Rooted in myofascial release and lymphatic drainage, this method goes beyond surface-level massage to work with the body’s connective tissue, nervous system, and stored emotional patterns.
This massage treatment is based on the Face Up® Massage Method developped by Olga Newman. It is a therapeutic treatment designed to release deep tension in the face, head, and neck. It has a profound impact on calming and regulating the nervous system, helping the body shift from a state of stress and tension into deep relaxation and balance.It serves as a bottom- up regulation of the nervous system.
Many chronic issues such as headaches, jaw tension (TMJ dysfunction), neck pain, and facial discomfort stem from restrictions in the fascia — the web-like connective tissue that links muscles and structures throughout the body. Over time, stress, poor posture, and habitual holding patterns cause this tissue to tighten and lose mobility, compressing nerves and blood vessels. This can lead to pain, reduced circulation, and stagnation of fluids in the tissues.
Simply Held addresses these underlying causes through precise, hands-on techniques:
- Myofascial Release: Gently unwinds tension in the fascia of the face, jaw, neck, and shoulders, restoring space and mobility to tissues. This improves blood and nerve flow, helping to relieve pain and discomfort while supporting natural healing.
- Lymphatic Drainage: Stimulates the lymphatic system to clear stagnant fluid, reduce swelling, and improve overall tissue health, especially helpful for sinus congestion and tension-related puffiness.
- Somatic and Emotional Release: Facial muscles express our emotions, we often develop patterns of hold unprocessed stress or trauma. Through mindful touch and guided breath, the method helps the nervous system shift from a state of stress to deep relaxation, allowing both physical and emotional “letting go.”
Unlike conventional treatments that only address symptoms, Simply Held recognises the face as part of a whole-body system. Work extends to the neck, shoulders, and even posture, because tightness in these areas directly impacts facial tension, headaches, and jaw pain.
Over a series of tailored sessions, clients often experience:
- Reduced frequency and intensity of headaches and migraines
- Relief from jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and TMJ dysfunction
- Decreased neck and shoulder pain through improved alignment
- Improved sinus drainage and reduction in facial pressure
- A profound sense of relaxation and nervous system balance
This treatment is ideal for anyone seeking a natural, hands-on way to address chronic facial and neck tension, restore fluid movement, and reconnect with a deep sense of ease in both body and mind.
| Consultation fee: |
| ACC $180 / Private $240 |
| There may be contraindications to receiving treatment- please let me know of any acute infections & conditions, and your medical history so we can have a chat and ensure there is a low risk of any adverse reaction.. |
What to expect from Initial and Follow up Consultation:
Inititial / 90 min
Your first Simply Held session is a comprehensive and personalised experience designed to truly understand your body, your needs, and your goals.
We begin with a conversation about your health history, lifestyle, current concerns, and what you’d like to achieve. This is followed by an assessment of your posture, movement patterns, breathing, and areas of tension or imbalance.
You’ll then be guided through gentle, hands-on treatment and body awareness techniques. This includes therapeutic touch/ soft tissue work, and nervous system regulation approaches to help your body settle, release tension, and reconnect.
Throughout the session, there is a focus on education—helping you understand your body, your symptoms, and how they relate to your daily habits and patterns. You’ll receive practical, tailored advice and simple strategies that you can begin applying straight away.
The extended time allows us to move at a calm, unrushed pace, ensuring you feel supported, heard, and deeply cared for.
Follow up / 60 min
Follow-up appointments we continue to build on foundation set during the first session, supporting your progress and adapting treatment as your body evolves.
Each session begins with a brief check-in to review how you’ve been since your last appointment, including any changes in symptoms, movement, or overall wellbeing.
Depending on what you need on the day, we may spend time reviewing your techniques and exercises, refining your self-care approach, and answering any questions—or we may keep this part brief and move more directly into hands-on treatment.
Typically, sessions include around 10–15 minutes of discussion and reassessment, followed by approximately 45 minutes of treatment. This may include myofascial release and therapeutic massage to reduce tension, improve mobility, and support nervous system regulation.
Each session is tailored to how your body is presenting, ensuring you receive the right balance of guidance and treatment to support your ongoing progress.
What makes this technique unique:
The Body Remembers
The body has its own memory system.
When we go through something overwhelming — whether a major trauma or the buildup of everyday stress — our natural stress response cycle can get interrupted.
Instead of completing the cycle (mobilizing to respond, then releasing and returning to calm), the body gets stuck in a heightened or collapsed state.
This unprocessed energy doesn’t just disappear — it stays lodged in the fascia, muscles, and nervous system, leading to:
- Persistent muscle tension or stiffness
- TMJ and jaw clenching
- Headaches and migraines
- Anxiety, emotional numbness, or a sense of being “on edge”
- Sleep disturbances and fatigue
- Digestive system disruptions
Why Talking Alone Isn’t Enough:
While talk therapy is incredibly valuable, true healing must involve a “bottom-up” approach — working directly with the body.
This is because trauma and unprocessed emotions are stored in implicit memory, a non-verbal form of memory that lives in the body and nervous system
To fully heal, we need to include:
- Sensory-based practices, like massage or breathwork
- Movement and somatic techniques, to discharge stored energy
- Vagus nerve activation, to restore balance between stress and rest
- Mind-body awareness, like interoception (noticing internal sensations)
- Sometimes complete change of conditions/ environmentin which we became unwell
What Makes It Unique (vs other facial massages / beauty treatments)- here are reasons for what sets Simply Held apart:
Depth & breadth of work
It doesn’t just massage superficial layers of skin. It addresses deep fascia, muscles, neural and emotional patterns.
Intra-oral / buccal work
The use of massage inside the mouth is unusual (not used with each treatment as they are taylored to person’s needs). That allows access to parts of the facial muscles that often hold tension (jaw, cheeks) which external massage alone cannot always reach.
Holistic / body-face connection
Face Up views the face not as isolated but as connected with the rest of the body: neck, shoulders, posture, breath, nervous system. So treatments include working on the neck, scapular area, posture etc. Many facial treatments ignore those connections.
No injections / machines required
It is positioned as a natural alternative to more invasive cosmetic procedures and high-tech beauty devices. The effects are said to come from hands, touch, anatomy, and significantly improved circulation.
Emphasis on emotional / energetic release
The method acknowledges that emotional stress, habitual holding, trauma etc. can manifest in facial tension, skin ageing etc., so it attempts to release those via massage & presence. That gives the treatment more depth or “soul” than a purely aesthetic facial.
Self-practice & client involvement
There’s a strong component of clients learning self-massage practices, adopting posture and lifestyle changes, consistency over time for more lasting results. Not just a one-off pampering session
Over a series of tailored sessions, clients often experience:
Relief from:headaches and migraines, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and TMJ pain
Decreased neck and shoulder pain through improved alignment
Improved sinus drainage and reduction in facial pressure
Emotional / mental relaxation, energetic or “felt” release.
Lifted / more sculpted facial contours (jawline, cheeks, etc.)
Improved interoception/ mind & body connection awareness
Got questions?
Feel free to reach out.
Simply Be Physiotherapy 