Written by: Emma Masters
Therapy Co-Founder
You come in expecting sweat, movement, maybe even a little community time. But halfway through a Therapy track in cycle, or during a breathwork moment, or just after the music drops… suddenly, you feel your throat catch. Your chest tightens. And without warning, there are tears.
If this has happened to you in class, you’re not alone. And no, you’re not broken.
The truth is, your body remembers what your mind tries to forget. It holds onto the stress, grief, anger, and overwhelm that you didn’t have time or space to process in the moment.
Research in the field of psychoneuroimmunology (how the mind, body, and nervous system interact) shows that unprocessed emotional experiences can manifest physically; as tension in the muscles, shallow breathing, chronic pain, fatigue, or gut issues. The late Dr. Candace Pert, a neuroscientist and pharmacologist, was one of the first to explain how emotions are stored in the body through neuropeptides, tiny molecules that act as messengers between the brain and the body. Her work supported what somatic therapists and Eastern traditions have long known: the body holds emotional memory.
And sometimes, the only way to access and release that emotional memory isn’t through talking… but through movement and. breath.
When we move or breathe with intention, especially in spaces that feel safe, supportive, and non-judgmental, the body can finally soften. And in that softening, things bubble to the surface.
We see this all the time at Therapy.
It’s why our classes aren’t just workouts. They’re intentional experiences. We include breathwork, music, movement and mindfulness not just for the vibe but because they create the conditions for your nervous system to down-regulate.
Movement, breath, and music (especially when delivered rhythmically) can help shift the nervous system from a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state to a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state.
That shift into safety is what allows the body to let go.
Here’s what’s happening when you move:
Physical activity reduces cortisol – Whilst exercise in the short term might increase cortisol, one of its benefits is actually to reduce stress hormones. Lower cortisol levels mean your body is more likely to shift into a regulated state, allowing emotions that have been “on pause” to surface.
Movement engages the vagus nerve – Activities like rhythmic movement and breathwork stimulate the vagus nerve, a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system. This enhances your capacity to regulate emotions and “discharge” old stress patterns.
Endorphins create space for release – During movement, your brain releases endorphins (feel-good chemicals). Interestingly, this can create enough of a safety buffer for painful emotions to rise (because your system can finally handle them).
Stored tension finds a way out – Trauma and emotion often live in the fascia (connective tissue), hips, chest, and jaw. As you stretch, twist, shake, and move through a class, those physical holding patterns begin to unwind.
Breathwork unlocks suppressed emotion – Conscious, connected breath bypasses the prefrontal cortex and engages deeper brain structures like the amygdala and limbic system, where emotion and memory are stored. This allows old, unprocessed feelings to rise to the surface. Breathwork also shifts your nervous system into a state where stored survival responses (like freeze or shutdown) can safely complete and resolve.
Sometimes it’s a single tear. Sometimes it’s a full release. Sometimes it’s shaking, laughing, or just a feeling you can’t quite name. It’s all valid and it is definitely all welcome.
There’s nothing wrong with you for feeling deeply during class. In fact, it means something is working — and the journey we’ve curated is doing its job.
In a culture obsessed with performance, perfection, burning calories, and sculpting the “perfect” ass, our spaces are built to help you let go. Let go of the pressure, the persona, and the expectation to always be “on”.
And here’s the best part: when you let go emotionally, you also heal physically. Releasing pent-up emotion can:
Improve sleep
Reduce anxiety and chronic stress
Ease chronic tension and pain
Support immune function
Improve emotional resilience and clarity
Deepen connection to self and others
It’s not embarrassing.
And it’s definitely not something to hide.
It’s your body finally feeling safe enough to let go.
And in that moment, there’s deep healing and real transformation.