Why a focus on well-being is great if it’s done safely

• 8 January 2018
• Jane Evans
• no comments

 

Did you do breathing, meditating, yoga or mindfulness when you were in preschool or school? Neither did I. In hindsight, do you think it would it have been useful?

Maybe it would have equipped us for the pressures of life and onward journey through adolescence and into adulthood. Either way, I am glad there is a focus on it now for the children and the professionals. Let’s just do it safely.

I am a great fan of regulating our body systems and emotions to boost wellness. I do yoga, use breathing and body connection along with DoTERRA essential oils all day long. Quite frankly, I’ve never felt so mentally, emotionally physically well, present and peaceful.

When I speak, coach and train, I share what I know about our body systems. I do this so the exercises and practices I share make sense, as they are not just randomly plucked out of the wellbeing sky.

From years of ongoing study on how the body and brain are impacted by a range of childhood traumas. I feel clear about why breathing and connecting with the body can be helpful and regulating. I also feel clear about why it can also potentially be triggering and cause unpleasant reactions.

From my time spent qualifying to be a children’s yoga teacher, and the numerous stories told to me by adults of traumatizing experiences at yoga classes, and elsewhere. It seems training to do body-based work doesn’t necessarily include knowledge and understanding of trauma. I find this really concerning.

If we are advising adults, or children, on wellness and include ways to regulate and feel safe, calm and grounded. Then we need to know why a one-size fits all approach to wellbeing isn’t safe. Also, what it looks like in a child, young person or adult if their body has not reacted well to a certain breath, stretch or touch.

Trauma experts, such as Peter Levine, Pat Ogden, Bessel van der Kolk, Dan Siegel and many others are showing us how the body can be a resource for living well beyond trauma. They all recommend caution and being attuned to the other person’s body and emotions.

Of course, it is not always possible to prevent someone who is trying out a new breath or body connection from having a flashback or dissociating. But we do need to know why this is a possibility, and most importantly, how to help them feel safe again, ESPECIALLY if they are a child.

• What do you think?
• What experiences have you had doing body-based work, or going to classes?
• What do you wish wellbeing practitioners understood?

My Wellness Events in 2018

• 9^th February 2018 How to Reduce Teenage Stress and Anxiety near Chippenham in partnership with Amanda Harrington.
• 10^th March 2018 Spring Cleanser in Croydon in partnership with Laura Henry.

Online Wellness and Resilience Webinars and Programmes coming in 2018.

DoTERRA Certified Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils Wellness Consultations are available throughout 2018 and come with samples of oils to try.

To contact me:

Call   07455281247

Email janeevans61@hotmail.co.uk

 

 

“The single most important issue for traumatized people is to find a sense of safety in their own bodies.”

Bessel van der Kolk (Co-Director, Complex Trauma Treatment Network, National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Professor of Psychiatry)

 

 

 

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