This week's conversation with Sarah Denio, an inner alignment coach, explores how unresolved trauma impacts our health and she empowers us with information, hope, and actionable steps (recapped below).
We’ve made great strides as a society in acknowledging that trauma exists, but we’re still catching up to the impact on not only mental, but also physical health. Practitioners like Sarah and I are focused on how we can either directly (Sarah) or indirectly (me) help clients move forward from it to make way for an easier, better, higher quality of life.
This episode addresses the deeper layer of stress and mental health—one of the core pillars of longevity alongside nutrition, sleep, movement, hydration, and community. Nervous system regulation, energy work, and inner alignment feel very Medicine 3.0, and I’m excited to bring this into the conversation here.
I’ve been seeing this since the beginning of my career, and I still see it today. If I had a nickel for every mental health referral I’ve made, I’d have at least $10. The unresolved issues we carry in our minds and bodies weigh on us so heavily that they prevent us from being well. They become the barrier between where we are and where we want to be. For so many adults, that shows up as excess weight, high blood pressure, insomnia, chronic pain, hormone imbalance, autoimmune diseases, binge eating, and more.
Does resolving trauma allow you to prioritize your health, treat yourself with the respect you deserve, and reach your health goals? Actually, probably, yeah. 🎯
It won’t hurt. And if you’re exhausted from trying every diet, reading every book, and seeing all the conventional doctors without results, maybe it’s time to look inward.
While Sarah specializes in fertility, pregnancy loss, and family building, she brings her inner alignment coaching to folks who are ready for this work. You can find Sarah here on her website, linkedin, and instagram.
We ran out of time on our episode so I asked Sarah to send these over to us:
Here are a few simple, actionable ways I recommend people slow down and calm their nervous system. These are intentionally simple, not complicated or performative.
1. Intentional breathing (my #1 recommendation)
Breathe with a slightly longer exhale than inhale for a few rounds (for example: inhale 4, exhale 8).
This signals safety to the nervous system.
I recommend doing this both proactively (morning, mid-day, before bed) and reactively (when you notice stress rising).2. Pause + orient to the present moment
Pause where you are. Gently look around the room.
Remind yourself: There is no tiger in the room right now.
This helps the nervous system differentiate between past threat and present safety.3. Bring curiosity to sensation instead of analysis
Notice where you feel emotions in your body — without trying to fix, change, or understand them.
What you’re feeling isn’t a flaw; it’s old, unprocessed energy surfacing to resolve.
Simply being present with it helps clear the interference.4. Remember: this work is simple, not necessarily easy
You’re not fixing yourself.
You’re clearing what interferes with who you already are — one intentional moment at a time.
This is how real, sustainable change happens.
Thank you so much, Sarah!
What else:
Ya know how I mentioned I’ve sent hundreds of referrals out for clients throughout the years? It’s because when clients address nutrition, movement, and sleep with me, but ignore chronic stress, their progress stalls. Whole person health often involves multiple modalities and specialists, which is why I'm building such a powerful network of practitioners I trust. I’m grateful you’re here supporting my work, and theirs as well.
Going ons at HealthierSpan:
currently building a handbook and comprehensive resource hub as well. Substack subscribers will be the first to know when it’s live.
New client current wait time: 2 weeks
Upcoming live episodes:
2/10/26 at 11am ET, you get a solo episode with me! I’m going to finally answer all the GLP-1 questions so many folks have and share a few case studies. If you’d like to submit a question, drop it in the comments below. Save the date here. (If you saw a different guest listed for this date last week, have no fear, we’ll be rescheduling with Bre!!)
2/24/26 at 10am ET, Karin Hall, FNP owner of Power of One Health and practitioner of functional medicine will be joining us. We’ll be talking about PCOS, insulin, and all things hormones, save the date.
Have any questions for our upcoming guests (including me!) ? Do you know someone I should meet? Drop me a line
See you then,
xx
