THE EMBODY LAB BLOG


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THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES Sarah Mason THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES Sarah Mason

Taming Your Nervous System: A Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery

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.

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Attachment and Relationships Sarah Mason Attachment and Relationships Sarah Mason

Understanding and Healing Core Relational Wounds: With Dr. Diane Poole Heller and Dr. Scott Lyons

When it comes to healing our deepest relational wounds, understanding how they show up in our bodies is just as important as understanding how they exist in our minds. In the recent Relationship Summit, Attachment Expert Dr. Diane Poole Heller and Somatic Psychologist Dr. Scott Lyons shared valuable insights on how early relationships shape our nervous systems and how we can start healing today. 

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SOMATIC ATTACHMENT THERAPY Sarah Mason SOMATIC ATTACHMENT THERAPY Sarah Mason

Beyond Love: A Somatic Approach to Building Lasting Relationships

When we think about successful relationships, we often focus on love, chemistry, and emotional connection. But according to relationship expert Dr. Stan Tatkin, these elements alone aren't enough to create lasting partnerships. Instead, he suggests something both simpler and more challenging: treating relationships as a carefully designed system built on mutual agreements and body-based awareness.

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THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES Sarah Mason THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES Sarah Mason

Healing Trauma with EMDR and Parts Work: A Holistic Approach to Emotional Wellness

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.

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TRAUMA AND STRESS Embodied Yoga TRAUMA AND STRESS Embodied Yoga

Reclaiming Connection and Clarity: Returning to the Embodied Self

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.

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Somatic Practices Embodied Yoga Somatic Practices Embodied Yoga

Finding Balance: How Nature Nurtures Our Nervous System

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.

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PLANT MEDICINE Embodied Yoga PLANT MEDICINE Embodied Yoga

Somatic Intentions for Psychedelic Journeys: Bridging Body and Consciousness

When it comes to self-discovery, a psychedelic journey can accelerate growth in ways that simply talking through it never could. This work is as much about your body’s truth as your mind’s intentions. If we’re gearing up to explore these subconscious spaces, the groundwork isn’t about crafting the perfect mantra but about building a somatic intention—anchoring into bodily awareness and presence.

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Somatic Practices Embodied Yoga Somatic Practices Embodied Yoga

The Science Behind Somatic Intimacy: Exploring Mind-Body Connection

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.

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EMOTIONS Embodied Yoga EMOTIONS Embodied Yoga

Grief Fortitude: My Journey of Finding Joy Amid the Loss

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.

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EMOTIONS Embodied Yoga EMOTIONS Embodied Yoga

Bereavement Companionship and Somatic Group Work

Bereavement companionship circles offer a safe haven for the bereft to share vulnerable grief stories associated with a significant loss of a loved one. The collective wisdom of the group springs forth from the tapestry of interweaving grief stories. Connections are deeply cultivated in group storytelling and leave participants feeling less isolated along their grief journey.

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The Transformative Power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) For Individuals and Therapists

Internal Family Systems (IFS) stands out as a profound therapeutic approach for individuals navigating personal healing and therapists facilitating transformative sessions. Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS introduces a distinctive framework centered around the concept of the Self. The following information was shared in a live conversation between Dr. Scott Lyons, Dr. Richard Schwartz, and Dr. Peter Levine on the topic of Internal Family Systems (IFS).

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Somatic Therapeutic Modalities Embodied Yoga Somatic Therapeutic Modalities Embodied Yoga

Integrating Yoga Therapy and EMDR: A Somatic Approach to Trauma Healing

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.

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GENERAL WELLNESS Embodied Yoga GENERAL WELLNESS Embodied Yoga

Burnout and the Radical Path of Non-Abandonment of Self

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.

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Somatic Practices Embodied Yoga Somatic Practices Embodied Yoga

How I Found Somatic Healing

The first time I ever experienced an emotion in my body was one day in a yin yoga class, in pigeon pose. I felt these sensations bubbling up from deep within my hips, rising to the surface when I had historically fought so hard to push them down throughout my usual day-to-day life.

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THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES Embodied Yoga THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES Embodied Yoga

Embracing Nature: Eco Therapy for Somatic Trauma Healing

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.

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