Neurosensory exercises (the practical side of my work)

[@nikkilittle8100]

I’ve been really into this work for a while. I found it so overwhelming at first because I wanted fast results and then I would fall off and stop doing it because I felt resistance. I’ve begun to fall in love with listening to my body and taking care of myself as if I’m a child. This is when I saw a big shift. I’m planning on doing SBSM in March as a birthday present to myself. I went from having 70+ health symptoms and Lyme disease and now I’m down to 5. I’m so excited

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Nikki Little, it's inspiring to hear that you've gone from having 70+ health symptoms and Lyme disease to 5! And that you would stop and start but kept going. Thanks for sharing and excited to see you in SBSM! - Jen from Team Lyon

[@zz-ic6vy]

Glad to hear. I feel resistance too. How did you push trough it?

[@Taratreehugger]

Yeah this is good to hear. I know the value of this work but trying to do it on my own is so hard!

[@rosemarielester5730]

Question: Why is it necessary to work this way when dealing with unresolved trauma? Irene, this is agreat clarification of your Neurosensory Exercises. I thought this would be a great video to share with my daughter-in-law who has finally realized that she has tons of trapped survival stress that causes panic attacks and stops her living her life. She is looking at therapists but most of them do talk therapy, mindfulness, deep breathing, mediation and from working with you, Irene, I see how these would actually be harmful for her now. She needs a therapist who incorporates body and physiology, not just mind and emotion. If this video had a sentence or two if why neurosensory exercise are necessary for healing, it would be perfect for her. Thanks Irene! You are a priceless resource for healing and wellness.

[@sharonspinney826]

HI Rosemarie, I love Irene's work and finished the Smart Body Smart Mind course this year. My panic attacks are now gone and I am so much more relaxed in my interactions with life. I had adult traumas underscored by unresolved early developmental trauma that I had no memory of because of my young age. Talk therapy was helpful but slow. Somatic work for me was more effective than trying to work out confusing unclear emotional issues. I've learned that the nervous system is key and it doesn't speak in words, it speaks in sensations. I never paid attention to those sensations before, but now they speak volumes and respond to my attention fast. Perhaps talk therapy can get a person to a better place, but how many decades? This is less about the "why" and "how" the traumas affect us and more about allowing the body to optimize its response to any stress present now. Consider what it would be like if the body did not automatically go into Fight, Flight, Freeze? Life is a lot more enjoyable! I'm working with one of Irene's team members by zoom. I believe it's effective because they know each of the lessons. So I spend a couple hours on a lesson and then 1:1 work refines my understanding and knowing when to apply the skills. This work demands a lifestyle change to be really effective. It doesn't really require a huge amount of time once the. habits are learned and small bites of the work are very effective. I originally saw a lot of similarities to mindfulness, but I simply couldn't do mindfulness the way it was described to me. This takes it to a much richer place that I think Irene has called "Bodyfullness." It's fabulous work and even if it seems simple at times, there is genius in the subtle. Best to you and your daughter-in-law!

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Rosemarie Lester, Jen here from Team Lyon. Sharon describe aspects of the differences of this work to talk and mindfulness therapy very clearly in her response to your comment. I'll also add that another way it's important to work in this way is that it teaches us to listen to and respond to what's happening in the nervous system. There are often experiences that want to unfold - movements, sensations, emotions and more - and many practices either override these experiences or don't offer the space and support for listening that enables them to arise and express in ways that can create transformation at deep and foundational levels. One way to think about the different is that instead of simply learning to recognize and support ourselves when a response arises, the underlying response itself actually changes over time. I'll also link to a one of Irene's related resources and will pass along your comment about adding the piece you mentioned. The Five Stages of Neuroplastic Healing - irenelyon.com/2019/10/09/the-5-stages-of-neuroplastic-healing/

[@rosemarielester5730]

Thanks Sharon and Jen, I am a SBSM grad myself and totally understand and agree with all you both are saying. My comment speaks more to how some one not familiar with this work, would not understand why she would have to do neurosensory exercises to heal trauma. I've passed on Irene's free resources, but my daughter in law is in such a state of overwhelm, watching the can be too much. This video was short and beautiful and if it had the why we need to work this way, it would have been perfect:)

[@sharonspinney826]

@@rosemarielester5730 It is hard to explain to someone who is too overwhelmed. And a classic problem is, many people are probably telling her "just do this". That adds to the overwhelm. When I find myself in a situation of caring so much that I'm trying to find just the right words and wishing they would hear me, I try to stop myself at that moment. I have had the experience of calming my system and imagine my polyvagal nerve is entraining all that touches my energy field. If possible I say a few words of caring "this will all be ok, I'm here, I see you, I'm listening" and then am present in silence, keeping track of my own system so I don't push myself into one of my "I care too much activations!" Funny, I remember 2 times in my life, decades ago that 2 different friends did that for me. The memory of those moments went in deep and vivid. Just thinking about being held or having my hands massaged is still powerful... somatic. If the receiver decides to experience our support on a somatic level there is a kind of non-verbal relay of what we are trying to express. My husband, who did not understand this at all has told me that he "feels better when he is around me." My calm nervous system calms his (and I'm sure my agitated NS produced likewise). As I gave up trying to "explain" I found an expansion in my system (a more spacious pool?) and I recognized that I could follow his lead. He is very animal-oriented and could see the outworkings of this program at play in them. That was how he opened up to it. What does your daughter-in-law love? What has made her feel calm and certain things would work out? Think about the resource lesson, encouraging her to have the experience in that way might provide an opening. Your loving presence is at work, I trust it will do wonders in perfect time. Best~ S

[@helensid6670]

@@sharonspinney826 thank you so much, your comment has helped me a lot with how to tell (or not) others about nervous system work

[@jasminematus9145]

Thank you, Irene, You are an absolute angel and force of nature. Such important work.

[@curiouskitty7972]

Really useful and clear information for a beginner. Terminology clearly explained and loads of links! Thank you so much 🙏

[@pascaleliesenborghs8384]

Yes Irene!! Very usefull, was more or less waiting for this information. Thankx!! I will soon have a look at your site.

[@ליאורמסה-ח5ג]

Thank you so much for all your kind information giving, it is so helpful.

[@hvnonearth3066]

Your voice is so relaxing 🥹

[@Amiabenson]

I’m at 7;15 right now, and I looooove your work, it has helped me tremendously. To me it sounds like a form of mindfulness, and instantly I got scared, more mindfulness. For like two years I went within (I feel like now, I went tooo far in), and practice mindfulness. And now u feel all wired up, and as if I want to be a tad un-mindful. I’m 22, any tips tricks or feedback, from anyone too ? Lots of love ❤️

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Amia Benson, Jen here from Team Lyon. Great to hear that Irene's work has helped your tremendously! One way to think about mindfulness very generally is that it involves the way we pay attention. In that sense, this nervous system work does involve mindfulness as it has a lot to do with how we pay attention and what we pay attention to, and there are many important differences too. This work the way that Irene teaches it is very much about learning to listen/attune to and support YOUR unique nervous system. For example, for some of us, this means that we *not* put a lot of attention on the body at first as we may feel overwhelmed when we do so. In this case, other approaches such as focusing externally and on practices that bring in some containment can be helpful (Irene teaches aspects of this in her 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up course). There are also concepts from Somatic Experiencing that we call "titration" and "pendulation" that can be very helpful there too. In essence, this means that we may take small steps and/or pay just a little attention to something at a time (titration), and move our attention between one experience and other (pendulation). I'll link to some resources related to what I mention here in case you'd like to check them out. Titration Explained: Never Rush Trauma Healing - irenelyon.com/2020/04/26/titration-explained-never-rush-trauma-healing/ Pendulation: How to Shift Focus to Calm Overhwhelm - irenelyon.com/2020/03/29/pendulation-how-to-shift-focus-to-calm-overwhelm/ DIY: Ancient Anxiety Medicine - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnqmpJWOiqh-o68 4 Surprisingly Simple Steps to Calm Overwhelm... - irenelyon.com/4-steps-to-calm-overwhelm/ 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up - 21daytuneup.com

[@tonmeijer5686]

hello Irene, I'm following several weeks Summer School now, attending to basics, motivated to achieve daily processing, I have confidence, thank you very much, indeed, let's listen each day! Ton

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Ton Meijer, great to hear that you're following Summer School and have confidence! It can be lovely and potent work. - Jen from Team Lyon

[@glorial1017]

I wish I could see short demonstrations of these exercises perhaps on the background while Irene is talking, in my case, I have no experience with neurosensory exercises .

[@IreneLyon]

Gloria L, Jen here from Team Lyon. Irene offers a few sample neurosensory exercises on her KZbin channel. I’ll link to the playlist in case you’d like to check them out. KZbin Playlist of Neurosensory Practices - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKCzgKB3l5Zjbtk

[@kathyadair8552]

I've been seeing Kathy Kane's name a lot. Thanks, Irene. I'll check her out, too.

[@qweasd155]

Hi Irene, could you please talk about Tourrettes. Thanks

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi qwe asd, Jen here from Team Lyon. I'll pass your request along to Irene. You might also find this Q&A with Irene to be of interest: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGrIkmSkbJh-ppY

[@vickioxenham7032]

Great further clarity (even after completing 21 day NS Tune UP) Thank you.

[@selyemperzsa1]

Dear Irene, might be a bit of an off-topic question, but can you make a video on sexuality? What happens to sexuality when someone heals? (not necessarily from sexual abuse). Is there anything you need to be mindful to avoid creation of "new" trauma or your "reclaimed" regulation will help you just like with appetite control/ weight loss. Thank you.

[@dolcevita4348]

I feel as if I am still in the heat of it to form a clear question, but what if there was a traumatic event which led to both the extreme dorsal state of grief co-existing with the extreme flighty energy of anger. Its as if I feel stagnancy with my anger rooted in grief that doesnt allow for my expression to process. Maybe can somatically relate to childhood trauma of extremely inconsistent parenting (a parent who became someone I feared strongly, yet one sec later, would impose themself as a safe person as was the only person to co-regulate with me), in addition with suppressed anger as its expression was considered "bad" (which makes catharic practice/expression unattuned with me as the anger feels stronger than any expression or powerlessness completely takes over from its past suppression, I disconnect), but I want to hear what you have to say. Feel free to ask any questions if in need of clarity, not sure if my question came across clear.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Dolcevita, Seth here with Team Lyon. Yes, this makes sense. What you describe is when both the Sympathetic (fight/flight) and High-Tone Dorsal (freeze) are ON in the system, such that you feel both activated and powerless at the same time. In such cases it's good to have some support, so you might consider joining Irene's 21 Day Program, which includes access to a private FB forum moderated by our team of qualified practitioners, and will give you both in-depth education and practical tools to start working with your system. And/or it may be good to seek out private sessions with a good somatic practitioner. Either way, the foundations of safety, and doing a little drop at a time, are both very important. I'll put some links below that may be helpful. 21 Day Tune Up: 21daytuneup.com/ Titration Explained: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6nHaZuKgrqGhbs How to find a good practitioner: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmW7d2p3g9Okfc0

[@tnt01]

Do you have a video on the exercises?, that would be so beneficial to everyone.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi tnt, Irene has a few sample examples on KZbin. I'll link to a playlist. She also teaches them in more depth in her online Course and Program, the 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up and SmartBody SmartMind. Sample Neurosensory Exercises - kzbin.info/aero/PL_tIcR-r0CU5Xss_Mq1buU-tWdYVQksjI 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up - 21daytuneup.com - Jen from Team Lyon

[@belindaschafer1593]

Peter Lavine..neurosensory exercises..Kathy Kain

[@gabriel-contentwriter5578]

Irene, I am in recovery from C-PTSD after years and years of never-ending horrible stress. I've put all the causes of this stress behind me. I've been doing EMDR for 6 months and have resolved a lot of emotional traumas. But my body is still stuck in fight or flight. Do you think EMDR is good for me to continue doing and would Somatic work be the best thing to augment that? I've learned a lot along the healing process about myself, and it's crazy to see how trapped and out of whack the nervous system can get.

[@IreneLyon]

Hi Gabriel - Content Writer, Jen here from Team Lyon. You asked if EMDR is good for you to continue doing. As everyone's nervous system responds differently to interventions and there are different approaches to EMDR, it's difficult to say. What I hear you saying is that so far it hasn't resolved the underlying fight/flight responses that you're noticing. Nervous system based approaches such as the ones that Irene teaches do tend to be quite helpful with this. I'll link to a few of Irene's related free resources, and if her approach to teaching speaks to you, you might consider checking out the 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up. The "Tune Up" is a self-study course the teaches you the basics related to nervous system learning and practice. 7 Steps to De-Stress - irenelyon.com/7-steps-opt-in-IL What is Healthy Aggression? - irenelyon.com/2019/08/19/what-is-healthy-aggression/ 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up - 21daytuneup.com

[@elliot9810]

Can you explain why when I use your calm overwhelm exercise I seem to get even more anxiety sensations? I already suffer from chronic anxiety and have lots of fight flight feelings, so it feels more elevated after doing this exercise. What do I do, do I keep doing it or stop it? Thanks

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Elliot98, Seth here with Team Lyon. Thanks so much for sharing. Yes, what you experience is not that uncommon. The reason is, because you are stopping to feel what is present in your system, you then feel it more. When there is a LOT of backed up survival stress it can be a bit like it's been knocking at the door for our attention for along time, and then when we open the door a crack, it busts through. A couple things to consider - one, is your environment safe? A big part of doing these practices and having them work to actually help us settle is not just connecting to ourselves, but connecting to the environment, so it must be safe. And I don't just mean physically safe - are we emotionally safe? Free to express ourselves without judgement? Free to be authentic? The body needs to feel this safety in the environment as a foundation so that's one thing to consider. Another thing to consider is that you may need more support or somatic tools to work with what is coming through that door, and in this case working one on one with a good practitioner, or in one of Irene's online programs, could be helpful. I'll put some links below. Finally, I don't know if you are doing this already, but see what happens if you add in really focusing on extending your exhale while doing these exercises, maybe even letting out a little sound with that if it wants to come (again, you need to feel safe enough to do this). Online programs - irenelyon.com/programs/ How to find a good somatic practitioner - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmW7d2p3g9Okfc0

[@elliot9810]

@@teamlyon3109 thanks for the explanation, I,ll try your recommendations.

[@leoniegreene5640]

I did your resistance exercise 4 times on Sunday & got into a new level with body sensations. Felt v different in the morning. However later that day & all night I felt livid with anger at how someone I trusted treated me. It's overwhelming! Is there a relationship between doing that exercise & now feeling so angry?! It feels paralysing. Crippling. What to do with it? Is this good?

[@IreneLyon]

Hi Leonie Greene, Jen here from Team Lyon. Yes, it sounds like at first the practice may have been settling for you and as you continued you touched into some underlying sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation, and more specifically, what we call "Healthy Aggression". We do want to touch into these underlying responses, and where possible we want to do so in a way that is not overwhelming, where we can stay present to what we are experiencing. A foundational concept in this work is learning to get to know your unique nervous system, and then learn to listen and support it. Often this can mean doing a practice (or part of a practice) and then giving it some time to notice how your system respond. This could be a day, or a few days, depending on your nervous system. I'll link to a few related resources that might both be supportive with the activation you're experiencing now and that speak to the idea of exploring this work gradually. 4 Steps to Calm Overwhelm - irenelyon.com/4-steps-to-calm-overwhelm/ What is Healthy Aggression? - irenelyon.com/2019/08/19/what-is-healthy-aggression/ Healthy Aggression: The way to un-frustrate frustration - sethlyon.com/healthy-aggression-the-way-to-un-frustrate-frustration/ Titration: why it's important when healing trauma - irenelyon.com/2021/10/17/titration-why-its-important-when-healing-trauma/

[@kaitlynmiller4376]

When doing the neurosensory exercises, I feel my heart rate gradually come back down from the initial emotion/stressor. There’s a quietness, and I’m attuned to my body. Sometimes during this time, I’ll notice a heightening to certain sounds in my environment and I’ll be super sensitive to them. It feels like little shocks to my system, which causes my heart rate to increase again - I’m guessing stored survival stress. Ill take note, then repeat the exercises, usually by touch, body awareness, and orienting. I’ll yawn constantly or sigh in response to the neurosensory exercises. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes to come back down, sometimes an hour depending on if I’m continuing to feel the mini shocks. Is this normal- for a heightening to happen during healing the nervous system/doing these exercises? And then am I following that response through right by repeating what feels good/right in the moment to regulate? It can be confusing sometimes!

[@IreneLyon]

Kaitlyn Miller, Jen here from Team Lyon. There can be a heightening as we do this work, and based on what you describe it sounds like it might be worth titrating more and noticing how your system responds. This might look like doing just a little of a practice and noticing what happens. I'll link to a few related videos where you can learn more. Titration Explained: Never Rush Trauma Healing - irenelyon.com/2020/04/26/titration-explained-never-rush-trauma-healing/ Pendulation: How to Shift Focus to Calm Overwhelm - irenelyon.com/2020/03/29/pendulation-how-to-shift-focus-to-calm-overwhelm/

[@saltywisdom]

👋🏻 suz