Marcin Kus - Inner Bodywork

Touch...
How much it can show us.

It can show someone what is happening in their own body. Because during a session, I’m not the only one doing the work. I ask my clients to be involved in what I’m doing. To observe, check in, feel what reactions are showing up in their body.

Does tension appear under pressure?Resistance? Does the body start to move as if it’s pushing against my hand?

When something like this shows up, I don’t try to overcome that resistance. I bring attention to it and ask the client to notice it too. To feel where exactly the tension appears and what happens when they give it their attention.

And sometimes, simply bringing something into conscious awareness begins to change it.
The resistance slowly starts to decrease. I can feel under my hands how the tissues become softer, how the body begins to let go. And then we can calmly continue the work.

Breathing can help a lot with this. Sometimes, with a slow exhale, I can feel a change under my hands. The tension begins to ease, the breath becomes more natural, and the client starts to experience their body differently.

More and more often I see this, but I also hear clients tell me that they weren’t aware of these tensions before. They were simply there. The body was constantly doing some kind of work, but it remained outside their awareness.

And this is what interests me more and more about bodywork.
Not only the tension itself and trying to release it. But the moment when someone begins to feel it and become aware of it.

Because only when we notice something do we have the opportunity to try something different.

Sometimes during a bodywork session, I ask someone to let me take the weight of their arm or leg.
It sounds like a very simple thing to do. You don't have to do anything. Just let the limb become heavy and allow someone else to support its weight.
And yet, the body doesn't always let go that easily.
I notice this quite often during sessions. I ask someone to relax their arm, shoulder or leg and I try to take its weight, but I can still feel resistance. I can't move the limb freely because the muscles are still working, even though at that moment they don't need to.
What is interesting is that often we don't even realise we're doing it.
Consciously we're trying to relax, while the body is still holding, controlling the movement and putting effort into it.
And if we're holding similar tension not just for a few minutes, but for many hours every day, it's worth thinking about how much unnecessary energy the body is using just to maintain it.
I don't try to immediately explain why this happens. There can be many reasons. Pain, a previous injury, a habitual way of moving, a protective response, or simply tension that has become so familiar that we no longer notice it.
For me, simply becoming aware of this is already an important part of the work.
Because when we begin to feel the difference between holding and letting go, there is an opportunity to try something different.
It doesn't always happen straight away. Sometimes the body will continue to hold.
But before, we were doing it without even knowing.
Now we know it's happening.
And sometimes, that's where change begins.

Hi, it’s been a little quieter here recently:)

For me, it has also been a period of change, growth and taking a step back after an intense period of work. And perhaps it was only when things slowed down a little that I started to notice how much tension I was carrying in my own body.

A lot of work, long hours in the same position, repetitive movements and not enough time for recovery. Nothing unusual, but over time the body starts to show it.

A stiffer neck, tight shoulders, a back that starts reminding you about itself after a few hours of work. Things that are easy to ignore until they begin to cause pain or noticeably affect your movement.

It also reminded me how important regular bodywork can be. Not only when a problem appears, but beforehand, giving the tissues a chance to release tension, regain freedom of movement and recover from the physical demands of everyday life.

This is something I want to return to here as well. Sharing more regularly what I observe while working with clients, but also what I experience in my own body.

Because whatever we do for a living, our bodies are constantly responding to the way we live and function.

If you’ve been dealing with tension, stiffness or pain for some time, or you’ve noticed that your body doesn’t move as freely as it used to, feel free to get in touch.

College Business Centre
Uttoxeter New Road
Derby DE22 3WZ
Room 26

Sessions available Monday to Saturday.
Mobile sessions also available in Derby and surrounding areas.

WhatsApp
Inner Bodywork: +44 7363 061556

Messenger: Marcin Kus – Inner Bodywork
E-mail: [email protected]

Many sessions stay with me long after they have ended.

I don’t see what happens during a session as just another client. I simply can’t. I see different processes and I observe how they affect people.

Very often I see a state of freeze and a strong need for control that people bring with them.
A lack of connection with their body and with what is happening inside it.

The body is carrying a huge amount of tension. Sometimes that tension creates pain. Even more often it creates a sense of heaviness, difficulty taking a full breath, and the feeling of being twenty years older than you actually are.
People begin to realise how far they are from feeling light, free in their movement, and comfortable in their own body.

These tensions did not appear overnight.
Most of the time they have been building for years... - through stress, constant pressure, difficult life experiences and a lack of genuine rest.

When the body perceives a threat, the nervous system activates the fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline and cortisol increase, the heart rate rises, breathing changes, muscle tension increases, and the body prepares itself for action and protection.

This is a natural and necessary process.

The problem begins when there is no period of recovery after the period of mobilisation.
A period where the level of activation can come back down, breathing can return to its natural rhythm, and the body can restore balance.

For many people, that state lasts for months or even years.
The tension becomes normal, they stop noticing it and they get used to it.
The nervous system keeps the body in a state of readiness, and the tension becomes a form of protection that the body has learned to rely on. Eventually, this becomes the new normal.

I see it very clearly during sessions.
When I take the weight of someone's arm and ask them to let it relax, a very specific reaction often appears. The arm keeps working and muscles keep holding tension.
The person often becomes aware that they are holding on, but at the same time they cannot fully let go. It's as if the body still feels responsible for controlling the situation.
As if it doesn't trust that it can hand over the weight and stop monitoring the movement.

This is not a conscious decision.
Most often it is a pattern that has been built over many years. The nervous system has learned to stay ready, to monitor, control, anticipate and to protect.
And after a while, that way of functioning starts to feel normal.

Fortunately, the body has an incredible ability to self-regulate.
I see this very often during sessions.
When the body begins to feel safe, things start to change.

Through touch, myofascial work and breathing.

Not only in the body itself, but also in the way it is experienced.

If the main goal of a session is not mobility or working with movement restrictions, what I hear most often afterwards is a sense of lightness, a greater sense of calm, feeling of being more connected to oneself or return of connection with the body.

An awareness of tensions that were there all along but had never been noticed before -and that alone can have a therapeutic effect.

What was previously outside awareness begins to be seen.
It no longer operates in the background, unnoticed.
And that creates the possibility for change.

Sometimes even a slower, calmer breath is enough for part of the tension to begin releasing.
The nervous system gradually learns that it no longer needs to stay in protection all the time...

Many people come for a session because of pain - back pain, tight neck and shoulders, restricted movement, stiffness that keeps coming back despite stretching, exercise or massage.

But very often, the problem doesn’t start where the pain is.

The body works as one connected system. Restrictions and tension in one area can affect movement and create strain elsewhere. On top of that, the nervous system can keep the body in a constant state of protection after long periods of stress, pressure or overload.

Muscles and fascia often stay tight not because something is damaged, but because the body has learned that tension is necessary.
That’s why I don’t focus only on the area that hurts.

My work combines myofascial bodywork with nervous system regulation, helping the body gradually move away from long-held tension patterns.
The goal is not to fight the tension.
The goal is to create the conditions for the body to feel safe enough to let go of what it no longer needs.

As tension begins to reduce, people often notice:

- less pain and discomfort
- easier movement
- improved mobility
- deeper breathing
- better sleep
- feeling lighter in their body
- more energy and a greater sense of calm

Nervous system regulation is not really the goal.

For most people, it simply means less pain, less tension, better sleep, easier movement and feeling better in everyday life.

Sessions available Monday to Saturday

College Business Centre
Uttoxeter New Road
Derby DE22 3WZ
Room 26

Mobile sessions also available around Derby and nearby areas.

WhatsApp / SMS
Inner Bodywork: +44 7363 061556
Marcin Kus: +44 7933 287982

Messenger: Marcin Kus – Inner Bodywork
Email: [email protected]

If you've been dealing with pain, tension or stiffness for a long time and feel like your body never fully switches off, send me a message and let's see if this work could be a good fit for you.

Breathing has a huge impact on tension in the body and on how tissues respond during myofascial work.

During manual therapy, it is often very noticeable that the body responds differently to pressure, touch and tissue release depending on how a person is breathing.

And it’s not just about “taking a deep breath.”

The way we breathe affects muscle and fascial tension, diaphragm function, rib cage mobility, nervous system activation, and even how deeply tissues are able to release during treatment.

Chronic stress very often changes breathing patterns. Breathing becomes shallower, faster, and stays mainly in the upper chest. The diaphragm stops functioning properly, while the neck, shoulders and accessory breathing muscles begin taking over more of the work.

Over time, this creates a cycle:
stress increases tension, tension restricts breathing, and restricted breathing keeps the body in a constant state of alertness.

That’s one of the reasons why breathing is so important during myofascial bodywork.

The diaphragm is deeply connected to the fascial system and influences not only breathing itself, but also the spine, rib cage, abdomen, hips, neck and even tension patterns running through the back of the body.

This is why during sessions I often guide people toward slower breathing and longer exhales.

The exhale helps reduce nervous system activation. And very often, this is when tissues begin responding differently to the work.

I notice this myself when receiving treatment from someone else. When there is stronger pressure and I allow a deeper breath and slower exhale, the tissues begin softening naturally. The body stops resisting the pressure or bracing against it. The tissues begin letting go on their own instead of being mechanically forced to release.

And that’s why slower, more attentive work with the tissues often creates deeper and longer-lasting changes than aggressive pressure or forcing the body.

More and more research is also showing how strongly breathing, fascia and the nervous system are connected. The body does not function in separate parts. It works as one system constantly responding to stress, tension and the feeling of safety.

I also encourage people to explore breathing practices on their own. When used correctly, breathing can help calm the nervous system, reduce tension and improve connection with the body. But it can also help energise the body and increase vitality when we feel exhausted or depleted.

Sessions focused on bodywork, chronic tension and nervous system regulation available Monday to Saturday

College Business Centre
Uttoxeter New Road
Derby DE22 3WZ
Room 26

Mobile sessions also available around Derby and nearby areas.

WhatsApp / SMS:
Inner Bodywork +44 7363 061556
Marcin Kus +44 7933 287982

[email protected]

Messenger: Marcin Kus – Inner Bodywork

If you have questions about chronic tension, pain or how your body may respond to this type of work, feel free to send me a message 🙂

Breathing has a huge impact on tension in the body and on how fascia responds during bodywork.

And it’s not just about taking a deep breath...

The way we breathe affects muscle and fascial tension, diaphragm function, rib cage mobility, nervous system activation, and even how the body responds to touch and manual therapy.

Chronic stress very often changes breathing patterns. Breathing becomes shallower, faster, and stays more in the upper chest. The diaphragm stops moving properly, while the neck, shoulders and accessory breathing muscles start doing more of the work.

Over time, this creates a cycle - stress increases tension, tension restricts breathing, and restricted breathing keeps the body in a constant state of alertness.
That’s one of the reasons breath is so important during bodywork.

The diaphragm is deeply connected to the fascial system and influences not only breathing itself, but also the spine, rib cage, abdomen, hips, neck and even tension patterns through the back of the body.

This is why during sessions I often guide people toward slower breathing and longer exhales.

The exhale helps reduce nervous system activation. And very often, that’s when the body starts responding differently to the work.

I notice this myself when receiving treatment from someone else. When there’s stronger pressure and I allow a deeper breath and a slow exhale, the tissues begin to soften naturally. The body stops fighting the pressure or bracing against it. The tissues start letting go on their own instead of being mechanically forced to release.

More and more research is also showing how strongly breathing, fascia and the nervous system are connected. The body does not work in separate parts. It functions as one system constantly responding to stress, tension and the feeling of safety.

I also encourage people to explore breathing practices on their own. There are many good techniques and guided exercises available online, including on YouTube.

Breathing can help regulate the nervous system during stressful situations, calm the body and reduce tension. But when used differently, it can also help energise the body and increase vitality when we feel exhausted or depleted.

Sessions available Monday to Saturday

College Business Centre
Uttoxeter New Road
Derby DE22 3WZ
Room 26

Mobile sessions also available around Derby and nearby areas.

WhatsApp / SMS:
Inner Bodywork +44 7363 061556
Marcin Kus +44 7933 287982

Messenger: Marcin Kus – Inner Bodywork
Email: [email protected]

Safe touch.

Difficult experiences stay with us. Sometimes from childhood, sometimes from later in life, when we found ourselves in situations where there was no sense of safety. Someone may have behaved aggressively, attacked us physically, or simply made the body feel threatened.

What happened inside you then?

Collapsing into yourself? Tension appearing instantly? Freezing and being unable to react? Shaking hands, tightness in the stomach, holding the breath?

The danger passes. We push it deeper and try to move on. But the body remembers the way it had to respond.
If situations like this happened repeatedly, over time a pattern begins to form. Later, it may only take a certain tone of voice, a look, a type of touch, or tension in someone’s presence for the same reaction to appear automatically. Often outside of awareness.

More and more often during sessions I observe how the body responds to touch. How at certain moments tension, control and difficulty letting go can appear. Because even if the client notices it, the reaction is not coming from the mind, but from learned responses and patterns of how the system learned to react to different situations.

That’s why I don’t rush and I don’t force tension to release. Tension in the tissues is often only a symptom of how the nervous system is responding. The body needs time to recognise that there is no danger and it no longer has to protect itself.

And slowly the body begins to drop, soften, the breath becomes deeper and the exhale longer. A sign that the whole system has recognised that it can begin moving into a state of rest. That there is space for a different response than before.

It’s a process. A process that may take a moment or many moments more. And there is no better or worse way through it. Every person is different and every person has their own path.

And I’m grateful that I can accompany people through this process. What I sometimes see later in people’s eyes after a session often touches me more deeply than words.

Contact (WhatsApp/SMS):
Inner Bodywork +44 7363 061556
Email: [email protected]
Messenger: Marcin Kus - Inner Bodywork
Marcin Kus +44 7933 287982

Myofascial bodywork is most often associated with pain, tension and restricted movement.
And it does work very well with chronic tension, stiffness, shoulder, neck and back pain, hip restrictions and limited mobility.

But reading clients’ reviews, something else appears more and more often.

People describe not only less pain and more freedom of movement, but also:
a calmer mind
deeper breathing
a greater sense of safety in the body
more energy
emotional relief and an easier ability to relax.

There is also something that can be difficult to describe with words - a stronger sense of feeling themselves again.
A deeper connection with their body, emotions and breath.

Some people describe it as if they had been disconnected from themselves for a long time.
Almost like functioning behind glass or slightly outside themselves.
And after sessions, there is more presence, more awareness and more connection with themselves.

This is also connected to the nervous system and interoception - the ability to sense and feel signals coming from within the body.

Chronic tension is often not only about muscles.
It can also be the body’s response to long-term stress, overload, difficult experiences or living in constant mobilisation and readiness.

That is why calm, attentive bodywork - without forcing tissues or aggressively attacking tight areas - affects not only movement, but also the state of the nervous system.

When the body begins lowering its level of tension and internal alertness, it is not only movement that changes.
Often the way we experience ourselves changes too.

✨️

Sessions available Monday to Saturday

College Business Centre
Uttoxeter New Road
Derby DE22 3WZ
Room 26
Parking available

Mobile sessions also possible in Derby and surrounding areas

Kontakt (WhatsApp/SMS):
Inner Bodywork — +44 7363 061556
Marcin Kus — +44 7933 287982

✨️

If you have questions or would like to book a session, send me a message 🙂