yoga, somatics
Nina Vukas
How Emotions are Embodied - A ...

In yoga and somatic spaces, the body is often described as a place where emotional experience is not only felt, but also held. Phrases such as “releasing stored emotions” are commonly used, and they reflect an important insight: emotions are not purely mental; they are lived and expressed through the body. At the same time, these phrases are often understood literally, turning metaphor into firm belief. For instance, language around “stored emotions” in a specific place in the body can create the assumption that emotions are hidden in specific tissues rather than being processes that involve the whole organism. In this post, I will unpack some common misconceptions and offer a more neuroscientific and somatic perspective on emotional embodiment.

How Emotions are Embodied - A Neuroscientific and Somatic Perspective
yoga, psychology
Nina Vukas
When Yoga Teachers Overreach - Psychotherapy in ...

The recent article in The Independent titled “Dance teacher wins payout after yoga course triggers emotional breakdown” has understandably sparked strong reactions in some yoga teachers and communities I am connected with. It's a good illustration of what can happen when yoga teachers introduce psychological processes they are not trained to handle, or are trained to handle but shun the responsibility to deal with the reactions they provoke. As someone who has taught Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Teacher Training courses for years and has written a book on the subject, I found the story unsurprising, but still deeply concerning. It mirrors patterns I am familiar with in the yoga world, especially in the last years, where teachers are crossing boundaries, misusing practices, oversimplifying the complexity of the human psyche, and venturing into terrain that belongs to trained mental health professionals. The result of this case of blatant disregard for professional responsibility and ethical boundaries was heartbreaking. I can only hope that the person in question will find a way to heal.

When Yoga Teachers Overreach - Psychotherapy in Yoga Spaces
Health
Nina Vukas
Fitness and Nutrition for Women’s Physiology

Lately, I’ve been diving deep into fitness and nutrition through the lens of female physiology, tracking my cycle, tuning into changes in energy and performance, and preparing for the shifts that come with perimenopause, which is soon approaching. This journey has led me to explore research, expert insights, and real-world strategies tailored specifically to women.

Fitness and Nutrition for Women’s Physiology
psychology
Nina Vukas
The Neuroscience of Change or How to Rewire ...

One of the reasons I’m drawn to neuroscience is that it bridges the gap between the brain, the body, and our lived experience. It offers a language to explain why we think, feel, and behave the way we do and, more importantly, how we can change. For me, understanding the nervous system has been a turning point in my growth, and professionally, it’s one of the foundations of how I support others. In therapy, I utilise a range of tools, including body-based approaches and mindfulness, as well as cognitive techniques such as those employed in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). What unites them all is that they work with the brain’s natural ability to adapt and rewire, known as neuroplasticity. When we understand this concept, change stops feeling abstract or impossible and becomes something practical, visible, and empowering.

The Neuroscience of Change or How to Rewire Your Brain
Activism
Nina Vukas
A Woman's Journey to Safety

The following story is about a trip home I took during the pandemic, but it serves to illustrate a bigger subject - feeling safe in the world, especially as a woman. I promised to write it years ago and never got around to it. A student friend reminded me recently, and I felt today, on International Women’s Day, was the perfect time to reflect. Please note that I mention some statistics that some might find triggering. So, here it goes...

A Woman's Journey to Safety
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Nature is the greatest teacher

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Nature is the greatest teacher

Everything that exists is an intricate part of the whole; all life is intertwined. This unifying principle can be observed everywhere we look. It’s raining outside as I’m writing this - the rain came from the vapour lifted from the Earth by the air after the sun has warmed Earth’s rivers, seas and oceans. The rain brings water back to the Earth to nourish the plants and help seeds grow—seeds which were planted into the Earth with the help of gravity, wind, water or animals. Animals feed on the plants nourishing themselves and fertilising the Earth with what remains. Animals and humans breathe in oxygen provided by plants while giving back carbon dioxide plants need to live, thus creating yet another cycle. Everything has its role; everything has its place, and everything is in perfect balance

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Be more mindful this Earth Day (and every day)

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Be more mindful this Earth Day (and every day)

Today and this weekend, we celebrate Earth day (April 22-24). Of course, we should be celebrating the wonder and beauty of our home every day, but this weekend we are reminded to do so even more. We should all spend a day or an entire weekend somewhere in nature, reconnecting to Mother Earth, teaching our children the importance of being in nature, of loving and preserving our home.

 

photography: Sanjin Kastelan / web design; Nina Vukas
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