for spaces that recognize grief, loss, stress, burnout, and the unique physical effects of these experiences. You are welcome to come to these sessions just as you truly are, and you will find a place of rest and solace for your body, mind, and heart.

Is this type of massage different from other types of massage?

Yes.

This work focuses on comfort and easing the physical symptoms of stress, grief, loss, and burnout, offering "assisted relaxation" when relaxation isn't easy to find. Techniques are gentler and more nurturing than conventional massage, honoring your body and your healing journey during difficult times.

Sessions cover the face, scalp, neck, shoulders, back, arms, hands, lower legs, and feet. You can stay fully clothed or use traditional draping, and a massage chair is available for those who prefer not to use a table.

Benefits include releasing muscular tension, improving sleep, supporting digestion and appetite, and easing emotional and mental strain.

TEND does not offer deep-tissue work or treatment for chronic musculoskeletal issues or acute injuries. Asheville has many excellent therapists for that kind of care. Few, however, focus specifically on supporting people through grief, loss, and extreme stress, and that's where this practice is meant to serve.

What if I cry? What if i don’t cry?

Times of major life change, stress, grief, and loss bring up all kinds of emotions. It is common for Tend massage clients to cry, not cry, laugh, sob, experience unexpected emotions, be silent, or share - but there is never any expectation or push for any particular emotion.

It is normal for emotions of all kinds to surface or not to surface at all. I will help you stay aware of your body and breath throughout the massage, ensuring the experience remains gentle on your nervous system. Before the session ends, we will take time to make sure you are feeling calm and centered, and able to return to the world with a greater sense of peace and readiness. 

There is also no expectation that you share verbally with me what you are going through; however, I am here to listen if you want to share. I do not provide counseling. Therefore, I will not offer my opinions, analysis, or advice. I simply offer my warm heart and hands, a compassionate ear, professional bodywork skills, and a safe space to be with your feelings. This massage experience does not replace mental health counseling.

If you have any concerns about your readiness for this type of massage session, I am always happy to work collaboratively with your doctor or therapist. I maintain and provide a list of local grief counselors, support groups, and important hotline numbers, just in case extra support is needed after our sessions.

Trauma-Informed Massage

Trauma can make stress, grief, loss, and life change even harder to move through. If you're considering massage support but aren't sure it's right for you, I'm happy to talk it through and figure out together if TEND is a good fit. TEND is trauma-informed and committed to a space that prioritizes safety, well-being, healing, and empowerment. My approach honors your bodily autonomy through clear communication and consent-based practices, and I work to reduce any risk of further harm. I'm also always open to working alongside your mental health provider or care team.

TEND does not offer trauma release, trauma healing, or trauma processing. What I do offer is trauma-informed massage that can be genuinely supportive if you're navigating grief, loss, burnout, or life change, even if trauma is part of what you're carrying. If you're specifically seeking to release or process trauma itself, you may be better served by a practitioner who focuses on that work directly, and I'm glad to offer referrals.

For anyone Navigating Grief & Loss

At the heart of TEND is massage support for anyone grieving. Most often, that means the death of a loved one, and I know how unimaginably hard that is. I'm here for you in the early days, weeks, and months, and I'm here for the long haul too, through anniversaries, holidays, and the times of year that bring grief back up.

Grief shows up in a lot of forms, not just death. A serious diagnosis, your own or someone else's. Divorce, a breakup, or estrangement. A miscarriage. The loss of a pet. Burnout, from work, from caretaking, from just carrying too much for too long. A big move, a career change, a friendship that ended, a dream that didn't happen the way you hoped. And when grief is collective, after a natural disaster or an act of violence, that support is here too.

For Caregivers, Care Providers & First Responders

If you spend your work or your life caring for others, as a nurse, therapist, home health aide, teacher, first responder, or family caregiver, the toll adds up. Your body holds onto stress even after your mind has moved on to the next shift, the next call, the next person who needs you. Massage helps release what's been building, physically and emotionally, without asking you to explain or justify it.

That looks like lowering stress hormones and calming a nervous system that's been on alert for too long, and releasing the muscle tension that comes from carrying other people's weight in your own body. It also means giving you a space where you get to feel your own feelings instead of managing everyone else's, and where the slower, harder-to-name effects of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue get some room too. This is bodywork, not talk therapy. You don't have to process anything out loud or explain what you're carrying. Your body can do its own work while you just lie there and let it. Over time, it helps your body remember what safety and rest actually feel like.

Taking care of yourself isn't separate from taking care of others. It's what makes it possible to keep going.

What Can I Expect?

  • Sanctuary Within Bodywork makes the scheduling process as easy as possible. Just reach out via email or phone or the contact form on the website. I’ll reach back out you within 24-hours to set up a quick phone call so that we can discuss your needs. Once we have had the opportunity to connect over the phone, the remainder of the intake process can be done online, or I can help you with it over the phone. Returning clients can easily book online.

  • Sanctuary Within Bodywork is located on the second floor of a mixed-use business building 10 minutes South-West of Asheville. You can park in front of the building and take the stairs or the elevator to the second floor. I’ll meet you when you arrive and help you get settled in with a cup of water or tea until it is time for your massage.

    Please feel free to use the restroom while waiting for your appointment. It is located through our yoga/movement space beyond the waiting room.

  • You can absolutely stay clothed during your massage if that is what you prefer

    You are welcome to undress in the privacy of your own space before the massage begins. This allows you to feel comfortable and relaxed during your experience.

    Some individuals choose to undress to their own personal comfort level, and in that case, we will provide you with a sheet and blanket for added coverage and warmth. I will step out of the room to give you ample privacy while you undress and settle in comfortably on the table. I will be sure to knock gently before returning to ensure that your privacy is respected and maintained throughout the process.

  • Before each massage, I take time to connect about your current needs and your medical history. There is absolutely no expectation that you share with me about your grief or the hardships you are facing in your life; however, I am here to listen if you would like to share.

    Together, we come up with a plan for your massage session that feels comfortable to you. I will periodically check in with you verbally during the massage to ensure you are comfortable with the treatment. You are welcome to stop or change the course of treatment at any time during your massage.

  • I remain present and responsive to your needs before, during, and after your massage session. I encourage you to remain connected with your breathing and body. Before the session ends, we will work together to make sure you feel calm and safely embodied.

    After each session, there is plenty of time to address any questions or needs you might have. You are welcome to utilize the movement space, make a cup of tea, and take your time moving back out into the world. You don’t need to hurry. When you are ready, I will walk you down to the ground floor of the building.