Nervous System Healing with Michelle
“Our nervous system is shaped by our lived experience.”
— Deb Dana
The baseline state of our nervous system has a huge impact on our life, especially our physical and psycho-emotional health, our relationship with ourselves and others, and how safe we feel. Signs of disregulation may include chronic stress, emotional reactivity and mood swings that are beyond our capacity to regulate, chronic fatigue, difficulty sleeping, auto-immune disease, and conditions that are often considered mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
We may also have an altered perception of risk and safety, making it difficult to connect and attune to others. Stephen Porges, creator of PolyVagal Theory, uses the word neuroception to describe the phenomenon of our nervous systems always communicating with each other, usually below the threshold of our conscious awareness. Studies have shown that when our nervous system is out of balance, we can perceive hostility, threat and danger in even neutral facial expressions. Such misperceptions reinforce the feeling of lack of safety and lead to more isolation, when what we most deeply need as human beings is healthy connection with others.
Being human means we will face all manner of challenges during our lifetime but we don’t need to live in a state of chronic stress and constant overwhelm. Becoming curious about your nervous system and responding to it with compassion rather than criticism are the keys to healing and, with practice and commitment, it’s possible to re-establish a more resilient nervous system.
These sessions always begin with mapping the nervous system to create more understanding and awareness about your baseline state, reactions and individual signs of disregulation. Somatic practices of guided movement, yoga (both in movement and restorative), and breathwork are introduced to support you on your journey back to feeling more relaxed, safe, and resilient so that you can cope with life’s challenges in a more balanced way.
— Deb Dana
The baseline state of our nervous system has a huge impact on our life, especially our physical and psycho-emotional health, our relationship with ourselves and others, and how safe we feel. Signs of disregulation may include chronic stress, emotional reactivity and mood swings that are beyond our capacity to regulate, chronic fatigue, difficulty sleeping, auto-immune disease, and conditions that are often considered mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
We may also have an altered perception of risk and safety, making it difficult to connect and attune to others. Stephen Porges, creator of PolyVagal Theory, uses the word neuroception to describe the phenomenon of our nervous systems always communicating with each other, usually below the threshold of our conscious awareness. Studies have shown that when our nervous system is out of balance, we can perceive hostility, threat and danger in even neutral facial expressions. Such misperceptions reinforce the feeling of lack of safety and lead to more isolation, when what we most deeply need as human beings is healthy connection with others.
Being human means we will face all manner of challenges during our lifetime but we don’t need to live in a state of chronic stress and constant overwhelm. Becoming curious about your nervous system and responding to it with compassion rather than criticism are the keys to healing and, with practice and commitment, it’s possible to re-establish a more resilient nervous system.
These sessions always begin with mapping the nervous system to create more understanding and awareness about your baseline state, reactions and individual signs of disregulation. Somatic practices of guided movement, yoga (both in movement and restorative), and breathwork are introduced to support you on your journey back to feeling more relaxed, safe, and resilient so that you can cope with life’s challenges in a more balanced way.
Pricing and booking a session
One-to-One session €50 p/h or €225 for a course of 5 sessions
Contact Michelle via email: vitalityretreatportugal@gmail.com
Contact Michelle via email: vitalityretreatportugal@gmail.com
Therapist Michelle Walder
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Michelle is an experienced yoga teacher and massage therapist, having worked in both fields since 2002, initially in London then in various other locations before settling in Portugal over a decade ago.
In recent years, Michelle has taken a deep dive into the field of trauma healing, and continue to deepen her understanding of developmental, relational and intergenerational trauma with ongoing study. She is passionate about many things, but in particular nervous system regulation, the body-mind-breath connection, and how somatic inquiry can support the transformation of old wounds and invite deep relaxation and ease from the inside out. Integration, wholeness, and freedom are the driving forces behind everything Michelle offers and she celebrates radical authenticity, self-love, self-acceptance, and body positivity. For more info: https://www.vitalityretreatportugal.com |