S8E5 - Polyvagal-informed Somatic & Dance/Movement Therapy with Amber Elizabeth Gray

The first time I read about Polyvagal Theory, so much made sense.
The idea that “stress” isn’t just all
adrenaline-running-around-drama, but can also also/often show up
as frozen-shut-down-numbness really hit home.


I feel so many of us have constant moderate-grade stress in our
lives that just leaves us feeling… numb.


Understanding Polyvagal Theory (PVT) helped me to understand,
neurologically, why this numbness comes about & why this
magical-thing-called-embodient worked so well in unraveling it.
It’s also the foundation theory in our Coaching Cert, so at the
heart of what I love.


Today we’re speaking with the founder of Polyvagal Informed
Somatic & Dance/Movement Therapy, Dr. Amber Elizabeth Gray. I
came across Amber’s work in 2021 & was so interested in how
she’s deliberately & closely evolved her movement therapy to
incorporate the teachings of PVT.


 


In this episode, we discuss & experience: 


Polyvagal Recap: Jenna starts with an 8min recap of Polyvagal
therapy to put our chat into context 

How Polyvagal-Informed Somatic Dance/Movement Therapy was
developed & has continued to evolve over the past 25
years 

Neuroceptive practices Amber guides us into two different
neuroceptive practices to tune up our accuracy of inner feeling

Breath, spine & weight - The key points of entry to the
body that Amber uses 

Why Amber works with ‘client comfort’ instead of ‘safety’

We chat about breath & sound and why they are so
important in somatic practices



 


Content Advisement: Amber’s experience includes working with
survivors of extreme trauma. While we don’t discuss the details
of this, the theme is present during our conversation.


 


About Amber


Amber Elizabeth Gray was, in her father’s words, born “dancing
and fighting”. A lifetime of dance and travel to explore movement
and dance-based community and healing traditions has contributed
to her passion for and belief in movement as life. Amber believes
that every human being's birthright is embodiment. Her 25 years
of work as a Dance/Movement Therapist, Continuum & Yoga
teacher include time working and living in conflict and
post-conflict zones, exposing her to the harsh realities of human
rights abuses. Her clients, all survivors of political violence,
torture, and war,  are co-collaborators and inspirers in the
work she teaches, Restorative Movement Psychotherapy and
Polyvagal-informed Somatic & Dance/Movement Therapy.


 


Resources mentioned in this podcast: 


Amber’s website & email list 

Amber on Facebook  

Dr Stephen W Proges, founder of the Polyvagal Theory 

Polyvagal theroy book 

Continuum Movement & Emilie Conrad 

Feminine Embodiment Coaching - an emotional embodiment &
vulnerability-based professional training for coaches

Find a Feminine Embodiment Coach in our Professional
Directory

School of Embodied Arts 

Leave a podcast review on iTunes here

Thought or reflection to share? Leave a comment on
Instagram here