Somatic Healing Through Movement - First Responders on the mat — Pure Heart Wellness Studio

Somatic movement and trauma-informed practice are central to how I use the body as a creative and cultural tool for healing. In my offerings, movement becomes a form of storytelling, emotional processing, and reclamation. It draws on ancestral knowledge, embodied awareness, and the wisdom that lives in our breath, posture, and pace.

After nearly 20 years of public service as a Fire Investigator, Deputy Fire Marshal, and Public Information Officer, I left the fire service in 2024 to prioritize my health. My nervous system had carried too much for too long. Somatic movement gave me a way to listen inward, reconnect with my breath, and begin again.

Now I guide first responders, those impacted by chronic illness, and anyone carrying chronic stress through gentle sessions that center breath, presence, and safety. One of my offerings, Stretch and Relax (SAR), was held at fire department headquarters and invited a room full of active-duty firefighters to explore nervous system regulation through breath and restorative movement. SAR is a play on the familiar acronym for Search and Rescue, but in this case, it encouraged participants to rescue themselves through rest.

These sessions are shaped with care and intention, much like my beadwork. We don’t move for performance, but to release, reflect, and return to ourselves.

Somatic movement is a healing art. It honors cultural wisdom, personal rhythm, and embodied restoration. This practice supports nervous system healing, emotional literacy, and creative self-expression in a way that feels both personal and collective.

The Garden