Body Illumination Blog

  • What are Somatic Exercises

    Get ready to transform your body and mind with our unique blend of Yin Yoga, Pilates, Vagus Nerve Exercises,...

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Somatic NSDR and Yoga Nidra Blend

    Get ready to transform your body and mind with our unique blend of Yin Yoga, Pilates, Vagus Nerve Exercises,...

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • IMAGINE

    Get ready to transform your body and mind with our unique blend of Yin Yoga, Pilates, Vagus Nerve Exercises,...

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • SOMATIC BLISS

    Get ready to transform your body and mind with our unique blend of Yin Yoga, Pilates, Vagus Nerve Exercises,...

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • REBEKAH

    BODY ILLUMINATION

    YOUR WEEKLY CALENDAR SCHEDULE... SEE YOU ON THE MAT

    YOUR WEEKLY CALENDAR SCHEDULE... SEE YOU ON THE MAT

    Get startedNext slide

    YOUTUBE

    PATREON

    SHOP

    YOUR WEEKLY PLAN STARTING MONDAY  6/2 /25
    Your line-up of classes… yin yoga, somatics, pilates, yoga.
    My Trifecta      MFS (Mobility, Flexibility & Strength) OH & Sanity ☺️

    🧘🏽‍♀️  DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR WITH VIDEO 🙏 LINK
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:de8797ea-cdb6-4eea-b273-10fe6d4b9223

    What Your Nervous System Has Been Waiting For

    Hi Beautiful Friends,

    Have you ever finished a somatic practice and felt something shift—not just in your muscles, but in your mood, your energy, your whole being?

    This is the magic of somatics. And it’s not just a feeling—there’s science behind it.

    Somatic movement and awareness-based practices help us heal from chronic stress, pain, and emotional overwhelm by working with the nervous system, not against it.

    🌿 Why Somatics Heal (According to Science)

    1. They restore your nervous system.
      When we move slowly with intention and awareness, we stimulate the vagus nerve, which tells the body: You’re safe now. 

      • 🧠 Study: A 2018 review in Frontiers in Psychiatry highlights how vagus nerve stimulation improves mood and reduces symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
      • 🌀 Somatic movement offers a non-invasive way to tone this nerve and bring you into the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state.
    2. They reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels.
      High cortisol from chronic stress can lead to fatigue, inflammation, anxiety, and hormonal imbalance. 

      • ✨ In a 2020 study, gentle movement paired with mindful breathwork significantly reduced cortisol levels and improved heart rate variability (HRV)—a marker of nervous system resilience.
      • 💛 Somatic practices give your body permission to slow down, recalibrate, and return to balance.
    3. They help release stored tension and trauma.
      According to trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score), trauma isn’t just in your mind—it lives in your body. 

      • 💫 Somatic work helps unwind chronic tension patterns, reconnect you to sensation, and rebuild a sense of inner safety.
      • Movement becomes a way to rewrite your story—from survival to freedom.

    💬 In My Own Life…
    As a mom, a yoga pilates teacher, and a human being, somatic practices have given me tools to regulate my emotions, reconnect with myself, and support my body, my life and my home to become better.  These movements invite us to listen inside—to treat the body not as a problem to fix, but as a wise guide to follow.

    ✨ This Week’s Practice
    If you’ve been feeling stuck in stress mode or just need a nervous system reset, I invite you to try this week’s new video:

    🎥Somatic Yin Yoga Full Body | Detoxing Cortisol + Vagus Nerve Toning 35 minutes


    It’s a gentle, grounding sequence designed to bring you back home to yourself.

    With love and somatic healing,
    Namaste, Rebekah

    👉 👉 👉 ACCESS your calendar with all the video links:

    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:de8797ea-cdb6-4eea-b273-10fe6d4b9223

    💛 Exclusive Content for Members 💛
    Want more support on your journey? Join me on Patreon or YouTube Membership for exclusive classes, deeper practices, and bonus content tailored just for you! 2 membership options:

    YouTube Membership

    Patreon Membership

    BTW- if you are not interested membership, my classes are also available for purchase:

    Patreon STORE

    GIFT A MEMBERSHIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND SUPPORT MY TEACHINGS 

    💛 #somatichealing #somaticyoga #bodyillumination #fitnesscalendar #mindfulmovement #stressrelief #myofascialrelease #somaticpilates #yogapilates

    YOUR WEEKLY PLAN STARTING MONDAY  5/26 /25
    Your line-up of classes… yin yoga, somatics, pilates, yoga.
    My Trifecta      MFS (Mobility, Flexibility & Strength) OH & Sanity ☺️

    🧘🏽‍♀️  DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR WITH VIDEO 🙏 LINK
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:51b27f72-9b88-4012-8ce7-7050bc826d7b

    Rain, Herons, and Coming Back to Yourself 🌦️

    Hi Beautiful Friends,

    This week, the unexpected came swooping into my backyard—literally.

    There I was, sipping my tea and getting ready to drive my kids someplace, when I saw a prehistoric-looking heron perched at the edge of our little pond, eyeing our lovely goldfish. My heart pounded as I flew out the door, yelling and waving my arms like a madwoman. It was one of those wild moments where you act first, then laugh later—drenched from the rain and building a makeshift contraption to shield our fishy friends from any more drama.

    It got me thinking about how often life throws the unexpected our way. A surprise visitor. A missed workout. A snack that turns into a not-so-mindful big snack. It happens.

    But the beauty isn’t in never slipping—it’s in the way we come back. Back to our practice. Back to presence. Back to compassion. That’s the rhythm of life. That’s who we are.

    So if something knocked you off course this week, whether it was a heron or just a hard day—know this: You can always return. There’s no shame in the reset. Only strength in the showing up.

    Sending you love and laughter.

    Namaste,
    Rebekah

    👉 👉 👉 ACCESS your calendar with all the video links:

    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:51b27f72-9b88-4012-8ce7-7050bc826d7b

    💛 Exclusive Content for Members 💛
    Want more support on your journey? Join me on Patreon or YouTube Membership for exclusive classes, deeper practices, and bonus content tailored just for you! 2 membership options:

    YouTube Membership

    Patreon Membership

    BTW- if you are not interested membership, my classes are also available for purchase:

    Patreon STORE

    GIFT A MEMBERSHIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND SUPPORT MY TEACHINGS 

    💛 #somatichealing #somaticyoga #bodyillumination #fitnesscalendar #mindfulmovement #stressrelief #myofascialrelease #somaticpilates #yogapilates

    YOUR WEEKLY PLAN STARTING MONDAY  5/19 /25
    Your line-up of classes… yin yoga, somatics, pilates, yoga.
    My Trifecta      MFS (Mobility, Flexibility & Strength) OH & Sanity ☺️

    🧘🏽‍♀️  DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR WITH VIDEO 🙏 LINK
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:e0a5c3cd-828c-4825-8c60-e948ca8d424f

    🌿 Rinse the stagnation

    Hi Beautiful Friends,

    We rinse our dishes.

    We clean our homes.
    We reset our spaces when they feel heavy or cluttered.
    But how often do we offer that same cleansing attention to our fascia, our nervous system, or the spaces inside our bodies?
    Just like stagnant air in a closed room, the tissues of the body can hold on to old stress, tension, and stories.
    Just like washing a window reveals more light, a gentle rinse of somatic movement, yin yoga, and vagus nerve breathwork, pilates articulations can help detox cortisol and soften the stress grip from the inside out.
    This week, I invite you to think of your practice not as something to “achieve”—
    but as a sacred rinse.
    A way to loosen the sediment of stress.
    A way to let your body know: It’s okay to let go now.
    💧 Move slow.
    💧 Feel deep.
    💧 Rinse often.
    Namaste,
    Rebekah 🌿💧

    👉 👉 👉 ACCESS your calendar with all the video links:
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:e0a5c3cd-828c-4825-8c60-e948ca8d424f

    or visit: https://bodyillumination.com/weekly-somatic-workout-plan/

    ✨ Journal Prompt:
    Where in my body have I been “holding” stress?
    What would it feel like to rinse that space with compassion, movement, or stillness today?

    Namaste,
    Rebekah 💛

    💛 Exclusive Content for Members 💛
    Want more support on your journey? Join me on Patreon or YouTube Membership for exclusive classes, deeper practices, and bonus content tailored just for you! 2 membership options:

    YouTube Membership

    Patreon Membership

    BTW- if you are not interested membership, my classes are also available for purchase:

    Patreon STORE

    GIFT A MEMBERSHIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND SUPPORT MY TEACHINGS 

    💛 #somatichealing #somaticyoga #bodyillumination #fitnesscalendar #mindfulmovement #stressrelief #myofascialrelease #somaticpilates #yogapilates

    YOUR WEEKLY PLAN STARTING MONDAY  5/05 /25
    Your line-up of classes… yin yoga, somatics, pilates, yoga.
    My Trifecta      MFS (Mobility, Flexibility & Strength) OH & Sanity ☺️

    🧘🏽‍♀️  DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR WITH VIDEO 🙏 LINK
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:ce317873-43ee-4b8b-b450-f7cd507329e0

    🌿 Your More??

    Hi Beautiful Friends,

    As we dive into another week on our Weekly Wellness Calendar, I invite you to pause for a moment of curiosity and reflection: What makes you want to be more? More mobile? More flexible? More strong? More serene? More calm?

    I find myself asking this question whenever my kids test my patience—wondering how I can model the qualities I wish to share with them. Maybe it’s when you’re chasing a baby around the living room, or like me, sprinting after Baci the cat into the woods, or racing to your next flight and craving movement without a twinge in your hips. Perhaps it’s simply longing for a quiet, centered breath amidst a busy day. Whatever your “more” is—more ease, more freedom, more connection, more illumination—our calendar this week is crafted to meet you right where you are and help you lean into your personal “why.”

    👉 👉 👉 ACCESS your calendar with all the video links:
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:9d4d28cb-46ec-4022-ab75-dd1967f2b385

    or visit: https://bodyillumination.com/weekly-somatic-workout-plan/

    Daily Emotional Well-Being Check-In

    Each morning, place a hand on your heart, take three slow inhales and exhales, and ask yourself, “What do I need most today?” Jot down a word—compassion, patience, courage—and carry it with you as your intention.

    ✨ Your Weekly Challenge

    Share your “more” in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @bodyilluminate with #MyMoreMoment. Voicing your intention is the first step toward making it real—not just for you, but for our BI community and the world we ripple into.

    Thank you for showing up for yourself, for each other, and for this collective journey toward not just living pain-free but strong, serene, and joyful.

    Namaste,
    Rebekah 💛

    💛 Exclusive Content for Members 💛
    Want more support on your journey? Join me on Patreon or YouTube Membership for exclusive classes, deeper practices, and bonus content tailored just for you! 2 membership options:

    YouTube Membership

    Patreon Membership

    BTW- if you are not interested membership, my classes are also available for purchase:

    Patreon STORE

    GIFT A MEMBERSHIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND SUPPORT MY TEACHINGS 

    💛 #somatichealing #somaticyoga #bodyillumination #fitnesscalendar #mindfulmovement #stressrelief #myofascialrelease #somaticpilates #yogapilates

    YOUR WEEKLY PLAN STARTING MONDAY  5/05 /25
    Your line-up of classes… yin yoga, somatics, pilates, yoga.
    My Trifecta      MFS (Mobility, Flexibility & Strength) OH & Sanity ☺️

    🧘🏽‍♀️  DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR WITH VIDEO 🙏 LINK
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:ce317873-43ee-4b8b-b450-f7cd507329e0

    🌿 Holding your breath when checking your inbox??

    Hi Beautiful Yogi Friends,

    This week, I invite you to pause and notice. Not the big moments of stress or overwhelm—but the tiny ones. The ones that slip under the radar: Holding your breath when checking your inbox Tensing your shoulders in a difficult conversation Clenching your jaw while stuck in traffic These small moments, repeated daily, create micro-traumas in the body—silent imprints of stress that build up over time.

    The good news? With somatic awareness, we can start to unwind them.

    Try this: Pause. Breathe. Ask your body, “Where am I holding tension right now?” Bring your attention there. Stay for just 10 seconds. Notice what shifts. Small awareness = big healing. Namaste, Rebekah

    👉 👉 👉 ACCESS your calendar with all the video links: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:ce317873-43ee-4b8b-b450-f7cd507329e0

    or visit: https://bodyillumination.com/weekly-somatic-workout-plan/

    Thank you for being part of this amazing community!

    With love and gratitude,

    Namaste,
    Rebekah 💛

    💛 Exclusive Content for Members 💛
    Want more support on your journey? Join me on Patreon or YouTube Membership for exclusive classes, deeper practices, and bonus content tailored just for you! 2 membership options:

    YouTube Membership

    Patreon Membership

    BTW- if you are not interested membership, my classes are also available for purchase:

    Patreon STORE

    GIFT A MEMBERSHIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND SUPPORT MY TEACHINGS 

    💛 #somatichealing #somaticyoga #bodyillumination #fitnesscalendar #mindfulmovement #stressrelief #myofascialrelease #somaticpilates #yogapilates

    YOUR WEEKLY PLAN STARTING MONDAY  4/28 /25
    Your line-up of classes… yin yoga, somatics, pilates, yoga.
    My Trifecta      MFS (Mobility, Flexibility & Strength) OH & Sanity ☺️

    🧘🏽‍♀️  DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR WITH VIDEO 🙏 LINK
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:45dfea9a-07a4-41cb-b665-de9d60f93593

    🌿 This Week’s Somatic Inspiration
    + Breakthrough Research

     

    Hi Beautiful Friends,  

    This week, I invite you to take a deep breath and remember: your body is always listening. No Pressure LOL! No judgement – but WATCH YOUR WORDS. WATCH YOUR POSTURE. YOUR ATTITUDE. Every stretch, every breath, every conscious movement you make sends a powerful message of healing. The work we do — through somatic practices, NSDR, Pilates, yin, yoga, and vagus nerve care — isn’t just about fitness. It’s about freedom: emotional, physical, and spiritual.

    Every stretch, every breath, every conscious movement you make sends a powerful message of healing. The work we do — through somatic practices, NSDR, Pilates, yin, yoga, and vagus nerve care — isn’t just about fitness. It’s about freedom: emotional, physical, and spiritual.

    🎉 Special Celebration:

    We just hit 40,000 subscribers on YouTube! Wahoo.

    I am beyond grateful for each and every one of you who shows up with an open heart, ready to move, breathe, and grow. Thank you for being part of this beautiful community! 💛

    ✨ Inspiration of the Week:

    “Small, conscious movements create big shifts over time. Trust the process.” Your somatic journey doesn’t need to look dramatic to be deeply transformational. Show up, stay curious, and let the magic unfold.

    📰 Breaking News:

    A recent randomized controlled trial published in Physiological Measurement found that bursted auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) significantly alters heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy subjects. This suggests that non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation can effectively modulate autonomic nervous system activity, potentially reducing stress and enhancing emotional regulation. 

    READ: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6579/ac24e6/pdf

    👉 👉 👉 ACCESS your calendar with all the video links: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:45dfea9a-07a4-41cb-b665-de9d60f93593

    or visit: https://bodyillumination.com/weekly-somatic-workout-plan/

    Thank you for being part of this amazing community!

    With love and gratitude,

    Namaste,
    Rebekah 💛

    💛 Exclusive Content for Members 💛
    Want more support on your journey? Join me on Patreon or YouTube Membership for exclusive classes, deeper practices, and bonus content tailored just for you! 2 membership options:

    YouTube Membership

    Patreon Membership

    BTW- if you are not interested membership, my classes are also available for purchase:

    Patreon STORE

    GIFT A MEMBERSHIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND SUPPORT MY TEACHINGS 

    💛 #somatichealing #somaticyoga #bodyillumination #fitnesscalendar #mindfulmovement #stressrelief #myofascialrelease #somaticpilates #yogapilates

    YOUR WEEKLY PLAN STARTING MONDAY  4/21 /25
    Your line-up of classes… yin yoga, somatics, pilates, yoga.
    My Trifecta      MFS (Mobility, Flexibility & Strength) OH & Sanity ☺️

    🧘🏽‍♀️  DOWNLOAD THE CALENDAR WITH VIDEO 🙏 LINK
    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:6a2a1315-05a6-4cf0-b0fb-efa651da361d

    Start Where You Are 🌱

    Hi Beautiful Friends,

    This week, I invite you to take a deep sigh and gently remember:

    ✨ Being okay with where you are is the first step.

    Whether you’re moving through trauma, feeling stuck in a dorsal vagal shutdown, or simply navigating the waves of life — it’s enough to start right where you are. There’s wisdom in every state. There’s softness even in survival. And there’s no need to force a leap when a breath is enough.

    This is your gentle reminder that however you feel is valid. It is not wrong, broken, or something to fix. It is you, feeling. And that’s beautiful.

    This week’s calendar is full of practices designed to support this exact space — to meet you right where you are and offer movement, breath, and awareness as loving companions on your journey forward.

    You don’t have to be “ready.” You just have to arrive as you are.

    With love, presence, and deep trust in your process,
    Rebekah
    ✨ Body Illumination

    I love this poem by Dana Faulds and share it in many of my classes.

     “Allow” by Dana Faulds

    There is no controlling life.
    Try corralling a lightning bolt,
    containing a tornado.
    Dam a stream, and it will create a new channel.
    Resist, and the tide
    will sweep you off your feet.
    Allow, and grace will carry
    you to higher ground.

    The only safety lies in letting it all in—
    the wild and the weak; fear, fantasies,
    failures and success.
    When loss rips off the doors of the heart
    or sadness veils your vision with despair,
    practice becomes simply bearing the truth.
    In the choice to let go of your known way of being,
    the whole world is revealed to your new eyes.

    👉 ACCESS your calendar with all the video links: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:6a2a1315-05a6-4cf0-b0fb-efa651da361d

    or visit: https://bodyillumination.com/weekly-somatic-workout-plan/

    Thank you for being part of this amazing community!

    With love and gratitude,

    Namaste,
    Rebekah 💛

    💛 Exclusive Content for Members 💛
    Want more support on your journey? Join me on Patreon or YouTube Membership for exclusive classes, deeper practices, and bonus content tailored just for you! 2 membership options:

    YouTube Membership

    Patreon Membership

    BTW- if you are not interested membership, my classes are also available for purchase:

    Patreon STORE

    GIFT A MEMBERSHIP FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND SUPPORT MY TEACHINGS 

    💛 #somatichealing #somaticyoga #bodyillumination #fitnesscalendar #mindfulmovement #stressrelief #myofascialrelease #somaticpilates #yogapilates

    REBEKAH

    BODY ILLUMINATION

    YOUR WEEKLY CALENDAR SCHEDULE... SEE YOU ON THE MAT

    YOUR WEEKLY CALENDAR SCHEDULE... SEE YOU ON THE MAT

    Get startedNext slide

    YOUTUBE

    PATREON

    SHOP

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • SOMATIC Pilates Yoga SHOULDER Exercises

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • WEEKLY CALENDAR

    Get ready to transform your body and mind with our unique blend of Yin Yoga, Pilates, Vagus Nerve Exercises,...

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • TRANSFORM

    Get ready to transform your body and mind with our unique blend of Yin Yoga, Pilates, Vagus Nerve Exercises,...

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • SLOW FLOW YOGA BENEFITS

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Women Supporting Women

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Vagus Nerve Exercises

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Hip bursitis Exercises and Stretches • Yoga / Pilates for Hip Pain 15 minutes

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • KYPHOSIS EXERCISES – BETTER POSTURE EXERCISES

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • BETTER POSTURE EXERCISES

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • HIP PAIN EXERCISES

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • HIP OPENING FLOW

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Learn How Props Can Help

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Senior Yoga CHAIR Strength Workout 💜Day 2

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • FREE YOUR BODY FLOW Evening Flow

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • One OM at a time

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE YOGA 🔥YOGA MINISERIES 🔥2nd Edition

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Yoga Accessories and Pilates Props

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • EVENING Yoga FLOW SERIES

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Chair Tone Strength and Stretch Day 1

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE YOGA 🔥YOGA MINISERIES 🔥 Body Illumination

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Self Love Meditation 15 min 💗with positive affirmations 🌈 support during quarantine and isolation🌞

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah

  • Morning Flow Day 3

    Body Illumination YOGA PILATES with Rebekah