18: Cortnie Kemp on Life After… Anxiety: Presence, motherhood, and healing through bodywork and breathwork
Description
What if calming your anxiety wasn’t about fixing yourself, but about slowing down, breathing, and being present?
This week, I’m joined by Cortnie Kemp, a somatic and functional breathing coach, contrast therapy instructor, bodyworker, and speaker. She helps women who are stressed, overwhelmed, or in pain release tension and find freedom through these practices.
As a mother herself, she knows the unique pressures and judgments women face, and the importance of creating safe spaces for healing, and community. From ice baths to bodywork to simply remembering how to breathe, her work is all about finding calm in the chaos and finding tools that work for you.
In this conversation, Cortnie shares her journey with anxiety, motherhood, and healing, as well as the practices she now uses to support others in doing the same.
In this episode, we chat about:
- Cortnie’s personal journey with anxiety and postnatal depression, and her path to healing
- Why bodywork is such a powerful tool for healing stored tension and emotion
- How breathwork supports calm, clarity, and nervous system regulation
- The benefits of ice baths and hot–cold therapy for mental health
- What Sacred Union really means and how she now uses offers different modalities to help other women
- The power of presence and ways to start practicing presence today
- Practical ways mothers can find space and release judgment in their daily lives
Cortnie’s story is a reminder that healing doesn’t have to look like striving or fixing; it can be as simple as remembering to breathe, connect, and allow yourself to be supported.
Connect with Cortnie:
Instagram: @cortniekemp
Website: https://www.cortniekemp.com.au/
Our live event is back!
Life After I Left - the live event - is back in Melbourne on 16 Oct for our 4th unforgettable event. 4 brand new speakers sharing 4 raw, powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Early bird tickets are limited, so grab yours now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-oct-2025-tickets-1514579691629
Support the show:
Got a topic idea or would love to share your story on the podcast? Connect with me on
Instagram @lifeafterileftpodcast - I would love to hear from you.
New episodes drop every Thursday. Make sure you’re subscribed, so you never miss a story that could change your life (or someone else's).
And we’d love a 5-star review to help these stories reach the women who need them most.
❤️ Remember: Don’t be silent. Be unstoppable.