3 Things We Dive Into In This Episode:

1. What it means to "hold space" and why it's critical to find a therapist or provider who can do that
2. What is energy healing and somatic healing and why is it useful in conjunction with psychotherapy
3. What "the body keeps the score" means

📘Resources

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

• Connect with Amanda: Website | Instagram
• Check out Amanda’s Feminine Rising program and tap into your feminine energy.
• Release restrictive dieting, break free from body shame, & create habits that help you live fully! Sign up for my nutrition coaching program and community, Whole, Full, and Alive, and get a FREE 20 Minute Discovery Call!
• Connect with Caitie: Website | Instagram

📌Episode Highlights

[06:56] What Makes Amanda

• Amanda is analytical and observant. For her, the world is infused with meaning that she enjoys exploring.
• She loves psychology and her role as a witness and observer of the world around her and its people.
• Amanda describes herself as creative and heart-centered. Her core principles include being service-oriented and a person of integrity.
• Simply being around her encourages you to empower yourself. 
• Amanda maintains positive energy by being grounded in her body and knowing she is safe. She doesn't let herself be swept away by negative thoughts.

[11:10] What Does Amanda Do?

• Amanda has a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University. There, she combined spirituality and psychology. 
• She is also a yoga teacher and a Reiki master teacher. 
• She wants to help women reconnect with their womb space and in turn, reconnect with their bodies and feminine energy as well.
• The womb space is an energetic space located beneath the belly button, and is connected to a person's sexuality and sensuality.
• Amanda found her spiritual awakening in yoga and meditation. She thought of integrating spirituality with Western theory to bridge the mind-body connection.

[15:14] Understanding a New Perspective

• Understand that you are an energetic being more than your physical body. Everyone is interconnected in the universe.

Amanda: “We are beyond just our physical body. We are energetic beings. Everything in the universe from the scientific perspective is made up of particles of atoms and cells. And so in that same way, we are interconnected with everything that exists in the universe.” 

• Within your energy body are your chakra systems, also known as energy centers.
• The Sacral Chakra and the Root Chakra are under the belly button. These chakras are how you experience pleasure, joy, and different emotions.
• The Root Chakra is where we develop energetically from. The Sacral Chakra is associated with creation and life force energy.
• When shame builds up inside us, it can block the chakras and prevent us from fully enjoying life.

[20:00] Healing From an Energetic New Perspective

• Humans can create different defense mechanisms from pain. Unfortunately, this can also make it challenging to find and tackle the root cause of their pain.
• The unconscious realm is a space full of the unknown. In this realm, you might find the root causes of what troubles you.
• The chakra system and Reiki practice help you dive into the unconscious. 
• Diving into your body energetically discovers your body's record of experiences. You can honor and validate what you've gone through to feel wholeness.
• Energy and somatic work can help you clear out the stagnation that’s blocking your system.

[26:55] Learning to Hold Space

• Amanda met many amazing facilitators from different healing circles. They had a beautiful way of holding a space where others feel safe and share their voice.
• Her naturally analytical, curious, and observant nature gave Amanda what she needed to hold space.
• Holding space means recognizing each individual’s reality and human experience. This space is where they are allowed and encouraged to share that.

Amanda: “I think that that's also what holding space is all about. It’s recognizing that there are infinite realities, which means that each person is living in their own world and has their own experiences. And when we hold space, we give them the opportunity to share what their human experience is like.”

• Amanda met someone who held space for others in their position of power. They were judgmental, dominated by their emotions, and failed to make others feel safe.
• It's from that person that she learned what to avoid. Amanda continuously strives to be aware and ensure she holds a safe space for people to heal.

[33:22] The Experience of Holding Space

• A person who’s holding space should be non-judgmental and empathic. They shouldn’t try to interject and bring in their own experiences and emotions.
• People need a space to be witnessed and share their experiences and emotions, not someone to instruct them.

Amanda: “Sometimes I think what people really need is that space to be witnessed, to really be witnessed in their process of feeling whatever it is that they need to feel without being given advice or judged or criticized.”

• Holding space means letting others have their emotional release and let go of the blocks in their bodies.
• Unfortunately, most therapists and professionals aren't trained to hold space.
• One such experience was in a master's program that tackled trauma. Despite being a class for therapists, the class felt unsafe for Amanda.

[42:18] Advice and Agenda

• Advice can be good and beautiful. However, projecting an agenda dictates how others should act and feel.
• When you hold space, be mindful of the line between giving advice and projecting an agenda. 
• You don't necessarily know what's best for others. Allow them to go through their process, trust themselves, and make their own decisions.
• You can better hold space for others when you're grounded in your body and have done your healing work. Be sure you're able to regulate your own emotions.
• People who hold space for others to emotionally melt and open up can leave a positive mark on others.

[50:00] Amanda’s Rituals

• One of the first things Amanda does in the morning is greet her dog.
• She makes sure to be present and focused while enjoying her breakfast.
• Her morning ritual includes walking her dogs. She takes the time to be mindful of her environment and connects with the sun's warmth on these walks.
• At night, Amanda’s rituals focus on winding down. She sometimes lights a candle and takes the time to reflect on her day.
• After going through the seriousness of her profession, she unwinds by watching a funny show and having a laugh.

About Amanda

Amanda Vazquez is the founder of The Psychospiritual Coach. She has a master's degree in Psychology from Columbia University, and is a yoga teacher, reiki master, and a student of indigenous medicine. She combines what she learned from western theory with ancient healing traditions to help others heal and reconnect with their bodies.

Connect with Amanda and learn more about her on her website and Instagram.

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Whole, Full, and Alive is a podcast exploring the art and science of falling in love with your life, with your story, and with who you truly are — underneath your titles, your resume, your relationship status, and your bank account. 

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Have any questions or want to leave a suggestion? Come say hi on the 'gram @caitie.c.rd. You can also sign up for my nutrition coaching program and community, Whole, Full, and Alive, and get a FREE 20 Minute Discovery Call!

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