60. How the Body Holds Grief: A Conversation on Healing, Nature & Nervous System Resilience with Dr. Mark Romano, ND

What if grief doesn’t just live in the mind but in the body too?In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Mark Romano, ND for a deeply thoughtful conversation on grief, healing, the nervous system, and what it means to feel at home in your body again.We explore how loss and transition can live in the body long after the moment has passed, how tension and symptoms can become part of our body’s way of holding what hasn’t fully moved through, and why healing often begins not with fixing—but with feeling safe enough to listen.Dr. Mark shares his journey into naturopathic medicine, how Lyme disease changed the way he understands healing, and the powerful ways he works with patients through qigong, breath, movement, connective tissue, and nature-based practices.This conversation moves through science, story, physiology, spirituality, and the very human experience of grief and becoming. We talk about how healing can look like learning to sit with the unknown, reconnecting with your senses, and allowing your body to guide you back toward yourself.If you’ve been moving through a season of loss, change, burnout, or feeling disconnected from yourself, this episode is for you.In this episode, we cover:● 01:06 Meeting Dr. Mark Romano and the path that led him into naturopathic medicine● 03:19 How discovering naturopathy changed the trajectory of his work● 09:39 Grief, growth, transitions, and why healing is often more about evolving than fixing● 11:09 Working with cancer patients, supporting his mother through illness, and what those experiences taught him about presence● 16:28 Why safety and co-regulation are foundational to healing● 20:17 Alignment, tension patterns, and how the body reflects what’s happening beneath the surface● 24:45 Qigong, posture, joy, and how movement influences physiology and emotion● 30:16 The default mode network, neuroplasticity, and how new sensory input can shift old patterns● 34:10 Why grief feels so disorienting and why we often struggle to find language for it● 36:29 Connective tissue, Chinese medicine, and how emotions can be held in the body● 38:20 Interoception, “life sense,” and reconnecting to your body’s signals● 39:43 The concept of Po, body exchange, and what it means to release what we’re holding● 40:21 How grief can live physically in the body and why symptoms can feel tied to unresolved emotion● 42:45 Safety, connection, addiction, and why healing often requires support● 44:16 Breathing with trees and how nature can hold us through grief and transition● 48:12 Sense foraging and using nature as a tool for nervous system healing● 50:19 Rhythm, movement, listening, and finding the type of movement your body responds to● 51:32 Stillness, the unknown, and why listening inward can feel difficult but powerful● 54:25 Dopamine, growth, gut health, and reconnecting with your body’s cues● 58:03 Unburdening through imagination, creativity, and sensory experience● 01:05:02 “Nothingness and meaning in grief” and what emptiness can reveal to us● 01:08:13 Dr. Mark’s Three Hearts meditation practice● 01:11:19 Final reflections on grief, healing, and learning how to listen to the body againLinks and resources:● Episode 55. The Healing Power of Nature: Understanding Vis Medicatrix Naturae: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/55-the-healing-power-of-nature-understanding/id1790365046?i=1000760210568● Episode 44. Why Healing Requires Learning to Feel with Dr. Jenn Rapkin, ND: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/44-why-healing-requires-learning-to-feel-with-dr-jenn/id1790365046?i=1000743291781● Better in Every Sense by Norman Farb and Zindel Segal: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/145624853-better-in-every-sense● Barefoot Living Arts: https://barefootlivingarts.org/Connect with Dr. Kelly:Website: drkellylivingston.comWebsite Clinic: rootsdeepmedicine.comInstagram: instagram.com/thevitalspiritmethod/Facebook: facebook.com/rootsdeepnaturopathicmedicineYouTube: youtube.com/@DrKellyLivingstonThank you so much for joining The Vital Spirit Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast as it helps us reach more women who are ready to awaken their healing potential.Remember, healing isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. Every step brings you closer to the vibrant health you were born to experience. Let’s walk this path together. If you’re ready to dive deeper or work with me one-on-one, visit www.drkellylivingston.com for more resources and ways to connect.Disclaimer:The information shared on The Vital Spirit Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. The content reflects the opinions and experiences of Dr. Kelly Livingston, ND, and her guests, and is not a substitute for personalized care from a licensed healthcare provider. Always consult your doctor or qualified health professional before making changes to your diet, supplement routine, lifestyle, or medical treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.