Welcome back to This Is 40! In today's episode, I am joined by my very first guest, my wonderful friend Sarah! Sarah is a somatic sexologist, a somatic experiencing practitioner, and a yoga teacher based in Moray.
In this episode, we dive deep into what "somatic" actually means and how we can re-establish connection with our bodies as we enter our 40s and the perimenopausal phase.
We chat about dismantling the deep-seated shame surrounding female sexuality and genital terms, learning how to advocate for our health with doctors, navigating changing sex drives, and why pleasure isn't just about penetrative sex, it's a way of living and "flirting with life".
To wrap up, Sarah leads us through a beautiful, grounding somatic practice that you can follow along with at home.
Key Takeaways
Somatic Connection Means Internal Felt Awareness: Somatic practices stem from soma (the body) and invite us to focus on our internal felt experience and inhabit our bodies fully.
Language Builds Advocacy and Reduces Shame: Reclaiming non-taboo terms for our genitalia helps dissolve shame and allows us to communicate clearly and confidently with healthcare providers.
Sexuality Experiences Seasons: Sexual desire fluctuates throughout our lives. Embracing "wintering" phases with compassion—and separating intimacy from the expectation of penetrative sex—can keep connection alive without pressure.
Pleasure is More Than Genital-Based: True pleasure is our connection to life force energy. We can access "pockets of pleasure" throughout the day using simple sensory pauses and daily check-ins.
Episode Highlights
00:00:52 – What does "somatic" actually mean?
00:06:40 – Reclaiming taboo words, understanding genital anatomy, and shedding female sexual shame.
00:11:00 – Practical embodiment exercises (like the "power pose") for clinic visits.
00:14:38 – Reframing body changes: Viewing our bodies through a relationship lens rather than a clinical one.
00:21:40 – Navigating low libido and "wintering" in relationships without losing intimacy.
00:28:10 – Less "fucks given" in perimenopause: Establishing boundaries drop by drop.
00:38:40 – Guided somatic practice: Tuning in to pleasurable movement and nervous system regulation.
About the Guest
Sarah is a somatic sexologist, somatic experiencing™ practitioner (nervous system-focused trauma therapy), a yoga & breathwork instructor and a women’s wellness facilitator. She supports people to reconnect with bodies, their power and pleasure through movement, breath, awareness & nervous-system education. to support emotional resilience, reduce stress and to support more fulfilling relationships, deeper intimacy and more pleasure & aliveness.
She holds 1:1 sessions, workshops and group sessions, online and in-person in Moray to support emotional resilience, reduce stress and to support more fulfilling relationships, deeper intimacy and more pleasure, joy & aliveness. She also guides embodied movement classes inspired by Scotland’s beautiful and wild nature.
Website sarahkcollins.com
Booking: email [email protected]
Instagram: @wildermoons
Mentioned in the Episode
Mama Gina – Creator of the morning vulva check-in practice ("Good morning, pussy") @mamagena on instagram.
Tara Brach – Mindfulness teacher, author, and creator of the "Sacred Pause" concept.
The Sexual Integration Institute @integrativeintimacycoaching
@vitamethodSome free resources:
Vulva anatomy workshop from vaginamuseum
A guide to vaginal dryness
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review!
