In this episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour, host Amy Wheeler welcomes Melaney Seacat, a yoga therapist and somatic experiencing practitioner, to discuss the powerful intersection of these two healing modalities. Melaney shares her personal story of recovery from a serious hip injury sustained during a hiking accident, her healing journey, and how it shaped her approach to working with trauma and the nervous system.

Melaney explains how life experiences are like boulders in a stream, and how we can navigate them using the principles of both yoga therapy and somatic experiencing. She emphasizes the importance of regulating the nervous system, titration of trauma release, and building a "healing vortex" through small, manageable steps.

In this insightful conversation, Melaney and Amy dive into:

• The trauma vortex and healing vortex models in trauma recovery
• How yoga therapy uses breath, movement, and mindfulness to stabilize the nervous system
• The integration of somatic experiencing techniques with yoga therapy for trauma resolution
• Practical tools like finger slides and orientation to the senses that empower clients to manage their nervous system
• How to safely navigate trauma processing without re-traumatization

Whether you're new to these practices or a seasoned therapist, this episode offers valuable insights into the healing potential of combining yoga therapy and somatic experiencing.

Key Timestamps:

• [10:24 ] Melaney shares her personal story of healing from a hiking accident.
• [10:25 ] Using the metaphor of life as a stream and the trauma vortex.
• [10:27 ] The role of yoga therapy in stabilizing disorganized nervous systems.
• [10:29 ] Ethical considerations in integrating yoga therapy and somatic experiencing.
• [10:30 ] Melaney’s favorite mini-intervention for regulating the nervous system.
• [10:33 ] Tools for orienting to the senses and reducing hyper-vigilance.
• [10:37 ] The resolution model in somatic experiencing and its parallels in yoga therapy.

Learn more about Melaney Seacat's work at seacatsomatictherapy.com

Follow Us:

• Website: TheOptimalState.com
• Instagram: @TheOptimalState
• Facebook: The Optimal State of Living

Don't forget to subscribe to The Yoga Therapy Hour for more expert discussions on yoga therapy and emotional well-being!

Additional Resources with Amy Wheeler:

• University of Minnesota Therapeutic Yoga Series
• Polyvagal Institute Mighty App
• 7-Week Course on Yoga, Yoga Therapy & Polyvagal Theory
• Optimal State Mobile App
• Optimal State and Yoga Therapy Hour Patreon