How Intentional Movement Can Help You Heal
Movement is more than just exercise—it’s a way to release tension, regulate your nervous system, and connect with your body. Whether it’s a vigorous run, a walk, or a simple stretch, intentional movement can help your body heal.
I’ve experienced this firsthand as movement has been the foundation of my life, and an integral part of my upbringing. As a child and young adult, I was always involved in a curated physical activity. If I wasn’t training for gymnastics, power tumbling, diving, or cheerleading competitions, I was with my Jamaican immigrant mother at the gym, playing racquetball, or imitating her as she sweat to group workouts, both at home and at our local gym.
Although I learned the importance of taking care of my body at an early age, I also had to learn to disconnect from my body’s intelligence in order to achieve, win medals, or progress to the next level of my chosen sports. For 32 years I used my body as a tool to achieve, whether it was in competitions or in my high-stress career choices.
I've been on my trauma healing journey for seven years, but it wasn't until four years ago that my body became overloaded with everything it was storing and forced me into various states of incapacitation where I could no longer ignore my lived experiences. My body was forcing me to make different choices to heal.
Why Do Our Bodies Store Trauma?
Our bodies store everything we have been through, good, bad, and traumatic. In The Body Keeps the Score, author Bessel van der Kolk, MD, says trauma impacts the body at the physical, mental, emotional, and social levels. If not treated and moved through the nervous system properly, trauma can affect a person’s ability to concentrate, remember events, and form relationships. The body is a highly intelligent structure, and it stores these traumatic experiences to protect us from future, similar events. This causes the nervous system to stay on high alert, and sometimes, what our body is responding to in the moment isn’t an actual threat, but one that might feel similar. Without proper release and attention, trauma can manifest as PTSD, chronic pain, other physical responses, and even exacerbate other medical conditions.
What Can Be Done to Heal Trauma
There are various modalities to support people on their healing journeys, but the right one depends on the specific needs of the individual. I’ve personally used mental health therapy, osteopathic medicine, homeopathic medicine, energy work, and the guidance of spiritual teachers to assist me on my healing journey, but the most effective method has been intentional movement.
How Intentional Movement Can Release Stored Emotions, Stress, and Anxiety
When a stressful event occurs, our body releases a flood of hormones like adrenaline (increases blood pressure and energy supply), cortisol (narrows blood arteries), and norepinephrine (increases heart rate and blood flow to the muscles). In other words, our bodies are preparing to flee or fight as if our lives were actually at risk.
When people are traumatized, they become afraid of their physical sensations; their breathing becomes shallow, and they become uptight and frightened about what they’re feeling inside. Intentional movement is an effective tool to move through this experience in order to slow down the body’s response, reestablish the mind-body connection with the use of breath, and increase heart rate variability which decreases stress. Intentional movement reconnects the individual back to their body so they can feel every aspect of their experience and every sensation. When we become aware of where the feelings are stored, it’s only then that we can work to release it. Intentional movement like yoga or somatics is a gentle and effective way to acknowledge our lived experiences and move through them in a safe container.
Practice Intentional Movement Regularly
The beauty of intentional movement practices is that they offer a safe and compassionate way to engage with what we’ve been carrying, to notice how trauma has shaped us, and to release it in a way that feels grounded. In doing so, we unlock the body’s natural ability to heal, empowering us to move forward with greater resilience and peace. Whether you are on your own healing journey or ready to start something new, discover the power of movement in one of my weekly therapeutic movement classes.