In our current world, it feels as though everything is designed to keep us living in the cloud. We are constantly connected to our devices, and when we start to feel the heavy weight of exhaustion, the world tries to sell us even more digital solutions. We are told to download a new meditation app, track our sleep on a watch, or use a better time management tool to “good habit” ourselves back to health. While these things have their place, they often add another layer to an already overwhelmed mental load.
For many women, the problem with modern burnout is that we are trying to solve a physical problem with more thinking. We are mammals and animals at our core, yet we are living in a way that our bodies were never designed for. We have moved from the analog world into a digital existence, and our nervous systems are paying the price.
Understanding the Physical Side of Burnout
The word somatic simply means “of the body.” It is a modern way of talking about the very old connection between our minds and our physical selves. Unlike traditional talk therapy or psychotherapy, somatic practices focus on what is happening beneath the skin.
When we are constantly on the go and lacking deep sleep, our bodies stay in a state of fight or flight. This is a biological reality. Our bodies produce cortisol, which is a necessary stress hormone, but in a healthy cycle, that hormone is meant to dissipate once a threat has passed. For the modern woman, the threats never really stop, which means cortisol stays trapped in our physical tissues. This leads to that familiar feeling of being “tired but wired,” where your mind is racing even when your body is spent. You cannot logic your way out of a chemical state. You have to physically help the body move into a state of rest and digest.
Traditional Wisdom for a Modern Nervous System
The irony of our digital age is that the answers to somatic healing have been available to us for thousands of years. In the tradition of Ayurveda, we find practices like Shirodhara. This involves a steady stream of warm oil poured over the forehead. It does not ask you to do anything. You do not have to plug in an app or follow a regimen. You simply lie there and allow the physical sensation to shift your brain into a meditative state.
In Bali, we see this through traditional massages and bodywork that focus on unravelling the tension held in the muscles. This is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in providing unlimited spa therapies. One session is rarely enough to undo years of stored stress. We need to give ourselves permission to have the time and the care required to truly unwind the body.
Yoga, too, is a powerful form of somatic therapy when practiced with intention. While modern yoga has often drifted toward fast paced or hot, regimented styles, the real magic happens when we slow down. Restorative and Yin yoga are designed to help you focus on your breathing and being in the present. These practices, alongside pranayama, allow the body to move into the parasympathetic nervous system, which is where actual healing occurs.
Bringing the Mind Back to the Body
Even our meals can be a somatic experience. When we sit at a beautiful table and eat whole, delicious foods, it pulls us into our senses and into the present moment. In the present moment, everything is usually okay. It is when we drift into the future or the past that the stress returns.
You do not have to be on a retreat to begin this work. The goal is to recode your body for peace by bringing your mind back into your physical self. You can start this today with a few simple, free resets:
Turn off the noise: Dim the lights, put away the phone, and light a candle with a scent that makes you feel at home.
Count your breaths: Focus on a slow, steady inhale for 4 counts and an even slower 8 count exhale to signal safety to your brain and body.
Ground your feet: Stand on the earth and consciously feel the connection between your feet and the ground.
A self-hug: It may feel simple, but a firm hold of your own arms can provide an immediate sense of physical security.
Reclaiming Your Peace
At our retreat sanctuaries, everything we do is designed to lovingly guide you back into your body. We believe that a nervous system reset for women is not a luxury, but a necessity for living a clear and meaningful life.
Whether you choose to join us for a journey of wellness or healing, or you simply take five minutes tonight to breathe and be still, remember that your body is the most honest guide you have. If you are ready to go deeper into your own recovery, we are here to support you in that direction.
