Listening to the Body as a Path to Nervous System Healing

The word somatic has become increasingly popular – often used alongside trauma recovery and nervous system healing – yet it’s still widely misunderstood.

At its core, somatic simply means “of the body.”

The word soma literally translates to body.

So when we talk about somatic work, we are talking about listening to the body’s signals, sensations, and wisdom – and allowing the body itself to guide the healing process.

Listening to the Body Is Somatic

A simple example of somatic awareness might look like this:

You notice tightness in your stomach…and instead of pushing through, you choose not to attend something your body isn’t ready for. That moment of noticing – and responding – is somatic awareness.

This is a foundational principle of my somatic bodywork sessions.

We don’t override the body.

We don’t force release.

We listen.

Why “Somatic” Is Often Linked to Trauma and Nervous System Healing

In recent years, the word somatic has become closely associated with trauma recovery and nervous system regulation/resonance – and for good reason.

Some psychotherapists now incorporate awareness of body sensations into their sessions. When they do, this is often referred to as Somatic Therapy. What they are usually working with is the nervous system and trauma through sensation awareness.  However, psychotherapists are generally discouraged from using physical touch as part of their therapeutic practice.  For example, in the state of Georgia where I practice, psychotherapists are not licensed to touch.

The Power of Safe, Attuned Touch

As a licensed somatic bodyworker, I am trained and permitted to work directly through the body, with touch or no touch as needed. My RN license also gives me a second license to touch.  With clear consent, I place my hands on the part of the body that is asking for support.

This matters – because safe, attuned touch is profoundly regulating for the nervous system.  Stress and trauma are not just cognitive experiences.  They are stored, held, and often frozen in the body. The body knows what the mind often does not.

My Own Healing Through the Body

Healing through the body is what finally helped lift my lifelong low-grade depression in my twenties – after experiencing it on and off for most of my life.

Like many people, I carried early patterns that began long before I had language – from womb, infant, and toddler stages of life. When these early patterns remain frozen, they can feel existential simply because we’ve never known anything else. This is the work I’ve spent years doing – in my own body and nervous system.

Finding Alchemical Alignment in 2019 was life-changing for me.  I have repeated the training three times for deeper embodiment and lived understanding.  I have also received professional sessions monthly for the last four years. I have received monthly therapeutic bodywork for 26 years. I live what I do. Prayer and my personal relationship with God and nature have been central to my healing as well.  And so have real friendships – the kind rooted in attunement, presence, integrity and care.

Why Co-Regulation Is So Healing

Being with others who can truly attune means being with people who have regulated, resonant nervous systems themselves. When someone can remain present and regulated, their nervous system naturally supports the regulation of others. This is known as co-regulation – or what I sometimes call co-resonance.  To me, this is what healing was always meant to look like.

Not forcing.

Not fixing.

But being held in safe, attuned presence.

Why I Facilitate Sanctuary Nervous System Recovery Groups

This is why I feel deeply called to facilitate Sanctuary nervous system recovery groups.  When group spaces are held with integrity, pacing, and attunement, the nervous system can finally settle – not through pressure or performance, but through shared presence.

Now that I have metabolized much of the early freeze in my own system, my body naturally holds more ease, regulation, and health. From this place, clients often reach similar states more quickly – not because I am doing something to them, but because the nervous system learns through co-resonance.

The Body Leads the Way

Somatic healing is not about forcing change.  It’s about creating enough safety – internally and relationally – for the body to soften, thaw, and reorganize on its own timeline. The body already knows the way.

Gentle Invitation

If you feel called to experience this work in a slow, supported group setting, you’re welcome to explore Sanctuary – a small, trauma-informed nervous system recovery group rooted in safety, attunement, and co-regulation.

 [Learn more about Sanctuary]

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GOOD SOURCES OF PROBIOTICS:

• Cultured vegetables support weight loss, reduce cravings and help avoid constipation. We suggest starting with 2 tablespoons of cultured vegetables with each meal, slowly increasing by 1 tablespoon until you reach ¼ cup at each meal.
• Inner-Eco Probiotic Drink (our favorite store-bought option as it contains an average of 100 billion active probiotic cultures per serving)
• Coconut water kefir—homemade or store-bought (Kevita)
• Coconut milk, almond milk, or any unsweetened and dairy-free yogurt
• Coconut milk kefir or any non-dairy, unsweetened kefir (Ancient Awakenings at Whole Foods)
• The Body Ecology Diet probiotic drinks
• Bubbie’s cultured foods, available in your local market or local health food store
• Kombucha (pay attention to the label: you may want to avoid Kombucha if candida is present, or if you are avoiding all sugar currently, as sugar is used in its fermentation process)
• High-quality probiotic supplements, which can be purchased on my Fullscript Dispensary. I suggest choosing a probiotic with at least 15-50 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) that has been manufactured effectively, stored in proper conditions and transported on a refrigerated truck.

Primal Defense Ultra: We have taken this probiotic for years. It has 15 billion CFU and 13 different probiotic strains. It is great for traveling since it does not need to be stored in the refrigerator.

RenewLife 50 Billion: Many of my clients take this probiotic, as it is a very reputable company when it comes to digestive wellness. It has 50 billion CFU and 10+ different probiotic strains.

Ther-Biotic Complete: Another client favorite, Ther-biotic Complete by Klaire Labs provides hypoallergenic (gentle) and effective bicrobiome support.  It has 25 billion CFU and 12 different strains of live bacteria including the beneficial strep strain.

Pendulum GLP-1: This multi-strain probiotic is a cutting-edge formula with beneficial bacteria that naturally increase GLP-1,* the “un-hunger” hormone that helps curb cravings & appetite.

Buy these practitioner-grade, potent and effective probiotics here in my Fullscript online dispensary. Sign up for your free account, then find the favorites and select the probiotics category.

Learn more about AIR Anti-Inflammatory Reset, our signature functional nutrition & lifestyle online program to reduce inflammation and rebuild your health and energy here.

Set up your Free 30-minute Consult here to explore one-on-one Functional Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching with me.

©2024 Soul Path Wellness LLC| AIR Freebie – Probiotic Cheat Sheet

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease

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Core to my work as a coach and bodyworker is holding space and allowing your body to be heard and felt, get the support and nourishment you need, and honor your body as your soul guide back to health, balance and feeling awake, alive and whole.

#soulpathwellness #feelittohealit #littledoablepieces #bodyworkfortraumarecovery#alchemicalalignment #healingtouch #highlysensitivelife #highlysensitivebadass #empath #healingpeoplepleasing #rebuildhealththroughthebody #thebodyremembers #bodyasguide #antiinflammatoryreset #functionalnutrition #rootcauseguthealth #fightflightfreezefawn #restanddigest

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You wake in the morning and your belly is almost back to normal again! Then after eating and by the end of the day you look and feel almost pregnant?

And you feel gassy, maybe some heartburn, maybe some constipation?

Your belly and clothes just don’t feel comfortable, YET AGAIN.

Many factors can lead to bloating and digestive complaints. And figuring out what to try and how to solve it alone IS overwhelming.

Looking out at the oodles of expert advice and figuring out what diet or probiotic to try next rarely gets you the results you want.

I want to let you know that listening to your body…is the way to narrow it down to a simple solution.

I help you look closely at your digestive function and make lifestyle changes that begin to reduce the burdens on your body, bringing healing to your gut.

When you work with me we listen to your body together to tease out the root causes of your digestive issues.

I’m like a detective of all the clues that your body shows through symptoms.

We will put doable steps into place TOGETHER to reverse your bloating.

We will use nutrition and lifestyle changes and emotional support techniques to restore and replenish your healthy gut function.

One of my clients went from bloating at level 7 to level 1 in two weeks by shifting to her unique gut health and nervous system repair requirements.

You will spend your days feeling well in your belly and feeling your clothes fitting with ease again.

You’ll be comfortable in your skin and ready to spend time laughing with friends or playing with your kids again.

Let’s talk about working together to leave your belly woes behind!

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute consult call with me. Link in bio!

Your health restoration coach,

Amy

#soulpathwellness #functionalnutrition #rootcauses #guthealth #detoxify #restanddigest #fightflightfreezefawn #recoveringpeoplepleaser #alchemicalalignment #mindbodyhealth
#healthyboundaries #individualizedguthealth

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You wake in the morning and energy is nowhere to be found? 

Does the day drag on and on and you lack zest for life and fantasize about your bed? 

You don’t finish what you want and need to do, YET AGAIN.

Many factors can lead to fatigue and if all the information you’ve been bombarded with has been overwhelming, I’m here to say, YOU ARE RIGHT!!! Trying to solve it alone IS overwhelming. 

Looking out at the oodles of expert advice and figuring out what superfood or supplement to try next rarely gets you the results you want.  

Trying to solve this on your own IS FRUSTRATING! Sooner or later, it feels easier to just give up!

I want to let you know that listening to your body…is the way to narrow it down to a simple solution.

When you feel a lack of energy day after day, it is time to learn how to listen to what your body is trying to tell you. 

I help you look closely at your digestive function and make lifestyle changes that begin to reduce the burdens on your body, freeing up your energy.

When you work with me we hone in on your unique root causes.

We listen to your body together to tease out the root causes of your fatigue. 

I’m like a detective of all the clues that your body shows through symptoms.

We will put doable steps into place TOGETHER to reverse your fatigue. 

We will use nutrition and lifestyle changes and emotional support techniques to restore and replenish your energy.

One of my clients went from daily fatigue at level 9 to level 2 in one week by shifting to her unique gut health and anti-inflammatory diet requirements.

You will wake up in the mornings refreshed and have the energy to ENJOY your day.

You’ll approach your work every day with a clear mind and zero brain fog.

Let’s talk about working together to leave your fatigue behind! 

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute consult call with me.

Much love,

Amy

#soulpathwellness #functionalnutrition #rootcauses #guthealth #detoxify #restanddigest #fightflightfreezefawn #recoveringpeoplepleaser #alchemicalalignment #mindbodyhealth #healthyboundaries

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Ingredients:

1 organic apple, chopped into bite sized pieces

1 Tbsp sunflower seed butter (or any nut/seed butter)

1/2 Tbsp raw organic Cacao*

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp Maca powder*

dash of good quality Sea Salt

a few Tbsp hemp seeds, optional

sprinkle of ground flax seed, optional

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients into a bowl, mix, and enjoy!

Why these ingredients?

• Raw Cacao is chock full of minerals, like magnesium – which most people are low in, and antioxidants.
• Maca is an adaptogen, meaning it helps our bodies to repair from the effects of stress.
• Cinnamon has been shown to help stabilize blood sugar
• Sunflower seed butter or nut butters are tasty and add some healthy fat – fats help slow digestion and lower the glycemic impact of fruit-based meals.
• Apples are a good source of Fiber (insoluble and soluble), Phytochemicals (quercetin, catechin, chlorogenic acid, anthocyanin), Vitamin C, and pectin.
• Hemp seeds are rich in omega 3, protein and fiber. Add them if you feel better with higher fiber meals.
• Ground flax is rich in omega-3 and fiber

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Did you know that food has vibrations that allow it to create change in our bodies on a cellular level?

Food that is alive and from the earth will energize and invigorate you, while processed, pre-packaged, dead food will leave you feeling lethargic and uninspired, like a light that has fizzled out. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Dark green leafy vegetables are full of chlorophyll, which is basically liquid sunshine. Chlorophyll is the substance in plants that allows them to absorb light from the sun and convert it into usable energy. When we consume raw dark green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, and Swiss chard, we fill our body with the equivalent of the plant’s life blood – the very thing that allows a seed to flourish and take form.

Chemically, chlorophyll is very similar to our blood. When we consume chlorophyll-rich food it helps us to oxygenate our blood and breathe life into every cell. Pretty cool, huh? Chlorophyll is also extremely cleansing and detoxifying.

5 High Vibe Foods to Eat for More Energy

Here are some other high vibrational foods for you to try:

1. Tree Fruits – try apples, pears, bananas, coconuts, avocados, nectarines, peaches, plums, apricots, oranges, lemons, limes, mangos, pomegranates, blueberries, cherries, and olives.

2. Non-green veggies – like sweet potato, tomato, peppers, red onion, mushrooms, artichokes, carrots, beets

3. Raw Cacao – chocolate in its pure form has over 1,200 phytonutrients. It contains nutrients like magnesium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and manganese. It also contains phenylethylamine, which are the feel-good characteristics, and theobromine which dilates the cardiovascular system to allow all the benefits to come in.

4. Goji Berries – packed with antioxidants, which can help minimize free radical damage to our cells.

5. Cultured and Fermented Foods –a great source of probiotics, which will help your digestion stay on track. My teacher and mentor Andrea Nakayama shares her favorite raw ferment brands I know you’ll love – check out her recommendations here.

The Takeaway

I firmly believe in the old saying, “You are what you eat.” (As well as “You are what your body can do with what you eat!” We will talk more about that later!)

• Junk in = feeling like junk, and
• Rich, living, nutrient-dense food = much happier body and mind.

Don’t just take my word for it. We’ve all tried the junk in, junk out experiment! Don’t you think it’s time to rock your body and mind with some fresh and fabulous food? By eating food that vibrates at a higher frequency, we increase our life-force energy and feel more radiant inside and out.

In my next post, I’ll be sharing a high-vibe breakfast that is sure to become a favorite.

p.s. interested in learning more about food energetics? Check out “Food Energetics: The Spiritual, Emotional, and Nutritional Power of What We Eat” by Steve Gagné

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