Healing is a deeply personal journey.
Many of us begin the healing process through talk therapy, where we find comfort in expressing our emotions and untangling the complexities of our minds. But for some, including myself, there comes a point where words alone don’t reach the places where healing is most needed—within the body.
This realization was part of my own path to recovery and transformation.
My Journey from Disconnection to Embodiment
I experienced trauma at a young age, and for years, I was disconnected from my body. I moved through life feeling dissociated, numb, and detached from my emotions. When I first started psychotherapy, it provided me with a much-needed space to reflect on what I had gone through. It gave me clarity and helped me make sense of my past.
But as time passed, I noticed that something was missing. Even though therapy helped my mind, my body didn’t respond in the same way. No matter how much I talked or reflected, I still felt tension, anxiety, and unease within me. I came to understand that while my mind was healing, my body needed something different.
That’s when I began exploring yoga and embodiment practices—and that’s where true transformation began for me.
Trauma Lives in the Body
What I learned, both through my own experience and through teaching others, is that trauma doesn’t just live in our thoughts—it resides in our bodies. It shows up in the tightness of our muscles, the shallowness of our breath, the sensations we feel but can’t quite explain.
For years, I lived with these subtle reminders of my trauma, even when I didn’t fully understand why. It wasn’t until I began to slow down, tune in, and move my body in an embodied way through Yoga and Embodiment practices that I began to feel a shift. The gentle, intentional movements and breathwork allowed me to connect with parts of myself I had been disconnected from for so long. Slowly, I started to release what I had been carrying in my body—tension, fear, and old patterns of holding on.
This kind of healing is not something that happens overnight, but as I began to trust my body and listen to its wisdom, I felt lighter, freer, and more at peace.
The Body's Wisdom and the Vagus Nerve
A key part of this journey has been understanding how our nervous system holds trauma. One of the most powerful elements of this is the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain through the heart, lungs, and gut. It is the gateway to our parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us shift from stress and tension to relaxation and ease.
When we experience trauma, our nervous system can get stuck in a heightened state of alertness—what many people know as the “fight-or-flight” response. That was my reality for years. My mind understood that the danger had passed, but my body hadn’t yet caught up. It wasn’t until I began practicing techniques that stimulate the vagus nerve, such as deep breathing, yoga and somatic practices, that I truly began to unwind and relax and feel an inner sense of safety.
These practices are gentle yet profound—they invite our bodies to release, to let go, and to find a sense of calm and safety.
Weaving together Talk therapy and Embodiment
Including the body in healing isn’t just an add-on to traditional therapy; it’s a vital part of the process. Our bodies are incredibly wise and hold onto experiences in ways our minds sometimes can’t fully understand. By learning to listen to our bodies and incorporating practices that help release stored tension and trauma, we can find deeper levels of healing and peace.
While talk therapy was an essential part of my healing process, it wasn’t enough on its own. It was through the integration of body-based practices like yoga and embodiment that I found the deeper layers of healing I was searching for.
Now, this is the approach I offer to others. Through teaching, I’ve witnessed time and again how connecting with the body can open up new pathways for healing. People often come to me after years of talk therapy, feeling like something is still unresolved. By guiding them to move, breathe, and feel their bodies, they discover new insights and release emotions they didn’t even know were there.
Healing, I’ve learned, is not just a mental process—it’s about embracing the body’s innate wisdom.
Gentle Ways to begin Healing the Body
If you’re feeling like talk therapy hasn’t been enough or if you’re yearning to reconnect with your body, here are a few gentle practices that you can start today. These techniques can help soothe your nervous system and bring a sense of balance and peace:
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Diaphragmatic Breathing: This is one of the simplest ways to calm your nervous system. Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest, then take slow, deep breaths, allowing your belly to expand as you inhale. Let your exhale be longer than your inhale, signaling to your body that it’s safe to relax.
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Yoga of Embodiment: This is a somatic movement technique that will encourage you to engage with your current emotions and transforming them to enhance your vibrational state and reconnect to your heart.
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Humming or Chanting: Adding sound to your breath, such as humming or softly chanting “Om,” stimulates the vagus nerve and creates soothing vibrations within the body.
Sometimes, healing requires us to move beyond the mind and reconnect with the body. In my experience, it’s through this integration of body and mind that true transformation takes place.
Healing isn’t just about talking through our experiences—it’s about feeling them, releasing them, and allowing the body to guide us back to wholeness.
Trust your body’s wisdom. It knows the way.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to integrate your body into your healing journey, check out my online sanctuary The Embodied Voyage.
