Tenderoni Hotline #32: What Somatic Work Did to Our Anxiety, Boundaries & Self-Worth
What happens when you stop trying to think your way out of nervous system dysregulation… and finally learn how to be with yourself instead?
In this deeply tender and nerdy-as-heck episode of the Tenderoni Hotline, I sat down with two incredible Somatic Studio alumni, Rowan and Antonina, to talk about what actually shifted for them after doing this work.
And y’all? This conversation is such a beautiful reminder that healing isn’t about becoming a perfectly regulated robot-human. It’s about building the capacity to stay with yourself through life’s waves without abandoning yourself in the process.
We talked about:
- Learning the difference between anxiety and intuition - Why grounding and orienting sound “too simple” but are genuinely life-changing
- Moving from people-pleasing and emotional outsourcing into embodied self-trust
- Boundaries that come from the body instead of performative scripts
- Breathwork, somatic tools, and community support
- What it’s like to stop spiraling and actually feel safe inside yourself
One of my favorite moments from the episode was when Antonina shared this:
“The wave doesn’t take me anymore. I can see the wave coming and I can do something about it.”
WHEW. That right there? That’s the work.
Not becoming emotionless. Not never getting triggered. But building enough nervous system capacity that the trigger truck doesn’t flatten your entire week.
Another moment that hit me right in the tender ravioli heart was Rowan sharing how Somatic Studio helped them slow down enough to ask:
“What is my body feeling right now, and can I be with that for a while?”
That’s the shift so many of us are craving.
Because if you grew up over-functioning, shape-shifting, people-pleasing, intellectualizing your feelings, or outsourcing your worth to everyone around you… chances are no one taught you how to actually listen to yourself.
And that’s exactly what this work supports.
The Real Magic of Somatic Work
Here’s the thing: somatic healing isn’t just “doing breathwork” or learning nervous system buzzwords on TikTok.
It’s:
- Catching yourself before the spiral fully takes over
- Knowing when to pause instead of fawn
- Letting yourself leave conversations that don’t feel safe
- Trusting your body’s signals instead of overriding them
- Learning that feelings can move through you instead of consuming you
- Practicing grounding enough times that your body starts to believe you when you say: “We’re safe enough.”
As Rowan said in the episode:
“Catharsis is cute, but orienting changes your life.”
Put it on a T-shirt honestly.
Why Community Matters So Much in Healing
One of the most beautiful parts of this conversation was hearing both Rowan and Antonina talk about the Somatic Studio community.
Healing can feel wildly isolating when you’re doing it alone. Especially if you’re the “strong one,” the helper, the over-giver, the one everyone else leans on.
But there is something profoundly regulating about being witnessed by people who get it.
People who celebrate your tiny wins like:
- Leaving the room instead of over-explaining
- Taking a pause before reacting
- Asking for what you need
- Grounding before a hard conversation
- Saying “actually, no thank you” to hitchhiker energy
This work is vulnerable. And it’s also deeply communal.
We heal in safe connection.
Inside the Somatic Studio
If you’ve been curious about working with me but aren’t quite ready for Anchored, the Somatic Studio was created for exactly that.
Inside you’ll find:
- Nervous system education that’s science-backed and approachable
- Somatic practices you can actually use in real life
- Courses on boundaries, emotional outsourcing, relationships, and self-trust
- Breathwork recordings
- Community support
- Private podcast coaching/Q&A access with me
- A gentle, inclusive space off social media
Whether you’re navigating burnout, anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, codependent habits, or just trying to finally feel at home in your own body… there’s support waiting for you here.
You do not have to keep white-knuckling your way through your feelings.
Tags:
somatic healing, nervous system regulation, emotional outsourcing, self trust, boundaries, people pleasing, somatic practices, nervous system healing, emotional regulation, breathwork, feminist wellness,