12 TOP RESOURCES + TOOLS FOR LIVING AN EMBODIED LIFE
when it comes to exploring the embodied lifestyle,
a coaching relationship is a great way to begin.
But besides the fact that it’s not always the right time financially, there are so many “trailheads” and ways to explore somatic experiencing, trauma healing, embodiment, and more—and the best way in to any new realm of exploration is by picking the trailhead that most interests and excites YOU. Maybe that’s one-on-one or group coaching; maybe it’s spending the winter reading a stack of books on the subject; maybe it’s finding an in-person workshop that allows you to experience a new modality firsthand.
What matters most is that your interest in exploring or deepening your study and embodiment into this way of being in the world is its own reward—and its own intelligence! SO: What speaks to you?
In this post I’m sharing:
Three of my favourite books that introduced or deeply influenced my passion for somatics and embodied living;
Three systems that I find extremely supportive to cultivating self-knowledge and self-acceptance;
The top three resources I recommend for anyone seeking support in living a more embodied life;
And three tools that I love to use as part of my daily, embodied lifestyle.
No matter where you are on your journey, I hope the resources and tools I offer here provide you with some rich material to work with! And if so, please let me know in the comments: What have you tried? What have you enjoyed? What’s changed your life or your point of view? And what, if anything, is missing from this list? I love to hear from you, so comment away!
1| Books
To me, there are truly magical links between trauma, writing, books, and healing, which I delve into at length in the linked post. For now, suffice it to say that books have saved me many times in my life—as a reader of books, as a writer of books, as a human being trying eagerly to understand myself or stumbling across something inside of one that shakes something loose inside me that sparks a life-changing transformation. When it comes to Embodied Living, let me recommend three of my top reads:
When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress by Gabor Maté
Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self by Anodea Judith
2| Systems
Humanity has channelled, identifed, created, and/or tracked all kinds of systems and philosophies that allow us to better understand ourselves. Whether you become a total convert to a system, or simply use it to enhance your life, any engagement with a way of better understanding life and self that doesn’t become dogmatic is a healthy means of framing the chaos of our world! Here are three of my favourites:
Astrology: Whether it’s listening to my favourite astrology podcast the CosmicRx Radio every Monday, referring to my birth chart via the Chani app, or better harnessing my astrology chart for self-expression and success in business with my dear friend and fellow coach Sarah Mac, astrology aligns deeply with my values as an interconnected cosmic being, helps me make sense of the minutae of my human life through a grander scale, and honestly just makes sense to me. I also deeply identify with my Virgo placements (moon and rising), and have found immense healing by diving into my Chiron placement.
Human Design: Much like my astro birth chart, understanding my Human Design (Generator, 3/6) has been immensely helpful, and tbh a huge relief, in allowing me to give myself the permission I needed to do what feels good for me, knowing that that is in actual fact the best course of action at all times. It’s also given me the permission I needed, as a recovering high-achieving perfectionist, to allow myself to try and “fail,” where once upon a time I could not abide the possibility of anything I did or created being anything less than 100% perfect(!!). HOORAY for that! This free Human Design Blueprint from Erin Claire Jones is a great place to start.
Internal Family Systems: IFS is a psychological modality as opposed to a complex philosophy or belief system; however, the founder of IFS, Dr. Richard Schwartz, has himself described the practise of IFS (which is an official form of parts work, described in Realm 2) as shamanic. This is because it allows any human being to explore the realm of the psyche in a very real way. I have experienced parts work and IFS as both facilitator and recipient: in therapy myself, and as a somatic coach for my clients. Dr. Schwartz’s book No Bad Parts is a highly accessible resource if you’re interested in learning more. It’s also mentioned in The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, mentioned in the book list above.
3| Resources
I define resources in this post as support systems outside of yourself and offered by a knowledgeable third party. Here are my top three:
Somatic Therapy: If you are already in therapy, the best way to explore Embodiment using the resources you have access to is to work with a somatic therapist. They may also be trained in any number of other modalities, including CBT, EMDR, IFS, and so on, since great therapists, like great coaches and healers, are lifelong learners and seekers of the most impactful tools for healing. In Somatic Therapy you will be safely guided into somatic practices as a central means of processing trauma and past experience and accessing healing, insights, and embodied wisdom.
2. Somatic Coaching: Much like somatic therapy, a somatic coach will guid you safely into somatic embodiment practices to process trauma and past experience and access healing, insights, and embodied wisdom. The distinction is that working with a coach, you’re focusing more on your goals and desires for the present and future, where in therapy you are more generally focused on reconciling how your past is creating problems or difficulties in your present. There are many different kinds of coach—from financial coaches to life coaches to fitness and creativity coaches. Any coach who supports their clients using somatic practices, I believe from experience, is a coach who will help you get the most impactful, lifelong, and sustainable results! Please ensure that any coach you choose to work with is certified or at least trauma trained in this area.
3. Online Courses: With a limited budget you can still work with incredible coaches and educators from across the world! Whether in live group containers, free trainings, or pre-recorded online courses: there are so many ways to benefit from incredible people who are invaluable resources whose foundations are based in somatic, embodied healing and transformation. Since one of WHOLE HOUSE’s values is cooperation over competition, I’ll share two of my favourite coaches who embody this work so beautifully: Melissa Moffet and Ana Kinkela.
4| Tools
Last up, where would we be in the modern world without apps?! Whilst I would live the life of a technophobe if I could conduct my life and business from a witchy hovel in the forest, sans wifi, alas: productivity is a concern for me, too, as an online business owner—with AD(H)D and a uterus to boot. Here are my three favourite tools right now:
Notion is an all-in-one workspace and project management app that has changed my life! I decided to try it after my research into AD(H)D kept leading me back here: to this very user-friendly, instinctual tech platform that has taken my days from “What was I doing again?” to “Let’s get down to business.” It’s free for a single user and I truly cannot recommend it enough!
2. Stardust is a super cute and witchy period tracking app that’s free and fun to use. It informs you what part of your menstrual cycle you’re in and gives you educational info to support you to better know your body. It also allows you to share your cycle with others, like a romantic partner, so that they can support you with the extra loving/space/calories you need on any given day!
3. My Human Design a simply interfaced and thorough resource for all your Human Design details. Their free version doesn’t include as much as it used to, but if you’re looking for more of a deep dive into your Human Design, this app is a great resource and includes audio recordings for easy learning.
WHAT’S NEXT?
IF 1-on-1 SOMATIC COACHING wit me is the support that’s calling you right now, CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO GET STARTED 💛
kate juniper
LEO 🌞 VIRGO 🌝 VIRGO ⇧
Kate is the Founder & CEO (Chief Embodiment Officer) of WHOLE HOUSE. She is a writer & book editor; trauma-trained & certified MindBody somatic coach; Reiki Master & energy healer; workshop & retreat facilitator, & serial creative entrepreneur.
As a neurospicy survivor of CSA, she’s seen some sh*t—and many, many thanks to somatics, she has lived to tell the tale—and to support fellow ambitious, creative, multi-passionate and “squiggly-brained” women and femmes to alchemize their pasts into powerful fuel for their stunning futures, just as she has. 💛