Ep. 64: What Is Your Body Trying to Tell You? A Conversation on Somatic Healing with Renee Spillane

When Renee Spillane had a massage that left her feeling “alive” and “untouchable,” she didn’t know it would change the course of her life. She quit her stable job, trained as a massage therapist, and discovered that the real work wasn’t about fixing muscles—it was about listening to what the body was storing. This is a story about how grief, fear, and unprocessed emotions live in our tissues, and how a skilled practitioner can help bring them to the surface. It’s about learning to trust the wisdom in your body, honoring your own unique healing path, and discovering that sometimes the greatest gift you can receive is simply being seen.Episode OverviewIn this conversation, I sit down with Renee Spillane, an energy healing massage therapist from Adelaide, South Australia, who specializes in working with women through all stages of womanhood—from pregnancy and motherhood to grief and beyond. Renee walks us through her unexpected journey into massage therapy, the profound personal experience of her son’s medical journey that taught her about grief, and how she learned to trust the intuitive information she receives while working with clients. We explore how physical symptoms often point to emotional roots, how different areas of the body hold different emotions, and why the most powerful healing happens when we bring awareness to what our bodies are storing. Renee shares stories from her practice—of women carrying fear in their hips, grief in their shoulders, and the resistance that comes when we’re not ready to hear the truth.What You’ll Discover* How a single memorable massage led Renee to completely change careers.* The difference between a “fix it” massage and an energetic, healing massage.* How grief can show up in the body—even when it’s not your own direct loss.* Why certain emotions live in specific areas of the body (fear in the hips, responsibility in the shoulders).* The importance of learning how to shift your own energy—and why it’s different for everyone.* How pregnancy, motherhood, and major life transitions show up physically.* Why some people resist emotional insights—and how to meet them with compassion.* The power of asking: “How’s life been lately?” instead of “What hurts?”* How trusting your body’s wisdom leads you onto your true path.* The freedom that comes from realizing you don’t have to have it all figured out.Timestamps00:00 - Introduction & The Big Question of the Podcast02:00 - Welcoming Renee from Adelaide, South Australia04:00 - The Massage That Changed Everything06:00 - Quitting Her Stable Job to Train as a Massage Therapist08:00 - The Personal Experience That Taught Her About Grief10:00 - Trusting Intuitive Information on the Table12:00 - The Panic Attack That Told Her to Leave a Job15:00 - How Physical Symptoms Point to Emotional Roots18:00 - Fear in the Hips, Responsibility in the Shoulders21:00 - The Postnatal Client Who Needed Social Connection24:00 - The Client Who Didn't Want Her Feet Touched27:00 - The Frozen Shoulder and Unexpressed Trauma30:00 - Why Some People Resist Emotional Insights33:00 - The Go-Kart Analogy: Hitting the Curb When You're Off Track36:00 - Grief as a Universal Experience39:00 - The Importance of Wording and Empowerment42:00 - Oracle Cards as a Gentle Confirmation45:00 - Respecting Everyone's Journey48:00 - Her Work, Website, and Social Media50:00 - Final Reflections and ClosingGuest Information & LinksConnect with Renee Spillane:* Website: balancingwomanhood.com.au* Instagram: @balancingwomanhood.renee💫 Want to Go Deeper?→ Begin your Sacred Illness® Journey: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/community Use coupon code PODCAST for 20% off your first month.→ Become a Sacred Illness® Practitioner: click the link to learn more: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/practitioner-training→ Apply to get on the waitlist for the podcast: https://www.aurorasomatic.com/podcast-guest→ Apply to be an Affiliate and help share this work:https://www.aurorasomatic.com/affiliate→ Follow Dr. Erin on Substack:🎶 Music by: “Instructions for Living a Life” by Savfkhttps://www.youtube.com/@SavfkMusic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredillness.substack.com/subscribe