Sanctuary for the Heart.

09/13/2025

The order in which these levels of healing occur can't be determined.

But, what I do know is that they all can be touched into (and at a fairly large degree) when we go deep into nervous system healing via the peripheral nervous system (PNS) level.

This is exactly what you learn in my online programs, especially via my 12-week curriculum, SmartBody SmartMind.

Working at this peripheral nervous system (PNS) level is when you work with both the autonomic AND motor-sensory nervous system combined.

This means working with the survival physiology, but also the somatic movement (and awareness) levels AT THE SAME TIME.

It also means working with the internal organs. Plus learning how to follow our biological impulses that govern said organs.

We also must learn the theory, and at a relatively advanced level, because humans are pretty darn advanced and how we stored up trauma is not 'cookie cutter.'

When I think about some of my senior students and those who have been around with me the longest, it is pretty safe to say that all these points get addressed at some level.

Of course this doesn't mean they might not seek out additional support for certain areas, but working with the PNS really does offer a strong core foundation from which all the other pieces can addressed.

If this level of deeper nervous system work is of interest to you, you are in the right place.

Irene 😊

PS - Who here has experienced multiple shifts in their lives by working at the broad peripheral nervous system (PNS) level? My team and I would love to know in the comment below 👇

09/13/2025

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one." ~ John Lennon

09/11/2025

Contraction in the body always seems to have the loudest voice but that’s only because we aren’t attuned to the still and quiet background that allows the contraction to even exist at all. What happens when you titrate between contraction and the still and quiet background of all experience.

09/11/2025

You are only ever asked to inhabit this one moment otherwise it will always seem like too much. Can you be here Now? Yes or No. If it's No, without any kind of self judgment, can you tend to the No in your body with gentle and loving compassion.

09/10/2025

Trauma Integration builds capacity in the physiology to release emotions that are held deep within the body. Because suppressing emotions was crucial to our survival we go slowly with this or the physiology gets overwhelmed and shuts down.

09/09/2025

Here like this….

I woke up with anxiety this morning. Some people refer to anxiety as a disorder but I see it as a natural response to life experiences that were or are overwhelming. For those of us who grew up in homes that were unsafe; that lacked nurturing and a foundation that could be relied on, anxiety is hardwired into our nervous system. I spent most of my life trying to hide or manage anxiety so that it wouldn’t show on the outside. Hiding and managing anxiety would inevitably lead to a panic attack followed by self judgement, shame and overwhelming grief. In an attempt to feel safe and loved I made many poor choices in my life. Choices that were fueled by the sympathetic energy of fear and anxiety. Choices that I have come to understand with loving compassion. It was a looping in my physiology that governed my reason and capacity to care for myself.

This morning I am here like this. This is my mantra every morning when I wake up and throughout the day. Whatever is here is welcome here. This morning anxiety is here and it is allowed along with everything else that is here. I know that might sound radical but as someone with a life long relationship with anxiety I have realized that the only way to be with anxiety is to let it be here. To meet it with curiosity and compassion. So here we are.

Rupert Spira says, “to live without fear we have to first learn to live with it”. I have learned to live with it.

It’s a gorgeous morning and as I settle into my seat; I notice a black squirrel run across my back yard. Black squirrels have a bad reputation here and it seems that they are also seen as something that we need to get rid of. People say they aren’t “native” to this area and that they will kill all the brown squirrels. I don’t know if that’s true but I just enjoy watching her/him run across my yard with it’s bushy black tail. It looks pretty innocent and curious to me. A little nervous perhaps but definitely not dangerous.

I feel my feet on the ground and the cool air on my legs. As I feel my feet on the ground I know that I am home. This is a consistent “practice” of mine and one that emphasize over and over again to my clients: feel your feet on the ground. and the weight of your body on the seat. Here like this…. Without an anchor into the present moment having anxiety is like being lost at sea. Tossed about like a little cork on a great big ocean. We don’t want that. Allow this noticing of your feet on the ground and the weight of your body on your seat to become an anchor into the present moment for you.

I look around the room. The same room I have sat in for over a decade and I notice that it’s safe here. There is no immediate threat. I can see out into my yard so I check out there too. No threat. Looking around I see familiar objects; candles flickering; a vase of yellow gerbera daisies; pictures; a little ceramic pelican and a humming bird feeder outside my window. I can see that I am safe and yet the anxiety hasn’t quite got the message. That’s ok. No pressure. Slow and simple. It takes time. Sometimes I will get up and walk around a bit if the pressure is intense but this morning it feels ok to sit.

I notice the sound of traffic; familiar and soothing to my system. I’m not sure if you’re aware how familiar sounds send cues of safety to the nervous system. The sound of the clothes drying; the dishwasher; your families voices in the background; a lawnmower or a fan running. It’s as if the nervous systems says; oh she’s noticing these sounds so she must be safe. I have a smile on my face as I imagine a bunch of little minion type characters running around in my nervous system saying, “she’s noticing sounds; she just took a nice big yawn; she smiled; she’s looking at a squirrel; she’s just sitting” she must be safe so let’s dial it down. Our survival system has one job and that is to keep us alive and whether the danger is real, imagined or a reiteration of the past it’s going to make sure that body you inhabit stays alive.

I read something this morning and I wanted to share it as part of this piece:

“Remothering is the self-care practice of turning with to access the nurturance, belonging, wise counsel, acceptance, love, and other mother qualities we humans naturally seek.

Remothering is the work we do to deepen self-connection so we can thrive forward in self-alignment.” ~ the remothering journey

Tending to my system with loving compassion and nurturing is one of the greatest gifts I have learned to give myself. It is especially important when anxiety is here. The simple gesture of putting your right hand under your left arm pit and your left hand over your right upper arm in a warm hug communicates safety and holding to your system. And the words whispered gently to your physiology, “I’ve got you” will help to reassure your system that it’s safe to stand down. If you’re not being chased by a lion or threatened in an immediate way I can assure you that it’s safe to stand down but it takes time to reassure the physiology that it really is safe. Be patient.

Our bodies hold the imprint of all of our undigested trauma. It can be a lot so with love and understanding I invite you to consider joining me for my

“The body will reorganize when it feels safe.” ~ Stephen Porges

09/09/2025

Come back to the sweetness and innocence of you. The survival self is made up of fear; slammed doors; bolted locks and sharp edges which the mind interprets in all kinds of fantastical ways.

But you, my dear one, are Life's sweetest offering......

09/09/2025

The parts that we hide from others are the parts that need the most love.

09/08/2025

"Back in the day" there was so little understanding of the impact of trauma so the general consensus was that if you were someone who didn't function well in life (which I was) it was in some way your fault. A character defect. There was very little support and often the support that was offered was re-traumatizing. I'm so grateful to be finally understanding how my inability to function well in life was related to the environment I grew up in and things that were way beyond my control. Can you relate?

09/08/2025

Irene Lyon's work was life saving for me.

This compilation video brings together some of the best moments from a longer panel discussion with some of the men who have gone through my SmartBody SmartM...

09/08/2025

I know, from my own experience, that it's hard to be the bad one in someone else's narrative. I've found that the less I resist it the more peace l have access to.

It's better to bring your kind and compassionate attention to the parts that believe it than to engage in someone else's narrative.

09/08/2025

As long as there is even a slim chance of being successful in our survival strategies there is little chance we will be willing to give them up. Life has a way of bringing us to the end of strategies through failure and frustration. I call this check-mate.