Understanding Pain, Stress and Fatigue: A Holistic Perspective
- Gavin Martin-Rentz
- May 7
- 4 min read
Recently I was asked to give a short talk to a business networking group. I only had around 10 minutes so I wanted to provide the group some practical, grounded ways to think about pain, stress and fatigue — three issues that almost every modern professional deals with, often without real support or understanding. See the recording below:
I opened by sharing a little of my own journey, from treating touring musicians as a remedial massage therapist, to discovering Chinese medicine through a chance encounter with a drummer who recovered from a serious injury using acupuncture. That moment set me on the path I’ve now been on for nearly a decade.
Pain: The Body Stores Tension Based on How We Move
One of the biggest things I’ve learned in clinic is that pain is rarely just about the spot that hurts. It’s usually part of a much bigger pattern shaped by posture, repetitive movements, injuries and even emotions. As I said in the talk, “we store tension according to how we move through the world.”
For most people, long hours at a computer tighten the front of the body — hip flexors, chest, neck — which then creates strain in the back and shoulders. The solution isn’t just stretching the sore bit; it’s balancing the whole system. That means:
breaking up long sitting periods
stretching the front of the body
strengthening the upper back and glutes
and, when things are really stuck, using treatments like acupuncture to reset the pattern
Stress: It Doesn’t Just Live in the Mind — It Lives in the Body
Stress gets a bad reputation, but it’s simply the body’s response to demands. The problem is that modern life keeps us in that sympathetic “fight‑or‑flight” mode far more than we’re designed for. Over time, that can show up as gut issues, insomnia, chronic pain, hormonal imbalances and more.
I talked about the importance of foundations — sleep, hydration, nutrition, movement — and how practices like breathwork, mindfulness and acupuncture help activate the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state. When stress isn’t managed, it gets stored physically, and that’s when chronic issues start to appear.
Fatigue: A Sign of Inefficiency, Not Laziness
Fatigue, brain fog and burnout are so common that many people assume they’re normal. They’re not. They’re signals. When someone tells me they can’t function without their morning coffee, that’s not a personality trait — it’s the body saying something’s off.
Fatigue often comes from accumulated tension and stress clogging the system, making the body work harder than it should. Instead of reaching for stimulants or supplements, the real solution is improving efficiency: clearing tension, reducing stress load and honouring the body’s natural rhythms of activity and rest. We’re designed to move through cycles — growth and consolidation, action and recovery — and ignoring that is a fast track to burnout.
Bringing It All Together: Listening to the Body’s Signals
My goal in this talk was to help people understand that pain, stress and fatigue aren’t random problems — they’re messages. When we learn to listen to them, we can support the body to function the way it’s meant to. And while it’s absolutely possible to make big improvements on your own, when things have built up over years, it’s incredibly helpful to work with someone who can see the whole picture and guide you through a process.
Once you’re back to a good baseline, the simple daily habits I talked about become powerful tools for maintaining long‑term health, energy and resilience — in business and in life.
FAQs About Pain, Stress & Fatigue
Q: Why does my body hold on to stress and tension?
A: The body stores stress and tension based on how you move, think and respond to daily demands. Long periods in the same posture, emotional strain and chronic stress all all contribute to the tension patterns the body develops over time. Over months or years, these tension patterns can lead to injury and pain.
Q: What causes pain from sitting at a desk all day?
A: Sitting for long periods tightens the front of the body — especially the hip flexors, chest and neck. This tension pulls the body forward, forcing muscles in the back to compensate, often showing up as back, shoulder or neck pain. Regular movement breaks, stretching and strengthening the upper back and glutes help restore balance.
Q: Why am I always tired even when I sleep enough?
A: Persistent fatigue often comes from inefficiency in the body, not a lack of sleep. Accumulated tension, stress and poor recovery keep the nervous system in “fight‑or‑flight,” which drains energy. Improving recovery, reducing tension and supporting natural rhythms helps restore energy.
Q: Can acupuncture help with pain, stress and fatigue?
A: Acupuncture can help release stored tension, regulate the nervous system and improve circulation and energy flow. It’s especially useful when patterns have become chronic and the body needs help resetting.
Q: How can I naturally improve my energy levels?
A: Focus on reducing tension, managing stress, supporting sleep, staying hydrated and honouring natural cycles of activity and rest. When the body becomes more efficient, energy improves naturally without relying on stimulants.
If you’re noticing pain, stress or fatigue showing up in your own body, you don’t have to figure it out alone. These patterns build up over time, but with the right support they can shift surprisingly quickly.
Click here to book online at Acupuncture Grove and we’ll take a clear, practical look at what your body needs to get back on track.
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