I’ve been using bolsters from Calm Buddhi for years now - ever since Ange and I met teaching yoga almost a decade ago! They have been a consistent part of my self-practice of releasing tension ever since.
What I love about the oval bolster is the shape and firmness. It holds its structure in a way that allows for more targeted, intentional pressure - something that’s essential when you’re working with the body in a therapeutic way.
Over time, this has become something I not only use personally, but regularly recommend to clients through my bodywork studio, Bodyworks.
Why Self-Massage Matters
We often think about movement and strength as the foundations of physical wellbeing, and they are. But there’s a third piece that tends to be overlooked: tension release.
Our bodies are constantly responding to and recording our experiences. Stress, emotion, and physical load all have an impact. If that isn’t processed or released, it can accumulate as tension in the body. If the tension isn’t addressed, it can become chronic and can literally create dis-ease in the body.
We feel and work with releasing people's built-up tension to create flow and balance every day at Bodyworks, particularly for women, where it can impact our menstrual cycle, birth, and postpartum. This is where simple, regular self-massage and release work can make a huge difference to your wellbeing.
It doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. Even 10 minutes a day can act as a kind of baseline maintenance, a way to support your body in processing and letting go, rather than holding and compounding.
It’s also one of the most accessible forms of self-care. You don’t need to book a class or an appointment; you can meet your body where it’s at, at home, in your own time.
Using the Bolster for Self-Release
Below is one of my favourite ways to release the belly and positively impact the whole body using a bolster. It is a simple, focused practice that supports release through gentle, sustained pressure.
Abdominal Release
The abdomen is an area that holds a lot, physically, mentally, and emotionally. We give abdominal massage in all of our treatments, across bodywork, and pelvic balancing sessions. This is because we know how much people hold here, and how important it is to have optimal flow for our well-being.
Using the bolster to gently compress and massage through the belly can support:
- improved circulation and flow
- softening of held tension
- movement of anxiety, stress, and repressed emotion
- bowel movements and digestion
- a greater sense of connection to the centre of the body
The key here is to move slowly and allow your body to respond, rather than forcing anything.
The video below provides a guided example.
Get Creative!
Self-release work is an intuitive practice; if it feels good, trust that! So, get exploring! How can you use your body weight, gravity, and the props in your tool kit to help get into those tight and tense areas of the body?
A Different Approach to Self-Care
There’s a tendency to wait until something feels “bad enough” before addressing it - whether that’s booking a massage or taking time to rest.
However, working with the body in small, consistent ways can shift that pattern. Instead of reacting to tension once it’s built up, self-massage offers a way to stay in relationship with your body, to notice, respond, and release as you go. Tending to your body becomes less about fixing and more about maintaining a sense of flow. If you experience chronic pain or need a guided hand to help you move tension in your body, come and see us at Bodyworks!
Georgia Adams
Bodyworks Fitzroy
Bodyworks is a place for deepening your connection with your body.
Drawing upon multiple disciplines and modalities, our approach combines massage therapy with movement, education, breath awareness, and space to discover where you are at and what you need.
Our offerings support women+ through all stages of life.
Melbourne readers looking for bodywork support can find Georgia’s Fitzroy massage clinic here.