gently Bend the cycle into a healing spiral
Trauma work transforms now
- As a trauma survivor, I have carried a heavy burden of tension in my body -
In moments where others may see mundane tasks or casual conversations, I've discovered that I often hold my breath. A simple yet profound act has helped: stopping and breathing. This sounds simple, but is easy to forget in everyday life.
Here are three inspiring voices that have guided me on my journey towards change:
Yoga with Dr. Arielle schwartz
I am currently doing Dr. Arielle Schwartz’s yoga sessions several times a week. She has many free videos you can follow along with on her youtube channel. I have been doing yoga many years previously, but I tend to be too competitive and push myself in class. Doing these at home has made a big difference in opening up my hips and massaging my spine. It has simply given me more energy and less body tension.
Try them here
Dr. Arielle Schwartz has a private practice in Boulder, Colorado providing Psychotherapy, Supervision, and Consultation in Resilience Informed Therapy which applies research on trauma recovery, EMDR Therapy, and Somatic Psychology to form a strength-based, trauma treatment model is a leading expert in trauma healing, using yoga to help people feel better. Her approach is gentle and powerful, offering a path to healing for those who've experienced trauma.
Dr. Stephen Porges
I am hoping to own one of the Physiocams Dr. Stephen Porges has helped develop. A glowing cube reflecting pulse waves from the face using a high-definition camera and readings from an armband. The body signal is broken down into brain measurements.
Brain indicators are combined into traffic lights to show how active the nervous system is. Imagine having a dinner conversation and actually being able to see how the others feel? I think we all would be surprised what triggers someone else. How about with parenting?
Maybe one day all this will just be in a lense we can have on our eyes connected to an armband.
See the video of how it works here
Dr. Stephen Porges is a renowned scientist who studies how our bodies respond to stress and trauma. His research has shown how understanding our nervous system can help us heal from trauma, offering hope and healing to those who need it most. He is the author of the polyvagal theory and is involved in various other projects that can help regulate our nervous system.
Our biology, with Aimie Apigian
I have often wondered if my body responds slower to exercise because of trauma and the fact I often hold my breath and tense up. For years I was running or boxing. I was in good shape with strong muscles, but it often had a high cost with tension. By learning to work in tune with my body, I am finding a more natural pace with some movement often, instead of heavy movement more rarely. And then I learned about oxidative stress.
Aimie Apigian is a double Board-Certified Physician, boarded in both Preventive and Addiction Medicine with a Masters in Biochemistry and a Masters in Public Health
With a deep understanding of trauma and its effects on our biology,
By working with the body's natural rhythms and responses, Aimie helps individuals harness the power of their biology to cultivate resilience and well-being in the face of trauma.