Greetings, Reader!

How is your heart these days? Or maybe I should ask, how is your nervous system?

So many of the people I've worked with in the past few weeks have shared that they feel exhausted, but can't sleep; revved up, but unable to focus; or completely shutdown and unable to get motivated.

If you are feeling the same way, today's free practice is for you, and I want you to know that your body isn't broken; it's telling the truth.

Remember, we have four biological responses to danger:

• We can fight;
• We can run;
• We can hide;
• We can pacify.

When something threatens our safety, fear is a biological response, and it can either mobilize us to take action or immobilize us for protection.

We aren't wired to be able to rest, focus, or be productive during an emergency. Imagine trying to sleep through a fire alarm or work through an earthquake.

The natural cycle is to respond to threat, and then to discharge that energy once we've returned to safety.

Unless we can complete the stress cycle and let our nervous systems know we are safe, things like sleep, relaxation, creativity, joy, and productivity will continue to be biologically unavailable to us.

With the constant barrage of crises, and access to a 24-hour news cycle, our nervous systems naturally start to feel like the emergency never ends.

And, the more our nervous systems train in emergency response preparedness, the more vigilant and efficient they become at detecting threat.

And, my friend, what could be more dangerous than an unaccountable government that has turned on its people? Than a lawless, masked, secret police force kidnapping children and terrorizing people in their homes, schools, hospitals, and workplaces?

The people behind this campaign of terror understand the way the nervous system works. They are counting on us to either fawn to keep ourselves safe or to be so overwhelmed that we are immobilized.

This is why nervous system work is justice work.

You can't meditate your way out of structural, systemic oppression. The goal of nervous system work isn't to suppress your natural reactions to fear and injustice, or to gaslight your body into tolerating the intolerable. The point isn't to dissociate, but to become radically present.

The nervous system prioritizes safety, so if your body is braced, your breath is shallow, your voice is caught in your throat, your whole body is tense, and your mind is racing, that is your body's way of communicating that there is danger. That isn't a failure, it's a victory. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it is designed to do.

Your body knows what's safe and what isn't. Your body is saying no to being bullied.

As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reminded us earlier this week, placating a bully only gives the illusion of safety. Real strength is in solidarity and mutual aid.

And all over the country, all over the world, we see the resilience of the human spirit. We see people reclaiming their power, standing up for each other, and fighting for a world in which all beings are safe and free. We see people creating food pantries in their garages, neighborhood watches protecting their communities, and thousands of people protesting and striking to reject this campaign of fear.

If you feel hopeless, and you haven't already, I highly recommend you check out Jess Craven's substack. She shares concrete action steps, and she compiles lists of all of the victories and everyday acts of resilience she can find to stave off despair and remind us of our collective power.

I also want to share a solidarity and resilience meditation I've been practicing and teaching a lot lately that helps me feel more resourced and connected.

This practice was inspired by my friend, Maria Naumann, who is an incredible somatic coach, and I hope it helps you stay rooted in your truth and power.

In love and solidarity,

Rachel Doctor of Physical Therapy & Integrative Pain Specialist Build a resilient nervous system to help you flow through the seasons of your life with courage, wisdom, and compassion.

PS: I'm leading a Full Moon Restorative Yin & Qigong practice on Sunday, February 1st from 7 - 8 pm online. This full moon practice will include floor-based qigong and yin practices to nourish the kidneys and restore depleted energy & vitality. If you feel overwhelmed with the world, these practices can help you transform fear into faith.​
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Invitations to Work Together Practice Qigong with me online. Unwind tension in your nervous system with CranioSacral Therapy. Rewire your nervous system in my upcoming Break the Pain Cycle program.