Ep 23 | The silent strain: How stress is rewiring your body

You know stress messes with your mood… but what if it's messing with everything else too?  In this episode of The Brain Changers Podcast, Rebekah sits down with massage therapist and bodyworker Craig Collings-Wells from Ethereal Holistic Massage to explore how stress silently reshapes your body – and what you can do about it. What you'll learn from this episode ✅ Why stress isn't just in your head – it physically reshapes your body ✅ How the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in your stress response ✅ The link between chronic stress, tight muscles, gut issues and immune health ✅ Practical ways to support your nervous system through massage and breathwork ✅ The power of bodywork in reconnecting to your sense of safety and calm Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Craig 04:10 – How Craig helps people reconnect with their body 07:55 – The nervous system's role in chronic stress 12:20 – Vagus nerve 101 and why it matters 18:45 – The massage-stress connection: what Craig sees in his clinic 25:30 – The body keeps the score: where we hold tension and trauma 31:40 – How to recognise when your nervous system is dysregulated 36:50 – Simple ways to bring your body back into balance 41:05 – Reflections and key takeaways Links and resources Connect with Craig Collings-Wells Website: Ethereal Holistic Massage Instagram: @ethereal_holistic_massage Join the Mind Masters Collective https://www.moonbeammonday.com.au/mind-masters Book a Connection Call with Rebekah https://bit.ly/connect-with-moonbeam Connect with Us Website: https://moonbeammonday.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonbeammonday/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moonbeammonday LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-king00/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@moonbeammondaytrainingcoac4696 Check out these FREE resources https://www.moonbeammonday.com.au/resources Join us every fortnight Tune in every fortnight as we delve into fascinating topics about the mind and the brain, because when you change your mind, you change your life. Subscribe and leave a review If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode and leave a review to help others find and enjoy our content.