Emotional Body

05/06/2026

The Retired, Re-Identified, Professor
I recently retired from over 30 years of university teaching. Several months before my official date of departure from the Halls of Academia, I was fortunate to receive wise advice from several recently retired academics who counseled me.
“Take at least 6 months, if not a full year, to ‘be with yourself.’ Contemplate who you are, entirely for yourself. Consider activities that might nurture your wants and desires. Question if all the activities you have focused on for the last 30 years still belong in this new chapter. You have lived a profession where you worked hard to fulfill a role created by others. Now is the time to have conversations with yourself. The answers you receive, will help you create new patterns, and discover fresh intentions that feel like a good fit for this next chapter in your life.”
I took this advice to heart, and embarked on many walks, bike rides, and enjoyed daily moments of mindful movement and breathing contemplations, as I considered re-identifying myself with new intentions and holistic behavioral patterns.
Through this practice, I gradually weeded out the behaviors and activities that were no longer welcome, and certainly not serving my wellbeing, within this new chapter. The change was evident to me, as well as to those around me who remarked on how much more relaxed and happier I appeared.
I continued to invite in new patterns of behavior, while making plans for long term activities that aligned with my newfound intentions. During this practice, one day, while walking in a favorite park, deep in contemplating about my future, I stopped for a moment to reflect on a recent epiphany and discovered I was sitting on a bench identified as ‘The bench of Intention.’ How apropos! After months of daily conscious mindful movement, breathing and meditation practices, I took this as a sign that I was on my way to becoming more holistically tuned in.
Contemplation and holistic practices truly do create Transformation!
If this way of thinking and behaving resonates with you, join me on my Substack page to learn more: https://pureexpressions.substack.com/

-Laura Bond

04/06/2026

Come learn about your Emotional Body with this unique method, unlike any other technique available!

What is the Emotional Body® Experience? Learn more about the method, how we teach it, hear stories from those who have studied with us, and then find out where YOU can take a course this summer! Click the link below or use the QR code in the picture to learn more: https://open.substack.com/pub/pureexpressions/p/five-in-person-trainings-summer-2026?r=1he2ft&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

03/08/2026

I'm excited to share a new short documentary about the Emotional Body® method, complete with interviews from the participants from the workshop I taught in South Africa last year! https://pureexpressions.substack.com/p/the-emotional-body-method-experience?r=1he2ft

01/22/2026

Have you practiced Gratitude enough? This may sound like an odd question, but gratitude is a skill that requires development to achieve its potential benefits—which are far reaching, and remarkable! When practicing gratitude: several mental health areas improve by an average of 26%; social skills increase by an average of 33%; workplace performance abilities escalate to over 36%; and even your physical health can improve by an average of 15%.

If you are thinking, “I use positive self-talk and apply emotion regulation within my life.” Although this is very helpful, experts say positive emotional states can wear off quickly if we don’t also attach gratitude to our given circumstances.

Visit my latest publication to learn more ways to be present, practice gratitude and improve your well-being through simple mindfulness practices. Experience a final guided lesson at the end of the article to see for yourself how this practice might impact your life for the better. https://open.substack.com/pub/pureexpressions/p/youre-exactly-where-youre-supposed?r=1he2ft&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

01/18/2026

The month of January is recognized as Mental Wellness month in the United States, and many individuals worldwide may also be sensing a desire to focus on these practices to help refresh their thinking, feeling, and behaviors to create conditions for the best possible new year. I recently found myself pondering my new year’s goals as I was delightfully enjoying this neon sign stating, “You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.” I considered the sign as reinforcement of common mindfulness practices, like being present and grateful for the insights gained from what is currently transpiring. Join me for this month’s Emotional Body® Substack post to learn about the tremendous health benefits gained by letting go of judgement, and practicing gratitude, compassion, empathy, mindfulness, and understanding what it is to give grace to oneself and others.

The month of January is recognized as Mental Wellness month in the United States, and many individuals worldwide may also be sensing a desire to focus on these practices to help refresh their thinking, feeling, and behaviors to create conditions for the best possible new year.

12/20/2025

The Emotional Body® sends you Tender Tidings of blissful, relaxing, and loving feelings that are all possible as a gift to give to your body during the holiday season and throughout the new year with just a couple of specific breath patterns! Learn more in this post published on the Emotional Body Substack page.
Meanwhile…the Emotional Body team wishes you JOY through the holidays and a Delightful new year! https://open.substack.com/pub/pureexpressions/p/sending-tender-tidings?r=1he2ft&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

11/29/2025

During a season focused on gratitude, have you taken time to thank your body lately for how it serves you from day to day, moment to moment? How often do you give your mind, emotions, and physical wellbeing some calm, attentive wellness-centered care?
Selfcare neglect is a worldwide concern right now, believing to contribute to the high stress and anxiety levels that have been escalating over the last five years. Surveys are abounding revealing that over 70% of family caregivers needed to reduce their stress, balance caregiving duties with their own needs, and improve their overall health, including proper sleep and nutrition. One out of every three early career professionals world-wide is taking time off from work due to feeling burned out and 40% of them are due to neglect of self-care (WHO). In the U.S. 50% of employees are feeling burned out, largely due to selfcare neglect.
During the holidays, the stress increases. An American Psychological Association survey revealed that 89% of U.S. adults say something causes them stress during the holidays—even if they also feel joy. A Harvard Medical School study found that 62% of people report elevated stress levels during the holidays.
Studies have also helped us understand that when we continue to neglect selfcare, we will become emotionally exhausted, cynical, detached from others, form a negative perspective, become less productive and efficient, potentially impacting our professional and personal achievements.
Yet, there are simple ways to develop self-care practices you can complete within a matter of minutes anytime and anywhere, using the tools you have within your own body. Visit the Emotional Body page to gain access to many FREE selfcare resources, and read the latest article titled, “Designing Your Own Self-Care Tag” to learn more. Please consider becoming a subscriber to show your support and appreciation for this valuable resource. It will also ensure that you don’t miss the next free article which provides physical emotion regulation, deep breathing and mindfulness advice and lessons monthly.
https://open.substack.com/pub/pureexpressions/p/designing-your-own-self-care-tag?r=1he2ft&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

11/11/2025

The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming! Shops everywhere entice you with endless options for how to make the season even more brilliant, joyous, and sumptuous. Plans have been made for travel and social gatherings. Yet— have you considered how you will care for yourself, and manage your wellbeing during this time?
Although the holiday season can be a joyous time for many, the individuals who are hosting social events and managing extensive gatherings may be experiencing a cascade of emotions and caregiving stress that can create an overstressed nervous system and a diminished immune response. Additionally, about a third of Americans say difficult family relationships and navigating political conversations contributes to holiday anxiety. While 69% feel higher pressure to appear happier than they are and 51% reported feeling lonely, even when with loved ones.
Could you approach the holidays considering a “Handle with Care” self-care tag? And if so, how would you prepare and proceed?
Click on the link below to view my recent post filled with insightful information, tips, a story, and a mindful movement lesson to help you move into the holiday season with optimism, ease, and openness. While you are there, give yourself the gift of a free subscription to my monthly posts to help you gain more skills in holistic self-care.
Wishing you the happiest and healthiest holiday season!
Laura Bond, The Emotional Body® method, Pure Expressions®, LLC https://pureexpressions.substack.com/p/designing-your-own-self-care-tag

Emotional Body® courses help you develop the ability to sense, reconnect with, and manage these organic expressive tools. - info@emotionalbody.co

10/27/2025

Did you know that when you are nose breathing you can physically swing from feeling pleased, to tolerating, getting frustrated or confrontational with the slightest shift in small muscles around the eyes, mouth, and within your breathing intensity? Then with practice, did you also know that you can willingly shift in another direction towards expressing counsel, applying self-soothing techniques, and feeling appreciation? Eventually – this shift can be done as quickly as an inhale and exhale—all with the use of precise breathing and muscle activation patterns learned in the Emotional Body® method.
Check out the latest Emotional Body post titled, “Inhale Frustration, Exhale Appreciation: It’s Possible!” to learn more, visit our new Substack page and consider becoming a subscriber on any level: free or paid.
https://open.substack.com/pub/pureexpressions/p/inhale-frustration-exhale-appreciation?r=1he2ft&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

10/08/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/pureexpressions/p/striving-for-emotional-balance?r=1he2ft&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Getting Emotional

09/27/2025

In recognition that many of us are experiencing a one-year anniversary of devastating hurricane events, while also acknowledging that anxiety levels have become the world's most pressing mental health concern, the Emotional Body method (and Pure Expressions) recognizes that physical restorative practices & self empowering emotional resilience techniques are needed more than ever.

Please visit our new PureExpressions.substack.com page to learn about many FREE resources, and become a FREE SUBSCRIBER.

And - if you are interested in accessing any of our very low-priced paid content (which costs no more than what you would spend on your average comfort drink) please use this Special Offer link to receive 30% off our new highly accessible and affordable resource platform that provides short online lessons, articles and connections with others worldwide to help you Reclaim Your Calm and create positive transformations in your life. Subscription Price (Link offer expires Dec 31, 2025): https://pureexpressions.substack.com/a119516c

Please feel free to share this post and this special offer with anyone you know. And of course - join the page and repost, share, and please help me spread the word of the new course and the page wherever you can!

Wishing all of you peace, tranquility, and a sense of safety in your life.
-Laura Bond