Dr Rangan Chatterjee

The ‘Normal’ Body Signals That Come From Unprocessed Trauma

This episode is brought to you by: AG1: Get a FREE AG1 Flavor Sampler, AGZ Sampler, plus FREE Vitamin D3+K2 and AG1 Welcome Kit. Sign up for a subscription here: https://bit.ly/43FwxQl Peloton: Let yourself ride, lift, stretch, move and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Bike+ at https://onepeloton.co.uk When it comes to feeling better, many of us instinctively start with our minds. We think about our thoughts, our beliefs, our stress levels. But what if a huge part of our emotional and psychological experience is actually being held in our bodies – quite literally – in a remarkable tissue called fascia? This week, I’m joined by Jason van Blerk, one of the co-founders of Human Garage - a global self-care movement that aims to inspire 1 billion people to heal themselves, through simple, accessible movement practices, that they call Fascial Manoeuvres. In our conversation, we explore what fascia actually is, why modern science is only just beginning to catch up with what many practitioners have observed for decades, and how emotions and past experiences may be stored in our physical structure. Jason also shares how different areas of the body seem to relate to different emotional patterns, why posture and mood are so tightly linked, and how changing one can often influence the other. We also talk about stress, and why so many of us feel tense, disconnected, and stuck in our own lives and Jason explains how simple rotational movements, combined with specific breathing patterns, can help “unwind” the body, reduce stress, and leave you feeling lighter, calmer, and grounded. The thing I love the most about Human Garage’s philosophy is that they want to empower people to heal themselves. This is not about needing lifelong treatment, or becoming dependent on a therapist or health care practitioner - it’s about learning a set of practical moves that you can use anywhere, anytime and with no equipment, to start healing your body and calming your mind. #feelbetterlivemore Connect with Jason: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvanblerk/reels/ https://www.youtube.com/@jasonvanblerkTV Connect with Human Garage: https://humangarage.net/ https://www.instagram.com/humangarage/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd3dxTJ4ZaqaJkWEsmixRAw Online programs https://humangarage.net/programs #feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast ------- Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK ----- Follow Dr Chatterjee at: Website: https://drchatterjee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

RCDr. Rangan ChatterjeehostJBJason van Blerkguest

Feb 4, 2026·1h 34m·Watch on YouTube ↗

📖 CHAPTERS

1. 1

   Can trauma be stored in fascia? Water, memory, and the body’s “emotional storage”

   Rangan opens by probing whether emotions and trauma might be stored in fascia rather than only in the brain. Jason argues that because fascia is largely water-based, and water appears to “hold information,” fascia may be a key medium for memory and emotional imprinting.

2. 2

   Why people cry or shake during bodywork: patterns of emotion by body region

   Rangan describes seeing shaking, crying, and emotional release during deep myofascial work. Jason shares his observations from working with thousands of people: different body areas tend to correlate with specific emotional responses, suggesting location-based “stored” patterns.

3. 3

   Posture ↔ emotions: how stress shows up in asymmetry and movement

   They explore how stress and emotions can become visible as structural asymmetries—raised shoulder, uneven hips, facial torque—and how posture can also feed back into mood. The discussion frames posture as both a mirror of emotional state and a lever to shift it.

4. 4

   What fascia is (beyond ‘Saran wrap’): living tissue, gel-water tubes, and information flow

   Jason contrasts the “dead tissue” view of fascia with observations of fascia in living bodies. He describes fascia as dynamic, gel-like water channels that adapt rapidly and may conduct signals—implying it could coordinate structure, sensation, and adaptation.

5. 5

   Why rolling and linear stretching may fail: rotation, breath, and counter-rotation mechanics

   Jason critiques aggressive, linear approaches (hard rolling, straight-line stretching, fixed-machine lifting) as mismatched to the body’s rotational design. He argues that counter-rotation plus breathing better unlocks fascial restriction and restores natural movement.

6. 6

   Nature’s geometry and vibration: fractals, cymatics, and why sound changes how we feel

   They connect nature exposure, stress reduction, and the absence of straight lines to deeper ideas about vibration. Jason uses cymatics (sound shaping sand/water patterns) to suggest the body’s water/mineral content may ‘tune’ to frequencies—linking music to memory and mood.

7. 7

   Results first, explanations later: observation-led practice and scientific humility

   Rangan frames Human Garage as a results-driven approach that preceded formal research, arguing that many breakthroughs start with observation. Jason recounts experimentation during the pandemic and parallels with epigenetics, breathwork/cold exposure, and meditation’s path to validation.

8. 8

   Belief, placebo/nocebo, and why group dynamics can amplify release

   Jason explains that belief and readiness strongly affect outcomes: skeptical minds search for failure, while collective witnessing can accelerate results. They relate this to placebo/nocebo research and the practical choice to focus on people ready to transform.

9. 9

   Fascia as a pressure system: floating bones, mapped zones, and ‘pulls’ that create pain elsewhere

   They explore a model of the body as a pressurized, interconnected system where restrictions shift organs, bones, and tension lines. Jason outlines “zones” (head/torso/legs) and cross-body pressure relationships that may explain why pain appears far from its source.

10. 10

    Gut–brain–pelvic flow: sitting, congestion, women’s health, and concussion links

    Jason argues modern sitting compresses the diaphragm–pelvic floor region, reducing flow and contributing to digestive, hormonal, and systemic issues. He also describes a bidirectional relationship between head injury and digestion, reinforcing a whole-body network view.

11. 11

    Human Garage mission and athlete work: self-healing tools, performance, and scars as ‘fascial knots’

    Jason explains why Human Garage pivoted from clinic-based care to teaching self-care: fixing pain without life change leads to recurrence. They discuss elite athletes’ optimized compensations, the need to avoid disrupting performance patterns abruptly, and how scars can create long-term tension lines.

12. 12

    Fascial Maneuvers in practice: self-hugging, fetal patterns, ‘fascial coffee,’ and daily reconnection

    They unpack why maneuvers can feel calming: crossing midline, hugging oneself, fetal-like positions, and breath/rotation may reduce stress and release emotion. Jason introduces named moves (Totally Twisted, Anti-Gravity, Swinger) and ‘fascial coffee’—a directional body-rubbing routine—while Rangan emphasizes daily embodiment as the real test.

13. 13

    Jason’s origin story and the closing roadmap: from fear and injury to purpose, training paths, and a simple starting exercise

    Jason shares childhood hypervigilance in South Africa, migration to Canada, and how fear/anger likely contributed to injuries and disconnection. He describes a major life pivot, co-founding Human Garage through experimentation, the ‘pay what feels right’ model for accessibility, and ends with practical next steps: hand-on-heart awareness and where to learn (app and coach training).