Gentle Ways to Heal from Trauma

Trauma is part of life - it's part of being human.  Everyone experiences some kind of trauma throughout their life, and is subjective for everyone.  It can be something as seemingly minor as, say, not being given the toy you want as a child, but the little girl you were gave it a bigger meaning which you've carried into adulthood.

As women, many of us carry trauma not just from personal experiences, but from generations of silence, suppression, and survival. Trauma lives in the body, the breath, and the nervous system. And while traditional approaches often focus on the mind, deep healing begins when we feel safe enough to soften.

Here are some gentle yet powerful ways to begin your healing:

1. Begin with The Breath.
Simple, conscious breathing grounds your body and brings you back to the present. Try placing one hand on your heart, one on your belly, and breathe in for 4, out for 6. Do this when you feel overwhelmed.  Alternate nostril breathing and box breathing are also great ways to come back to your body and recentre yourself.  Find the technique that works for you.

2. Let the Body Speak.
Your body remembers what the mind forgets. Practice somatic awareness. Scan your body gently: where are you holding tension? Can you offer it love, warmth, breath?

Gentle movement also helps release tension from the body.  Again find your own rhythm.  Gentle yoga exercises are great for releasing tension stored in the body.  Moving the body through dance or movement therapy and guided meditation are also brilliant ways of gently releasing stored emotions and stress.

3. Use Warm Oil Massage (Abhyanga).
This Ayurvedic practice nourishes the nervous system and signals safety to the body. Use warm sesame or almond oil in long, slow strokes before a shower to show your body some love and care.

4. Rest Without Guilt.
Trauma teaches the body to be on high alert, and can lead to overreactive emotional outburst. Reclaiming rest is powerful. Get into nature and lie down on mother earth. Breathe. Let the Earth hold you. 

5. Say "No" Without Explanation.
Healing is also about boundary-setting. Every time you honour your energy, you protect your energy and inner peace.  Saying "no" isn't being rude - it's essential for your own well-being.

You are not broken. You are healing. And that healing begins in softness.

Not sure where to begin?

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