What do Cirque and Somatic Experiencing have in common?

Hello Reader,

For my b-day earlier this year, my husband and I island-hopped to Oʻahu to see ʻAuana, the Hawaiian Cirque du Soleil. Side note: In some alternate reality (sans joint pain & a fear of heights!) I'd maybe be a contortionist or aerial silks acrobat. I'm awed by circus performers' artistry & skill! 🤩

I teetered at the edge of my seat watching the acrobats perform their gravity-deifying stunts. Not only was I thoroughly entertained, I also couldn't help but recognize similar rhythms of regulation and resilience also found in Somatic Experiencing, a body-based trauma healing modality I'm nearly done training in.

With each act, the performers started out with the simplest version of their stunt, like hmm let's say a few spins while perched on their partnerʻs feet 😉. They didn't just jump straight to the riskiest, most complex and difficult maneuvers. You know, the ones with a dizzying amount of backflips, stratospheric tosses in the air and precarious balancing acts 😲.

Instead the performers began their stunts with smaller, more manageable bits and gradually worked their way up to the jaw dropping finales.

Similarly, in Somatic Experiencing, titration is about taking things slowly in manageable bits, so as to not overwhelm the nervous system.

During a somatic trauma recovery coaching session, we wouldn't jump straight into working with the most distressing or traumatic elements, even though that might be what's top of mind. Doing so could potentially re-traumatize someone.

Rather, we'd first resource, co-regulate and build capacity over time, even over the course of sessions. Then we'd gently go bit-by-bit, following the pace of the nervous system.

When sensations, emotions, thoughts, etc. start to feel too much, then we touch back into what grounds and nourishes to re-stabilize before going further (like the acrobats pausing between each stunt to recoup and prepare for the next level). This helps to expand nervous system capacity for being with difficult things and helps clients gradually move out of the stuckness, contraction and tightness caused by trauma or stress.

It's through this gradual back and forth between dipping into the challenging pieces (trauma vortex 🌪️😱) and connecting back with grounding, resilience and stability (counter-vortex or healing vortex 🌀💖) that we're able to unwind trauma stored in the body. More on that in a future newsletter (I might even include a visual!).

I'd love to hear what this idea of titration sparks in you? Where do you need to take things more slowly and in smaller pieces? Feel free to hit reply and let me know. I love hearing from you!

And, if you need help with making things more manageable for your nervous system, let's work together!

Curious about working with me? I have a couple of spots open and I offer tiered equity pricing. (Waitlist for Supported tier right now - email to get on the list.) My coaching practice centers the experiences of BIPOC and other marginalized folks. Allies working toward individual/collective liberation are also welcome. 1:1 coaching with Jenn

Got questions? Feel free to reply to this email. I look forward to connecting!