Bessel Van Der Kolk says that for healing to happen after trauma, we need to feel ways and do things that “directly contradict the helplessness, rage and collapse that are part of trauma, and thereby regaining self-mastery” (The Body Keeps the Score, page 4).

Even though my body underwent huge trauma after being collapsed in a car (13 years ago), I still today notice deeper senses of healing when I engage in lengthening movements.

Maybe that’s why I love walking, hiking, yoga, and really big arm gestures? 🙂 For each time I engage in one of these activities, my body remembers that I’m not stuck in a car and I can be present to the life I get to live now, right in front of me.

I can’t help but notice a big smile and joy when I make lengthening movements. (And throughout my trauma recovery, the most memorable and joy-filled photos are the ones where my arms are raised to the heavens).

While I’ve been aware for awhile that there’s something especially empowering for me when I move my body (especially after not having been able to use it fully for years), I hadn’t realized that what I naturally gravitated towards actually helped me experience further healing. *

Our bodies – and our body’s inherent drive to heal itself— are truly amazing.

Warmly,

Robyn

* I made this explicit connection when I was being formally trained in the Trauma Resiliency Model three years ago.