The process of navigating traumatic memories through EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) involves the body by necessity.
We hold our lived experience in our body, and our body can only signal to us effectively when we cultivate a healthy relationship with it. That's not so easy in our "not enough" comparison culture and even more difficult when we've experienced trauma.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jenna Epperly a few years ago and have been working with her 1:1 for over a year. Her approach to movement is one of compassion, acceptance, and gratitude. Jenna shares:
Movement can be a powerful compliment to therapy when it’s approached as a way to support and connect with your body rather than punish, shrink, or control it.
Intentional movement can create opportunities to notice physical sensations in your body, build trust with your body, experience strength, and practice responding to what you need in the moment. Especially when healing has involved feeling disconnected from or at odds with your body, movement can become another space to practice safety, choice, and self-compassion.
It doesn’t replace the work done in therapy, but it can be a meaningful part of supporting overall healing and well-being. This is also the heart behind the way I coach and program inside the Good Body App- helping women build strength and consistency through movement that works with their bodies and their lives, rather than against them.
You can learn more and connect with Jenna here: https://jeneppfit.com/