Coming Back to the Body

We don't notice we've abandoned ourselves until we're so far gone that our body is practically screaming.

And even then — we push through. We make the list. We do the things. We float through our days in our heads while our bodies are like — hello. Is anyone home?

This is about coming back. And you always — always — start with the body.

Why your body has been waiting for you

Your body is not just a vehicle. It's your lived wisdom.

Every experience you've ever had — the good, the painful, the traumatic, the electric — it's stored there. Your body remembers what your mind has tried to forget.

And the beautiful thing? You can always come back. No matter how long you've been gone. No matter how disconnected you feel right now. The body is always there — waiting — ready to unfold a newer, more evolved version of you the moment you give it attention.

The goal isn't perfection. It's presence. Coming back to your body every single day — and eventually, every single moment.

How food affects your body's energy and healing

I'm not going to preach. I'm not going to tell you to go vegan or drink green juice every morning.

But I will say this: meat is heavy. Vegetables are light. From an energetic standpoint — that's just true.

Whatever you're consistently putting into your body is either adding to its lightness or adding to its heaviness. And you need to be honest about which one it's doing.

The noise around food is overwhelming — every expert has a different opinion. But here's what I keep coming back to: if you're in doubt, start simple. Salads. Water. Raw foods. Get in the sun. Move toward lightness.

And the bathroom conversation nobody wants to have — let's have it. How you're eliminating matters. When your body is releasing properly, you feel it. That lightness is real. That's your body doing its job. As we age and burden ourselves with heavy food, that feeling gets harder to access. Pay attention to it.

Why breathwork is the most underrated healing tool

A breath is a love note to your body.

I heard that a long time ago and it has never left me.

Every deep breath you take is sending love to your body. It's telling your nervous system — you're safe. You can relax now.

I use HeartMath to track my heart coherence — how regulated my heart is — and it is directly tied to my breath. When I'm stressed, my breathing gets shallow and quick. That's my cue. Back to the breath.

Here's what most people don't realize: when we're stressed, the first thing we abandon is our heart. We go straight to our heads. Our brains get all the credit — but our hearts are doing the most important work.

Long, rhythmic, deep breathing. Into your heart. That's the tool. That's always been the tool.

What is EFT tapping and how does it help anxiety

Let me introduce you to Emotional Freedom Technique — tapping — if you haven't met yet.

You tap on meridian points on your body while processing difficult emotions. The sequence: karate chop on the side of your hand, top of the head, inner eyebrow, outer eye, above the lip, below the lip, collarbone, under the armpit, and each fingertip. Back to the karate chop.

Before you start — rate your stress on a scale of one to ten. After — rate it again. Watch it go down.

But honestly? You don't even need the full script. Just tap through those points when you're anxious, overwhelmed, spinning out. Your body gets the message: it's safe. It's safe. It's safe.

Just try it once. You'll feel the shift.

Why self-massage and body touch are healing practices

I went to Spa Castle in Queens on a Monday morning. Got a Korean body scrub. Reflexology. And it wasn't until I was in the middle of those treatments that I realized — I am so tired. I am carrying so much.

We don't know what we're holding until someone helps us put it down.

If you can get a massage regularly — go. But in between, try Gua Sha. Take a stone and work it slowly up and down your legs and muscles. Or try Abhyanga — the Indian yogic practice of massaging warm oil into your body. Slow. Intentional. Present.

Because here's what's actually happening when you touch your own body with care: you're telling that little version of you — the one who went through hard things without anyone to comfort her — I'm here now. I've got you. We're going to feel this out together.

That's healing. Right there. That simple.

How the chakra system helps you come home to yourself

The chakra system gives us a beautiful roadmap for returning to ourselves. Seven chakras — root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, crown. And you always start from the bottom up.

Root first. Grounded. Present. Connected to the earth.

Walk barefoot on grass. Lay on the ground and feel the earth against your body. Go in the ocean and let the salt water move over you. Pray there. Ask for support there. Let her hold you.

This is not hokey. This is ancient. This is your body remembering it is part of something much bigger than the to-do list.

How to start coming back to your body — practical steps

You are not a brain attached to a body. You are a body that holds everything — and she has been waiting for you to come back.

• Eat lighter — notice how different foods feel in your body, not just how they taste

• Practice heart breathing — long, slow, rhythmic, multiple times a day

• Try EFT tapping when you're spinning out — tap through the points and give your body the signal that it's safe

• Touch your own body with intention — Gua Sha, self-massage, warm oil

• Get on the ground — barefoot, in nature, as often as possible

Come back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to reconnect with your body?

Reconnecting with your body means shifting your awareness from your head — the constant thinking, planning, and analyzing — back into your physical experience. It means noticing sensation, breath, tension, and ease. It means treating your body as a source of wisdom rather than just a vehicle to carry your brain around. Most people who feel disconnected from themselves have been living almost entirely in their minds for years, often as a coping mechanism for stress or unprocessed emotion.

What is EFT tapping and does it actually work?

Emotional Freedom Technique — EFT or tapping — is a somatic practice that involves tapping on specific meridian points on the body while focusing on a difficult emotion or stressor. The sequence moves through the karate chop point, top of head, inner eyebrow, outer eye, above and below the lip, collarbone, underarm, and fingertips. The practice signals safety to the nervous system, helping to interrupt the stress response and lower emotional intensity. Many people notice a measurable reduction in anxiety within a single session.

What is Abhyanga and how does it support healing?

Abhyanga is a traditional Ayurvedic practice of self-massage using warm oil — typically sesame or coconut — applied slowly and intentionally to the body. It stimulates circulation, supports lymphatic drainage, calms the nervous system, and creates a felt sense of being cared for. Beyond the physical benefits, the practice of touching your own body slowly and with intention is deeply healing — it communicates safety, presence, and self-regard to a nervous system that may have been running on depletion for years.

What is heart coherence and how do you achieve it?

Heart coherence is the state in which your heart rhythm is smooth, regulated, and synchronized with your breath. When you're in coherence your nervous system is calm, your thinking is clearer, and your body is in a receptive rather than reactive state. The most direct path to coherence is slow, rhythmic, deep breathing — specifically breathing into and out of the heart center. Tools like HeartMath can measure your coherence in real time, making it easier to track and build this as a daily practice.

How does grounding in nature support mental and emotional health?

Direct contact with the earth — walking barefoot on grass, lying on the ground, swimming in the ocean — has measurable effects on the nervous system. Grounding reduces cortisol, lowers inflammation, and helps regulate the body's electrical field. Beyond the science, there is something ancient and instinctive about returning your body to the earth. It reminds your nervous system that you are held by something larger than your circumstances — and that reminder alone can shift your entire energetic state.

This post is based on the full podcast episode. Listen to the complete conversation on How to Heal — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Lindsay Trimarchi is a life coach, speaker, and host of the How to Heal Podcast. She works with high-achieving women ready to stop performing and start living. Find her on Instagram @howtoheal