How to Listen to Your Body: Somatic Practices to Find Strength in Midlife

Feeling overwhelmed by stress, trauma, or the changes that come with midlife and menopause? In this episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson talks with embodiment expert Mary Stokes, founder of Embody Being, about how reconnecting with the body can bring clarity, balance, and resilience. Together, they explore practical tools rooted in somatic awareness that help women heal, regulate their nervous systems, and discover new strength during life’s biggest transitions.   Mary shares her personal journey of navigating chronic illness, trauma, and menopause, and how embodiment practices like mindful breathing, shifting posture, and broadening awareness can transform both emotional and physical health. She highlights the difference between traditional psychotherapy and somatic work, emphasizing the body as a teacher and guide rather than something to “fix.”   Quotes “Trauma is an experience we couldn’t fully digest in the moment—and life will present it again until we do.” - Mary Stokes “We’re taught in Western medicine to label and blame disease, but embodiment looks at the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.” - Dr. Polly Watson “Instead of focusing on what’s broken, we can regulate toward what’s working.” - Mary Stokes   Connect with Mary Stokes, MS Website: https://www.embodybeing.com/ New Patient: [email protected] Phone: 919-601-7121 (call or text)   Connect with Dr. Polly Watson Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA   Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-disclaimer