Fascia, the Nervous System, and Their Role in the Somatic Experience of the Enneagram and Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Introduction

Did you know your body holds the stories of your emotions and inner dynamics—even your personality? This idea fascinates me and deeply informs my work. Lately, I’ve been exploring the intricate connection between fascia—a connective tissue network—and the nervous system. These systems don’t just reflect your experiences; they actively shape how you feel, think, and move.

My understanding of this relationship has been greatly enriched by my studies with Frances D. Booth and Susan McConnell. In this post, I’ll share how fascia and the nervous system influence the somatic experience of your Enneagram type and IFS parts. I’ll explore how these systems may hold and express your inner dynamics, concluding with simple, relatable examples you can recognize in your own body.

1. What is Fascia?

Fascia is a connective tissue network that wraps and integrates every structure in your body—muscles, bones, organs, and even nerves. It’s dynamic and adaptive, responding to physical, emotional, and environmental factors.

• Structural Support: Fascia provides the scaffolding that holds your body together while allowing for movement and flexibility.

• Sensory Communication: Packed with sensory receptors, fascia sends information about tension, pain, and movement to your brain.

• Emotional and Physical Storage: Fascia can "remember" patterns of stress or trauma, holding these in the body until they are processed and released.

Susan McConnell, in her book Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy, highlights research suggesting that fascia acts as an internal communication network. It transmits information across the body and influences how we process and store emotions. This perspective aligns with my own observations—fascia often holds the tension or flow of emotional experiences.

2. What is the Nervous System?

Your nervous system is the body’s communication hub, coordinating thoughts, emotions, and physical actions. It has two key components:

• Central Nervous System (CNS): The brain and spinal cord, which process and interpret sensory input.

• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Regulates involuntary processes like heart rate, digestion, and stress responses. The ANS includes:

  • Sympathetic Nervous System: Activated during stress or danger ("fight or flight").

  • Parasympathetic Nervous System: Promotes relaxation and healing ("rest and digest").

Fascia and the nervous system are closely linked. Fascia contains sensory nerves that influence the ANS, and tension in the fascia can amplify or mirror your body’s stress and relaxation states.

3. How Fascia and the Nervous System Relate to the Enneagram

The Enneagram describes nine archetypal patterns of personality, each with characteristic emotional and somatic tendencies. These patterns are not just mental—they’re embodied, with the fascia storing and expressing type-specific fixations and movements.

• Somatic Patterns:
  All types’ habitual tendencies show up in the body differently. Some may carry tension or rigidity in specific areas, while others might feel a sense of openness, constriction, or a longing "pull" in certain parts of their body.

• Connection to Essence:
  When you’re in touch with your essence qualities, your fascia and nervous system reflect openness and ease. For example, you might experience a softening of rigidity into serenity or a shift from inertia to vibrant presence.

4. How Fascia and the Nervous System Relate to IFS Parts

Internal Family Systems (IFS) identifies various parts within you, each with its own emotional and somatic "story." Fascia can hold the physical tension or patterns associated with these parts.

• Somatic Storage of Parts:

  • Protector parts might feel like tightness or bracing in certain areas of the body, guarding against perceived threats.

  • Exile parts might show up as a sinking or hollow sensation, holding sadness or fear.

• Release and Integration:
  Somatic awareness practices, including gentle fascial release, can help parts release their burdens, creating space for healing and reintegration.

5. Examples of Somatic Patterns in Enneagram Types and IFS Parts

Enneagram Types:

• Type 1: Tension in shoulders or jaw, reflecting perfectionism and self-criticism.

• Type 2: Forward-leaning posture, symbolizing their orientation toward others.

• Type 3: Upright, efficient posture, showing drive and ambition.

• Type 4: A longing sensation in the chest or heaviness, reflecting emotional depth.

• Type 5: Contraction in the chest or back, mirroring withdrawal and conservation.

• Type 6: Tight diaphragm or chest, signaling vigilance or worry.

• Type 7: Expansive gestures, reflecting energy and freedom-seeking.

• Type 8: Grounded, strong posture, signaling assertiveness and strength.

• Type 9: Slumped posture or diffuse tension, reflecting avoidance or self-forgetting.

IFS Parts:

• Protector: Bracing in the arms or chest, signaling readiness to shield.

• Exile: Sinking sensation in the belly, holding sadness or fear.

• Manager: Tension in the forehead or jaw, showing control and overthinking.

• Firefighter: Restlessness or agitation in the limbs, signaling urgency or distraction.

• Self Energy: Lightness or warmth throughout the body, reflecting calm and clarity.

Conclusion

The fascia and nervous system are not just passive structures—they actively shape and reflect your emotional, mental, and somatic experiences. Through the lens of the Enneagram and IFS, these systems provide a fascinating map for understanding how we carry our patterns in the body and how we can release and transform them.

In the next post, I’ll explore how these insights can be applied to my model of essence embodiment, using somatic awareness, fascia, and the nervous system to access and cultivate the essence qualities of each Enneagram type as a healing modality.

References

• McConnell, Susan. Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy: Awareness, Breath, Resonance, Movement, and Touch in Practice. North Atlantic Books, 2020.

• Schleip, Robert, et al. Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body. Churchill Livingstone, 2012.

• Van Der Kolk, Bessel. The Body Keeps the Score. Penguin Books, 2015.