Yoga and Somatic Healing with Elizabeth

Roe Vs Wade

Are you in an uproar? Do you believe in “my body my choice?”

Then I do hope you’re also in an uproar about babies being circumcised without their consent.

And 💉 mandates.

My body my choice. All lives matter. ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

We’re all just healers, healing each other, especially in these moments of listening, holding and loving.
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We need to hold space and each other to heal from trauma and violence.

Stay close. Stay connected. Take off that face covering and be present.

Mental health matters. , , ,

The freedom rallies and gatherings of the past couple years have been some of the most peaceful places I have ever been. Thank you to each of you who has advocated for our rights to choose.

The Circumcision Decision

Becoming a mother was insanely difficult for me. This is surprising to some people who know me today. I am a natural hands on parent now, and there is usually at least one child in my arms. I haven’t slept a night alone in years. I thought I loved space, and I absolutely love time to myself, but I was stuck in a perpetual state of freeze pre-motherhood. I was conditioned to be isolated during times of intense fear and sadness. My baby’s needs felt like a heartbeat, stacked on top of each other, one after the next. Sleep was impossible for me until I surrendered to learning how to coregulate and manage nighttime parenting.

Before becoming a mother I had slept mostly alone for over 30 years. I do not have a single memory of ever falling asleep blissfully with a parent. I always cried myself to sleep as a child and as a teenager, and very often into my late 20’s.

I remember how overwhelmed I felt when my first son needed to be close to me all the time. I was not prepared for the attachment at all. Listening to my intuition and keeping my young little babies close has been a catalyst for healing my childhood wounds, especially around sleep. My kids love going to sleep. It’s a very peaceful experience for all of us.

About 6 months after baby River was born, my 9-year-old came back to sleep in bed with me and his baby brother. I never once said a shameful word to him about it. It lasted about a year until one day he decided to go back to his bed in his own room.

We are not perfect at all, but we have learned and grown immensely through our approach to developing loving and healthy sleep habits.

This is me beginning my PhD journey about 7 years ago. I felt so inadequate, but also eager and enthusiastic.

Wait, actually this is River, sliding down the big slide by himself for the first time today. Looking at him makes it so clear that he is adequate, not to mention completely awesome, wouldn’t you say. Our beliefs matter tremendously.

So yes, this is me because children are the best mirrors. We might get scared sh*tless at times, but we are thrilled and worthy of taking the plunge!

We’ve all heard of being “Sex positive,” but what about being “anger positive?” Anger Positive is a term I coined to reflect how wonderfully revealing and protective anger is.

What messages about anger did you receive as a child? I hope you were taught that it is primal and protective; But if you were taught that your angry and upset feelings were something to be ashamed of, let’s reframe that. Anger is a primary threat response, letting us know that our need to feel heard and safe is not being met. Mirroring is a beautiful way to help someone feel heard. Helping someone complete the threat response is another way to work with anger so it’s no longer trapped in the body. I will create another post about how to complete a threat response and discharge anger from the nervous system. In the meantime, if you are feeling anger, have a growl. Get your jaw into it. It’s fun! Grrrr 😖

It’s funny that corona catapulted me into being okay with the idea of never coloring my hair again. Somehow the societal fear of the virus absorbed my personal fear of being my authentic self.

Here I am 17 months later, feeling great about this decision to go gray. I’m not in any hurry to cut off the remaining brassy brown either. I’ve really surrendered to the process, and am loving the transition. 👵🏼

Happy Valentines Day from me and my #1 coregulator 🖤🖤🖤

American Mothers Who Were Faced With
the Decision of Circumcision for Their Sons

If you are an American mother, age 25 or older, and were faced with the decision-making process in relation to circumcision for your son, you are invited to participate in a doctoral dissertation study to explore your experience with the circumcision decision and the impact it has had on your life.

Six mothers will be chosen to participate as volunteers in this research study. If you are selected, you will be invited to attend the 4 workshops with the other mothers. Each workshop will last approximately 90 minutes to several hours. The cooperative method of research that will be employed for this study will allow you and the other mothers to dive deeply into your experience and participate as coresearchers. Each mother’s experience will be valued and held equally. This will be an opportunity for you to gain understanding about the experience of the circumcision decision and the impact it has had on you. There will be no compensation.

If you are interested in participating, please contact:
Elizabeth Perry at (213) 949.5022
Or email [email protected] and write “Coresearcher” in the Subject Line.

Study begins on Friday. It will be virtual. We are welcoming a diverse group of ethnicities. Please share and repost. Thank you!

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