mindfulness

Mindset Work is Not Enough: The Peripheral Nervous System & Healing Trauma

2025-07-29T01:07:07-07:00peripheral nervous system, Polyvagal Theory, SmartBody SmartMind|

Time and time again, our students tell us that it wasn’t until they started my online curriculums that they FINALLY felt a difference at the core of their nervous system physiology.  Why is this?  Many had been dedicated to mind-body awareness via foundational traditions like Buddhism and mindfulness [...]

The wellness “industry” will collapse without this

2025-01-15T16:11:12-08:00Healing Trauma, Irene's Musings, Nervous System Health, Practitioners & Professionals|

Nine years ago I wrote what I believe to be one of the best articles of my life.  Back then, only my Somatic Experiencing colleagues understood I was predicting. (If memory serves, it did offend a fair few…) Patiently, I’ve been waiting to see if my predications were accurate. [...]

Meditation & Mindfulness 101. An interview with Chris Dierkes

2024-04-20T15:36:36-07:00Mental Health & Neuroplasticity, Practitioners & Professionals, Spirituality & Somatic Bypass|

Many people ask me if meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and other mind-body practices will help them heal. This is a loaded question that’s difficult to answer in a few words. So today I’m re-sharing an important long-form interview with my colleague, mentor, and friend Chris Dierkes. “Meditation & Mindfulness [...]

The power of clear intentions and growing our attention with Chris Dierkes

2024-04-21T16:44:24-07:00Practitioners & Professionals, Spirituality & Somatic Bypass|

Two of the most important elements when it comes to somatically-based therapeutic practices (my expertise and specialty!) is learning how to cultivate the power of intention and attention.  For the work I teach my students: Intention is important for directing our awareness for self-healing, whereas, Attention is important [...]

Healing wisdom for a new world with Chris Dierkes

2024-04-21T19:14:57-07:00Mental Health & Neuroplasticity, Practitioners & Professionals, Spirituality & Somatic Bypass|

I’m thrilled to bring you round three with my good friend, mentor, and expert on all things soul and spirit, Chris Dierkes. In our most recent chat, we start off our conversation around the uptick in folks moving towards plant medicines and other psychedelics for healing (plus the [...]

What happens when you let your body takeover when practicing mindfulness?

2024-04-26T16:11:28-07:00Mental Health & Neuroplasticity|

Today’s video and the two that preceded it were inspired by comments and questions from my students who have been participating in my online drop-in classes.  What I hope you understand after this week’s video is there is no such thing as a strange sensation, a weird feeling, [...]

Feeling Nothing? Why boredom and shutdown can go hand in hand with mindfulness

2024-04-26T16:16:05-07:00Mental Health & Neuroplasticity, Trauma & Survival Physiology|

Last week I shared a video that poses the question: “Do you feel like fleeing ..when practicing mindfulness?”  THIS WEEK, we get into the polar opposite of this which is: “What if I feel nothing, am bored, and just want to look at my phone” (when I practice [...]