Christine Coen, a movement coach and holistic dietitian, shares her journey from conventional nutrition to holistic practices aimed at stress management. She reveals how somatic practices can transform mental health by fostering connection with the body. Christine discusses the pivotal role movement plays in overcoming mental health struggles and highlights the importance of understanding stress as a tangible element of health. She addresses common cortisol misconceptions and offers practical techniques for incorporating somatic practices into daily life to enhance resilience.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Movement Reclaimed Her Self
Christine gained 30 pounds and became a shell of herself during a period of burnout and overwhelm.
Moving her body made Christine “feel like myself again” and sparked her curiosity to research how movement heals mental health.
insights INSIGHT
Stress Is An Accumulating Load
Christine defines stress as overwhelm: too much, too soon, and too often over time.
She frames stress as a measurable load that accumulates across life domains and demands attention.
insights INSIGHT
Anxiety As A Nervous Response
Christine frames anxiety as the nervous system's response to stress rather than a fixed identity.
She lists racing thoughts, palpitations, sweating, and an unstoppable drive as common nervous-system expressions.
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Feeling stuck in fight or flight? Do you struggle with managing stress in your daily life? Can somatic practices really transform your mental health? Christine Coen, movement coach and holistic dietitian, joins Michelle to discuss how learning to connect with your body not only helps in coping with immediate stress but also enhances long-term emotional resilience.
Tune in to hear:
Christine's transition from a conventional dietitian to a holistic practitioner focusing on stress management and mental health [4:09]
The pivotal role of movement in overcoming mental health struggles and its profound impact on Christine's life [7:24]
The importance of self-advocacy and intuition in healing [9:24]
The significance of recognizing stress as a tangible factor in health rather than just an ambiguous concept [10:11]
Exploring the nervous system's response to our environment and the foundational role of feeling safe in our health [14:44]
What embodiment means and how it can reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in the longterm [25:26]
Common misconceptions about cortisol and what high and low cortisol can look like [31:10]
The connection between cortisol and our nervous system [28:02]
How cortisol interfaces with other hormones like insulin, thyroid, and sex hormones [39:54]
How leaning into our stress responses such as fight, flight, freeze and shut down can help us move through them [43:15]
Practical somatic practices that can be integrated into daily life to help manage stress and anxiety. [47:20]
Christine's insights on shifting from external validations to trusting one’s intuition and inner guidance in life decisions. [56:15]
Strategies for nurturing a positive mental state and the importance of embodying feelings of safety and joy. [1:00:02]
Quiet the Diet