23- Coming Home to the Body After Trauma with Hala Khouri

What happens when the body becomes a place we don’t feel safe to inhabit?In this episode, I’m joined by Hala Khouri—author, trauma-informed yoga teacher, somatic counsellor, and co-founder of Off the Mat Into the World—for an honest conversation about trauma, anxiety, embodiment, and what it truly means to come home to the body.Hala shares her personal story of growing up as an immigrant after fleeing war in Lebanon, how early experiences of instability and protection shaped her understanding of trauma, and why dissociation is often a brilliant survival strategy—until it becomes a limitation. Together, we explore how the body holds memory, why stillness can feel intolerable for trauma survivors, and how somatic practices can gently restore a sense of safety, agency, and trust in ourselves.We also dive into Hala’s book Peace from Anxiety, written after her own unexpected encounter with anxiety in midlife, and how anxiety can be a powerful invitation into deeper healing rather than something to “fix” or eliminate.This conversation weaves together lived experience, trauma science, yoga, and somatic therapy—and offers practical tools you can use right now.In this episode, we unravel:Why the body can feel overwhelming or unsafe after traumaHow dissociation protects us—and how to gently reconnectThe difference between performing yoga and truly embodying it How somatic experiencing reframes trauma healing Simple grounding and orienting practices for anxiety and panicWhy we can’t force relaxation (and what actually helps instead)How helpers and practitioners can prevent compassion fatigueWhat it means to let the heart break open rather than shut down📘 Book: Peace from Anxiety by Hala Khouri A compassionate, body-based guide to understanding anxiety, building resilience, and staying connected amidst uncertainty.🎧 Stay Connected🌿 Follow the show: @elaineclark_📩 Email: [email protected]🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify & iHeartRadio🌐 Explore more at www.elaineclark.ca