The Embodied Jewish Woman with Rena Reiser

As Elul begins, many women feel a mix of urgency and pressure to change, especially if perfectionism is part of the picture. In this episode, I share why pushing yourself past your limits isn’t the path to lasting growth, and how the concept of “widening the window of tolerance” can bring you back to menuchas hanefesh.

Ever wish for the magic formula to fix your life in three easy steps? I joke about it with my clients, but the truth is, real change isn’t linear. In this episode, I share why our minds crave step-by-step solutions, how our bodies hold the real key to growth, and what my actual three-step plan looks like. Tune in for a mix of humor, Torah wisdom, and practical insight.

In this gentle practice, I guide you to settle into your body and notice what it’s holding -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Through breath, touch, and awareness, I help you tune into the sensations that express your current emotional landscape, and find the words that resonate with what you feel inside. You’re invited to meet these parts of yourself with compassion, to imagine giving yourself exactly what you need, and to receive the possibility of Hashem offering it to you as well. This is a practice of presence, honesty, and quiet self-nurturing.

After 12 days of war and survival-mode living, many of us are being asked, or even expected, to return to "normal." But what happens when your nervous system isn’t ready? When your body is still holding the weight of everything it’s just lived through? In this episode, I speak to the tender and often unspoken truth of what it means to transition out of crisis: the pace, the pressure, the vigilance that doesn’t just go away. I share why the slower, quieter rhythm of wartime, even in its intensity, can feel strangely grounding, and how to gently honor your own process, even if it looks different from those around you. Listen with curiosity, compassion, and the knowing that there’s nothing wrong with you if “normal” feels anything but.

How often do we say “I feel like…” - but what we’re actually expressing is a thought, an opinion, or a judgment? In this live conversation, my husband Rabbi Yonasan Reiser and I sat down to explore the deeper meaning behind that common phrase. We unpacked the subtle but powerful difference between thoughts and feelings, and why this distinction matters so much in our relationships, our self-awareness, and even our avodas Hashem. Topics we touched on include: – Why it feels safer to say “I feel like…” instead of naming what we actually feel – The role of vulnerability in honest communication – A Shabbos story that surprised me with just how many feelings were tangled inside – How unmet needs show up in relationships, especially between men and women – What it means to receive and give from a place of wholeness, through the lens of the Kabbalistic concepts of mekabel and mashpia – Why having the right words for our emotions can create real relief and connection – And how using Nonviolent Communication in our marriage gave us a shared language to express what’s really going on beneath the surface Whether you're new to this kind of emotional work or deep in it, we hope this conversation brings more clarity, self-compassion, and maybe even new language to help you feel heard, by yourself and the people you love.

As Pesach approaches, the stress of navigating family dynamics, expectations, and personal triggers can feel overwhelming—especially for those of us with complex backgrounds. In this heartfelt conversation, Chaya Hinda and I explore what it means to prioritize our own needs, set boundaries with difficult personalities, and embrace the reality of our emotions rather than pushing them aside. We dive into the power of saying “no” with confidence, making the Seder meaningful even in unconventional settings, and shifting focus from external pressures to inner connection and joy. With raw honesty and deep compassion, we also touch on the challenges of parenting when carrying personal trauma, the importance of speaking to ourselves with kindness, and how to balance self-care with communal and familial responsibilities. If you’ve ever felt the weight of holiday expectations or struggled to find peace in the chaos, have a listen to this conversation. Our hope and tefillah is that you’ll walk away feeling validated, supported, and equipped with new perspectives to bring more ease and meaning into your Yom Tov experience.

In this guided practice, I help you tune into the many layers of support already holding you—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I lead you to notice the simple, tangible supports in your life and gently open to the deeper, infinite support of Hashem. If fully trusting that support feels challenging, I guide you in meeting that resistance with kindness, allowing your body to soften into what feels safe. This is an invitation to feel held, grounded, and supported in a way that your whole self can receive.

You’ve done the work. You’ve learned the tools. And then—suddenly—you find yourself right back in an old pattern. The frustration creeps in: Why am I still here? In this episode, I share a recent experience of falling into that familiar cycle and what it taught me about healing, patience, and self-trust. Because healing isn’t about never struggling again—it’s about how we meet ourselves in those moments.

Embodying Your Strengths In this guided practice, I invite you to connect with your strengths—from within. As we settle into the body, we’ll gently reflect on a recent moment where you showed up in a way that makes you proud. Through breath, awareness, and presence, we’ll explore what it feels like to fully receive the recognition of your own strength, letting it settle into your body and being.

Listening to Your Body’s Needs Through Touch In this episode, I guide you through a gentle practice of self-connection, inviting you to offer your body the love and care it deserves. Through intentional touch, we’ll explore what it feels like to truly listen to your body—tuning in to its needs, its boundaries, and its quiet invitations for more closeness or space. With each breath, you’ll have the opportunity to soften into self-compassion, recognizing all that your body has carried for you. This practice is a simple yet powerful way to cultivate presence, warmth, and appreciation for yourself in the moment.

The Body Remembers Pleasant Things, Too In this episode, I guide you through a gentle practice of shifting from the mind into the body, allowing space to unwind from the day’s momentum. Together, we’ll explore how small adjustments in posture can create a sense of openness and ease. Through the power of memory, we’ll invite in sensations of joy and anticipation—tuning into how these emotions live in the body. This practice is an opportunity to reconnect with yourself, to notice the subtle ways your breath and body respond to positive experiences, and to settle into the present moment with a sense of quiet presence.

From Holding Tension to Feeling Held In this episode, I guide you through a gentle yet powerful somatic mindfulness practice, inviting you to connect with your body in a new way. Together, we’ll explore tension, not to force it away, but to meet it with curiosity and presence. With the support of your own hands, you’ll learn to tune in to what your body is asking for—whether it needs containment, release, or simply to be acknowledged. This practice offers a moment of deep listening, allowing your body to feel held and supported. Join me as we slow down, breathe, and cultivate a sense of grounded ease within ourselves.

Holding Yourself with Mature Love: A Guided Somatic Practice In this guided practice, I invite you to settle into a space of gentle support. With one hand over your heart and the other on your stomach, we begin by connecting to the breath—just as it is—without needing to change or force anything. Together, we explore what it feels like to release just a little more, to feel the support beneath you, around you, and within you. From this grounded place, I guide you in listening to your body, inviting it to show you what it needs. With care and presence, we practice holding space for what arises—not trying to fix or analyze, but simply being with it, exactly as it is. You’ll notice how much support this part of you wants, offering it the right amount of space, closeness, or reassurance. This practice is about deep listening, attunement, and self-compassion—allowing yourself to be held in mature love, not because you need to change, but because you are worthy of being supported exactly as you are.

Held by Generations: A Guided Practice in Support and Connection In this guided practice, I invite you to settle into a space where you feel most at ease. Through breath, awareness, and connection, I guide you to soften into the present moment, allowing your body to release even just a little. As you breathe, you are reminded that Hashem is breathing life into you with each inhale, sustaining you in every moment. Together, we tap into the deep well of support from the women who came before us—all the generations of Jewish women standing behind you, holding you, strengthening you. From this place of grounding, I lead you to gently explore what your heart is needing right now. Through a process of deep listening, we attune to the emotions, sensations, and inner wisdom that arise, offering them space, understanding, and compassion. This practice is an invitation to slow down, to listen deeply, and to receive. Whatever unfolds, you are supported—by your own body, by the strength of those before you, and by the presence of Hashem in every breath.

Finding Balance Between Tension and Ease In this episode, I guide you through a gentle somatic practice to explore both tension and ease in your body. By bringing compassionate awareness to these sensations, moving between them, and holding space for both to coexist, you’ll expand your capacity to connect with your body and its wisdom. This practice invites you to meet yourself as you are and notice what emerges when you allow your inner experience to unfold.

In this week’s episode of Parsha, Parts, and Polyvagal - Connecting Torah Insights to Your Inner World and Nervous System, we delve into a powerful insight from Parshas Va’eira. We explore the pasuk: “But they did not listen to Moshe, because of their shortness of breath and hard labor” (Shemos 6:9). Together, we unpack the layers of meaning behind this pasuk through the lens of Rashi and the Maharal, uncovering timeless lessons about how stress and overwhelm affect our ability to truly listen, connect, and find clarity. We discuss how life’s challenges—and the anticipation of them—can create a “shortness of breath,” both physically and emotionally. These moments can leave us feeling stuck, unable to breathe deeply or access our inner calm. But there’s hope: by calming our minds and bodies, we can reclaim the deep breath that helps us navigate life’s challenges with greater ease. In this episode, you’ll hear: The connection between our perceptions of stress and how our bodies respond. How our nervous system reacts when overwhelmed, whether through fight-or-flight or shutdown. A guided practice to help you gently reconnect with your breath and body. This exercise is especially for those moments when life feels too heavy or you can’t seem to find a way to slow down. Take a moment for yourself today. Let this episode remind you that even in the midst of life’s challenges, there is always a path back to calm and clarity.

In this episode, I guide you through a somatic mindfulness practice centered on exploring your relationship with space—both expansive and contracted. Through gentle breathing, movement, and visualization, we’ll notice how your body responds to taking up more space and to drawing inward. Together, we’ll create a safe space to explore the emotions and sensations that arise, allowing them to simply be. This practice invites you to connect with your inner world, find balance, and give your body a moment to reset and rest.

In an effort to bring the power of Transforming Touch® to the frum world, I invited my teacher, Dr. Stephen Terrell, to be interviewed on this podcast, which is made specifically for Jewish women. My main question for Dr. Terrell is: Why is Transforming Touch® so disproportionately popular in the frum world? Here are some of the things we discuss: Dr. Terrell’s journey as a trauma therapist and the development of Transforming Touch®, a profound healing modality rooted in nervous system regulation. His extensive experience working with foster and adoptive families, and how that shaped his approach to healing. His deep connection with the Jewish community and his observations on why Transforming Touch® resonates so strongly in the frum world. The challenges of explaining a therapy that operates beyond words and how it facilitates healing on a deep, nonverbal level. The impact of historical trauma on the Jewish people, from the Holocaust to generational stress, and how that affects the nervous system. The importance of self-regulation, resilience, and creating a sense of safety within the body. The delicate balance between acceptance and healing—how true healing often begins with embracing what is, rather than fighting against it. The innate human drive for transformation and the misconceptions surrounding quick fixes in healing. Navigating neurodivergence with self-compassion and the role of co-regulation in resilience and emotional well-being. This conversation offers a deep and thought-provoking look at healing, trauma, and why Transforming Touch® has struck such a chord in the frum world.

In this episode, I guide you through a grounding somatic mindfulness practice that invites you to connect with the intricate systems of your body—your heartbeat, digestion, breath, muscles, and bones. Through gentle awareness and intentional focus, we’ll explore how each part contributes to your aliveness and support. Together, we’ll offer gratitude and care to the body, noticing how it feels when given attention and love. This practice is a gentle reminder of the remarkable ways your body sustains and supports you every moment.

In this episode, I guide you through a gentle somatic mindfulness practice to help you reconnect with your body, breath, and inner sensations. Together, we’ll explore how to slow down, tune into the support beneath you, and ask your body the compassionate question: “How am I doing right now?” This practice invites curiosity and acceptance as we listen for subtle answers from within, offering your body exactly what it needs or handing it over to Hashem. Join me in creating space for grounding, clarity, and deeper self-awareness.