Most of us think of our nervous system as something that just happens in the background. But it's actually the conductor of your entire life experience. Every feeling, memory, and reaction is filtered through this incredible biological system. Think about it like this: When you remember a delicious meal, it's not just a mental image. Your body responds with mouth-watering sensations, perhaps even a warmth in your stomach. That's your nervous system in action! It's constantly communicating with you through physical and emotional signals.

Imagine a therapy approach that doesn't just talk about your trauma, but helps your brain actually process and heal from painful experiences. Welcome to the powerful world of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) combined with Parts Work – a revolutionary method for understanding and healing your inner landscape. EMDR is like a gentle reset button for your brain's traumatic memories. Using bilateral stimulation (typically side-to-side eye movements), this therapy helps your brain reprocess difficult experiences, transforming how traumatic memories are stored. Think of it as helping your brain file away painful memories in a way that doesn't keep triggering you.

I want to talk about something many of us are navigating—acute and chronic high stress. Specifically, in the aftermath of disasters like the Los Angeles fires and the turbulence we witness globally. I believe we have an opportunity to look at trauma differently, to normalize and de-pathologize the human response to high-stress situations and bring in resources that specifically attune to our physiology in times of high stress.

Complex trauma shapes our entire being—body, mind, and spirit—disrupting our ability to connect authentically with ourselves and others. It leaves lasting imprints on our nervous system, influencing how we perceive the world and interact in relationships. Trauma survival mechanisms such as fight, flight, and shutdown are automatic responses designed to keep us safe in the face of danger, but when trauma is unresolved, these responses can remain activated, interfering with clarity, connection, and intuition.

Our nervous systems have a close relationship with the natural world. The sounds, sights, and sensations of nature speak a language our bodies inherently understand. When we're surrounded by natural environments where we feel safe, our nervous system often shifts into a more regulated state – heart rate steadies, breath deepens, and muscles soften.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR for short, has become a widely and commonly used technique for treating PTSD. For many practitioners, it is the top choice for a starting point. As the years have passed and more research has been conducted, what once was heralded as a trauma treatment has seen expanded use. It has seen some transformation and is no longer just an intervention but a comprehensive approach to psychotherapy. 

In today’s fast-paced world, where we’re often caught up in the demands of daily life, somatic intimacy offers a gentle invitation to reconnect with ourselves and others on a deeper level. It’s about more than just physical touch or emotional closeness—it’s about embracing the profound bond between our mind and body and recognizing how this connection influences our overall well-being.

In this crazy, beautiful life, you and I will both experience loss and its constant companion, grief. But I am here to say that in the weeds of grief, unconditional joy is always possible. I’ve experimented with how to live this out in real-time, and this piece highlights my experience.

Healing your wounded heart isn’t easy, but it’s worth it — where to begin to lean into curing your pain.

There is a synergy between Yoga Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in facilitating comprehensive trauma healing. Drawing upon the insights of 30 years of teaching and an understanding of the Kosha model and Ayurvedic principles, this integrative approach offers a holistic framework for understanding and treating trauma.

Our breath is a window into our bodily state (nervous system state) and is also the fastest way to modulate our bodily state and intervene at the physiological level. By changing our physiology, the breath has the power to affect our nervous system state and the emerging feelings, emotions, behaviors, and thoughts.

It takes an enormous amount of courage and vulnerability to talk about and get curious about burnout. At its core, burnout actually reflects a very important set of primal human needs and wishes - safety, belonging, and dignity. Burnout is simply a response to overwhelming life experiences. An adaptive strategy to the underlying need for safety, slowing down, and a holding environment where all parts of oneself are welcome, seen, heard, and acknowledged.

Are you feeling the stress of the holidays? You’re not alone. The holidays can be the most stressful time of year for many if not most of us: in the U.S., a whopping 89% of adults say that anticipating family conflict, among other factors, causes them stress at this time of year.

If you’re choosing to spend your holidays with family, here are some somatic and cognitive practices to support you as you navigate the joys and challenges of the season.

Imagine having a tool that not only liberates pent-up anger and tension but also empowers your personal boundaries, safeguarding your emotional well-being. In this article, we'll embark on a transformative journey to unearth the power of somatic healing.

The Hakomi Method offers a unique approach to psychotherapy that combines mindfulness, compassion, and somatic awareness to foster personal growth and healing. Originally developed in the late 1970s by Ron Kurtz, Hakomi is influenced by humanistic psychology and Eastern philosophical traditions.

Eco therapy, also known as nature therapy or “green therapy”, is a therapeutic approach that taps into the healing power of nature to address various mental and physical health issues. Drawing inspiration from the vast expanses of natural resources and the calming effects of the great outdoors, eco therapy offers a holistic path towards healing and personal growth.

In a recent session led by renowned psychologist and somatic healing expert, Dr. Arielle Schwartz, participants had the opportunity to experience an enriching movement integration exercise followed by an interactive Q&A session.

By embracing emotions as valuable sources of information and guidance, EFT helps individuals develop deeper self-awareness, cultivate healthier emotional responses, and empower them with the necessary resources to confront challenging situations with resilience and strength.

Mindfulness is the art of being in the present moment, aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment. Emerging from a long line of ancient traditions, mindfulness therapies present an antidote to the stress of fast-paced modern life. They focus on bringing the practitioner back into the present moment and away from ruminating thoughts and anxiety.

In the world of trauma recovery, innovative approaches that merge different disciplines hold immense potential. A notable example is the integration of Applied Polyvagal Theory with yoga principles. Join us in reflection of our recent conversation with Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a renowned somatics expert, as she shares insights on the polyvagal perspective and its implications for trauma healing and somatic practices.