Embodied Living
'A balanced nervous system supports health, growth, and restoration.'
~ Dr. Stephen Porges
'Earth will be safe when we feel in us enough safety.'
~Thich Nhat Hanh
Our physiology informs our thoughts and behavior. Creating a personal map of our autonomic nervous system can help us identify how we feel safe or not safe, allowing us to make interventions to shift back to safety and connection with Self and Other. Each state--the social engagement system, fight or flight, shutdown--has emergent qualities which inform our perception, our body language and posture, our thoughts, our images, our emotional expression, our core beliefs, all of which color the story we tell about our present experience. When it is a story of safety, we embody an experience of calm, compassion, courage, ground, clarity, curiosity, and connection to ourself, to others, to the natural world, and to spirit. When the story we tell comes from a state of not-safe, we embody an experience of threat which can lead to hostile expression, fear, withdrawal or shutting down. You can read the story of the nervous system in the body posture and movements, tone of voice, and facial expressions. When we recognize what our nervous system is telling us, we have choices available to us to reclaim our birthright to move naturally toward social engagement with others for inspiration, creative collaboration, learning, deep intimacy and knowing, as well as for solace, comfort, and co-regulation when times are difficult.
The Polyvagal Theory of the Autonomic Nervous System interview with Dr. Porges
'Trauma is a chronic disruption of connection.'
~ Dr. Stephen Porges
We need one another. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) occur in relationship to others causing the nervous system to become attuned to threat. The path to heal this legacy of pain is to re-tune the nervous system through social engagement with others in healthy reciprocal relationships.
'Without the experience of an organizing other. . .the nervous system is stunned.'
~Sebern Fisher
Neural Exercises to Re-Tune the Nervous System:
- Breath Exercises Pranayama
- HeartMath (HRV regulation)
- Eye Contact
- Face to Face Social Interactions
- Smiling and Laughter
- Music
- Singing
- Playing a Wind Instrument
- Yoga
- T'ai Chi
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Play
- Safe and Sound Protocol
- Postural Shifts
- Movement
- Dance
- Intimacy
- Attuning to the Natural World
- And So Much More!!
You are not responsible for what shows up. You are responsible
for how you show up.
'With gratitude to Stephen Porges for his development of Polyvagal Theory. . the science of connection. . .the science of feeling safe enough to fall in love with life and take the risks of living. . .' ~Deb Dana
https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/
Resources for Polyvagal Informed Practices:
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Interview with Pat Odgen: Attachment and Trauma work with the body
Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory Dr. Porges and Deb Dana
Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection Deb Dana
Beginner's Guide to Polyvagal Theory Deb Dana
Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma: Calming the Fear-Driven Brain S. Fisher
Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges Mona Delahooke
Education: Lori Desautels Revelations in Education
Yoga: Arielle Schwartz Yoga for the Vagus Nerve
Chronic Pain: Les Aria The Open Center
Speech Therapy: Heleen Grooten Voice and Trauma
Eating Disorders: Paula Scatoloni & Rachel Lewis Bright Heart Health