Somatic practices for nervous system
care in times of crisis & beyond

with personal trainer + somatic nervous system coach Lizzy Zima

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I don't know how else to say it...

we are living in times of collective, regional, political, global and personal upheavals that somehow feel more unraveling than previous generations.

Are there people who've faced so much all at once previously?

Yes, probably. 

The reality is that it's likely that humans have faced collective trauma over our entire evolutionary history.

We've always had periods of relative upheaval... whether through disease, war, famine, colonization, natural disasters, or who knows what else.

Maybe it's part of the human condition, to endure crisis.

But we're exposed now, through our devices, to many crises happening all at once.

With vivid imagery. And consequences. 

Perhaps we're at a threshold of how much we can hold, each of us.

Our hearts. Our bodies. Our minds. 

The too-much-ness is so apparent right now.

Which is why we all need tools, strategies, practices to support us.

Today's guest, personal trainer and somatic nervous system coach Lizzy Zima, has both personal experience and professional training in how to support ourselves through times of upheaval and crisis. 

She lives in Swannanoa, NC - one of the most devastated communities after Hurricane Helene - and has recent stories and embodied wisdom to share about what it's been like on the ground in a disaster zone *and* what helped her most when she was in her most activated sympathetic nervous system states.

She also shares some simple somatic practices to explore if (and when) you're feeling stuck in a "freeze" state to help you sense safety in a gentle way.

Mostly this is a poignant and timely conversation in a world that feels increasingly unsteady.



Listen to learn:

• how strength training can support perimenopausal health
• some basics on sympathetic nervous system activation
• what "mobilization" looks like when adrenaline + cortisol are pumping
• why it's key to learn about how to tend your nervous system
• how to identify and navigate the "freeze" state

Resources:

• Sign up for the Natural Contraception course waitlist!
• Episode 17: How stress messes with your hormones
• Episode 97: Nourish your nervous system w Ayurveda
• Episode 142: Relaxation through song + ancestral folk traditions

If you enjoy Herbal Womb Wisdom, please consider donating to support the show here
  

Connect with Lizzy

• Try your first month of the EMPOWER Online Fitness & Somatic Self-Care Studio, anytime: 50% off with discount code - PODCAST
  
  If you were impacted by Helene,  use the code HELENE to receive 30 Days FREE to the online studio, through the end of October 2024.
  
  
  

• Get her free Somatic Rest Meditation: Rest + Restore
  
  

• Try her free workout: Self-Forgiveness Weighted Workout
  
  

• Join her free FB group: The Empowered Woman Self-Care Club
  

DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

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