My Journey with Somatic Healing: A Summer Reset
I’ve shared in the past my own discovery of somatic healing and therapy, so I thought today I’d share the latest in my journey, and how I’ve used the summer to help reset my body and mind.
Back in the day…
I first found somatic healing decades ago when I started yoga. After training professionally as a dancer, I experienced repeated injuries with my lower back. I had no idea back then that I was hyper mobile, and would be prone to these kinds of injuries due to a lack of strong connective tissue my whole life. I also didn’t know I was neurodivergent. I did know that I felt horrible in my body and mind when I wasn’t moving.
Gym workouts, fitness classes, and swimming were the kind of go to activities for most people back then. But when a beautiful dedicated yoga studio opened in my town I was one of the first to sign up. I would go several times a week, eventually doing a teacher training course with the studio. It restored my mind and body like no other practice did and ignited a love of yoga asana and living that have stayed with me for my whole life.
And now…
Now, I can’t go more than a day or two without doing some kind of mindful practice. I’m deep in the trenches of perimenopause and my neurodivergent and hyper mobile challenges have increased dramatically. Looking after my mind and body with good nutrition, gentle exercise, mindfulness, meditation, sankalpa, walks in nature, connection to animals, and selfless service have become the bedrock of my life. Without them I feel empty. And my body suffers.
Radical Restorative Rest
So I decided to take the summer as a moment of resetting. To strengthen my practices and honour a slowing down. I’m useless in the heat anyway and we’ve had some scorching days through June, July and August. I am prone to Autumn burnout, and I wondered if doing less through the summer might hold that at bay a little.
I also left my part time job at a charity and am now lucky enough to be able to dedicate my whole working life to Harmony Healing. This gave me much needed space to slow down a little. I turned away from social media. I did the bare minimum on my website. I cancelled everything that didn’t feel aligned to radical restorative rest. I basically went into a summer hibernation.
Tiny Olive. Who doesn’t realise she’s a cat.
One of my favourite resetting activities this summer has been kayaking with my husband.
I am lucky. My kids are now old enough to entertain themselves - one’s an adult and the other is over six foot and almost an adult. All they need is an endless supply of food they can prepare themselves. And a lift now and then. So that part of my life is already one of ease and shifting more to relationships of discussion, advice, sharing experiences, and laughter. It’s beautiful and I’m enjoying the calm. (Believe me! It’s not always been that way).
What Radical Rest has Taught Me
Stopping can be scary. And I’m still scared. Because doing less to promote my business, cancelling events, and re-prioritising my effort to not be fully maxed out all the time goes against the pressures of our culture. That we constantly have to show up 24/7. But that leads to lesson two.
It is okay and safe to slow down. In fact, it is essential. If I am to avoid burning out every few months, risking me losing interest completely in everything I am doing, then I must rest. It is not a luxury, it is as essential as wearing pants. I have to trust that I am working in alignment with my purpose and that the universe will reward the alignment. I have to trust that the groundwork I’ve already laid will continue to bear fruit. That is hard. But if I am to continue providing a loving home for my family, and a loving practice for my clients, then rest I must.
Doing less is good for my mind. Sooooo goooood! It’s also good for creativity.
I am more in touch with my spirituality. This has been the biggest area of growth for me this summer. I really got back in touch with my spiritual side and it’s been a beautiful journey. I spent an entire weekend when my family were away, alone with my cats, meditating, setting sankalpa (intentions), and shifting things to live in alignment with my sankalpa. And it was glorious.
My relationships are better. Nothing more to say here. Rest means more presence which means having more for the people that matter.
I have more energy for meaningful work. I have been able to show up 100% for every single appointment. I actually can’t do that if I’m doing two jobs, working until I’m exhausted but can’t sleep, and feeling frantic. That’s when I make mistakes or let things slide. I’m not honouring myself, my education, my lessons or the time and investment of my clients if I’m overworked.
Prioritising high quality exercise works for my body. Quality over quantity. I do short bursts of exercise in 20 minute blocks. At home. With minimal equipment. Give me a yoga mat and an exercise band and I’m basically ready to go.
Alcohol makes me feel gross. I’ve had this love-hate relationship with alcohol for a while. Drinking in perimenopause isn’t working for me. But I do struggle with boredom in social situations. I’m still working on this one and figuring out what being alcohol free means for me.
I love my family. I do. I truly do. They’re the best. And when I have the energy to be present when THEY need me, not on my terms, it’s magical.
My (Simple) Favourite Activities This Summer
Getting out on the river in the kayak with my husband
Sitting in the garden with my cats doing a puzzle and/or drinking a coffee or iced water
Meditating in my therapy hut or talking to my parts at bedtime
Doing a beautiful new moon ceremony to set a sankalpa and invite in peace
Laughing until my sides hurt with my grown up kids
Looking at my beautiful flowers
Marvelling over my vegetable plants - that I grew from seed! (and telling everyone who will listen that I did - it’s nuts to me that all those vegetables can grow from one tiny little seed!)
Watering my garden
Sitting in the garden at night watching and listening to the bats flying around / stargazing / satellite spotting
Seeing the sunrise each morning (the cats wake me up for breakfast)
Making my own morning cereal that I am now addicted to (until I eventually get sick of it and never make/eat it again)
Eating salads with vegetables from my garden
Slow walks through the trees (usually with my husband but sometimes on my own)
Listening to bird song and using my new Merlin app to identify what they actually are. Was astounded to hear Cole tits, siskins, and gold crest from my actual garden!
Watching Olive our littlest cat be herself. She’s a bit of a silly billy
Doing really slow yoga
Namaste, beautiful ones, and thank you for reading x
