When Movement Brings Up Emotion:

One of the most beautiful and complex things about movement is that it doesn’t just open up the body—it opens up everything we’ve been holding inside it. When we stretch, breathe, and reconnect with parts of ourselves we’ve unintentionally oppressed, intentionally avoided, or simply missed, it’s natural for emotions, memories, and stories to surface. That’s part of the work. It’s what makes movement such a powerful tool for awareness and healing.

In my sessions, I hold space for all of that. Sometimes that means sitting quietly while someone tears up, or helping them breathe through a wave of emotion as they stretch. These moments are sacred and tender to me. But it’s also important to understand that my role is not that of a therapist —it’s as a movement practitioner guiding you through what your body is ready to release.

I offer spaciousness, compassion, and presence in every session, but my work stays grounded in the physical: the asymmetries, the biomechanical impairments, and the ways your body moves, responds, and communicates in it's relationship to gravity. If emotions or narratives begin to take center stage in a way that limits our ability to move, that’s often a sign that another kind of support might be helpful.

That’s not to say that every emotion that shows up is a problem—it’s completely natural to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or even tearful during stretching , foam rolling, or breathwork (literally and figuratively MOVES me to tears). But if processing those narratives gives rise to big emotional experiences that consistently limit our ability to move, that’s when I may suggest working with a mental health therapist alongside our sessions. Not because anything is “wrong,” but because your body and mind are both asking for attention and they work in tandem—each equally deserving of their own space to be seen, heard, and cared for. Sometimes, that second regulated nervous system—a therapist’s—can help untangle the stories and beliefs that are showing up, so the body can move more freely again.

I may also recommend acupuncture. This modality has supported me personally and has been deeply beneficial for many of my clients. From my experience, acupuncture directly addresses the blocked channels of the central nervous system in ways that my work simply does not. As a biomechanics practitioner, I focus on the musculoskeletal system, but there are deeper organ and energetic layers that fall outside my ability to address. Acupuncturists often take a holistic view—considering lifestyle, emotional well-being, and internal balance—not just the primary complaint. Many people notice “side effects” such as better sleep, improved mood, increased energy, and reduced stress or anxiety.

Movement reveals what words have hidden. My role is to help you feel what’s there and move through it safely. A therapist’s role is to help you process and make meaning about why it’s there and how it connects to your concious and subconscious internal monologue. Together, those two approaches create the most complete kind of healing I know is possible for everyone.

Healing is rarely a solo process—it’s a collaboration between body, mind, and the people who help hold us along the way. I’m honored to be part of that team for so many of you, guiding movement that reconnects you to your body’s wisdom. Whether your next step involves therapy, acupuncture, or simply more awareness in our sessions, please know that you’re not doing it wrong—you’re just doing the work of being human. And humaning is HARD. Sending love to each and everyone of you.