Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a surge of emotions that seemed too intense to handle? Like it would just swallow you up without the courtesy of throwing you a life vest?

Welcome to being human!! 

Emotions are a fundamental part of the human experience, but sometimes they can feel like deep, uncharted territory, leaving us uncertain about how to navigate the waters. 

In this blog, we're diving deep into the taboo of emotions, and I'll share my top three tools – movement, meditation, and breathwork – to help you not only navigate but also harness the transformative power of your emotions.

The Taboo of Emotions

Let's begin by acknowledging a common but often unspoken truth – the taboo of emotions. In many cultures, and especially in the modern world, there's an unspoken rule that we should always be in control of our emotions. We're encouraged to hide our tears, stifle our anger, and suppress our fears. It's as if emotions are seen as inconvenient guests that should be quickly ushered out the door.

However, this suppression of emotions comes at a cost. Bottling up feelings can lead to stress, anxiety, and even physical health issues. 

High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, even autoimmune diseases are all directly related to the levels of stress (and stress hormones like cortisol) that we process on a daily basis. 

It's time to challenge this taboo and see emotions for what they truly are – a source of valuable information and an integral part of our human experience.

Navigating Heavy Emotions

Navigating heavy emotions isn't about denying or suppressing them; it's about understanding and working with them. Emotions are signals from your body and nothing to be ashamed of or feel the need to suppress. 

Here are three powerful tools I both use myself and recommend to my clients as a way to full experience, express, and listen to our emotions:

1. Movement: The Dance of Emotion

Movement is an incredible way to express and release emotions. Whether it's through yoga, dance, or simply going for a walk, moving your body helps you physically release tension while allowing your emotions to flow. When we connect our movements with our breath, it becomes a moving meditation that can lead to profound insights and emotional release. Think of an animal shaking after a stressful encounter. It’s the most natural way to let our emotions (Energy in MOTION) move through our bodies.  

2. Meditation: The Stillness Within

Meditation is a practice that brings us into the present moment. It provides a safe space to observe our emotions without judgment. Through mindfulness meditation, we learn to be with our feelings, allowing them to rise, crest, and eventually subside like waves in the ocean. This practice offers clarity, calm, and a deeper understanding of our emotional landscape.

3. Breathwork: Harnessing the Breath of Life

Your breath is a direct bridge to your emotional state. Through breathwork exercises, we can consciously influence our emotional state. Techniques like deep belly breathing, alternate nostril breathing, or the 4-7-8 breath can help calm anxiety, release stress, and bring about a sense of peace.

Embrace Your Emotional Landscape

It's important to remember that emotions are not good or bad – they simply are. Each emotion carries a message, an insight, or a lesson. By using tools like movement, meditation, and breathwork, we can embrace our emotional landscape, navigating its terrain with grace and self-compassion.

So, the next time you find yourself in the midst of a storm of emotions, remember these three powerful tools. They can be your guiding stars, helping you shift out of high emotional states and guiding you towards a deeper understanding of yourself. Embrace your emotions, honor them, and allow them to be your teachers on this beautiful journey of life.

And if you want to practice these skills in the comfort of community and with a supportive group, you are invited to Embodied Shift: Breathwork + Movement Experience with myself and Tara Gush, renowned breathwork facilitator and good friend to TEW community. 

See you soon and remember - I love you fiercely!