What makes a massage truly somatic? It's not about deeper pressure or fancier techniques. It's about presence, awareness, and recognizing that the only person who can relax a muscle is the person who owns it.

Aimee welcomes Dr. Gabriel Posner, a Hanna Somatic Educator, researcher, and author of Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists, to explore how bodyworkers can shift from a biomedical "working on a body" approach to a somatic "engaging with a soma" approach.

Whether you give bodywork or receive it, this conversation will change how you think about touch.

Dr. Gabriel takes us through:

• Why massage therapist don't necessarily relax someone else's muscles.

• How bringing awareness to a tight spot can soften it without forceful pressure.

• Why most musculoskeletal pain comes from perfectly functioning physiology.

• The difference between the biomedical (third-person) and somatic (first-person) perspectives.

• Why practitioners must heal themselves to be effective guides for others.

And so much more!

Guest Bio:

Gabriel is the current president of the Association for Hanna Somatic Education’s board of directors and is funded by the Association to develop research on the field. In addition, Gabriel trains clinical practitioners and movement teachers with Martha Peterson and Essential Somatics.

He also operates a private practice in Denver, Colorado, offering hands-on clinical somatic sessions, group classes, and trainings for both somatic practitioners and massage therapists. His first book, Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists was released by Handspring Publishing earlier this year. Gabriel loves guiding people through somatic healing transformations and sharing this work with other wellness practitioners.

Connect with Gabriel:

Website: ⁠www.elevatedsomatics.com⁠

Tik Tok: Soma_to_soma

Check out his weekly online class ⁠https://elevatedsomatics.as.me/schedule/0accd757/appointment/28992385/calendar/6330784⁠

and visit ⁠www.Essentialsomatics.com⁠ for info about training.

His book’s discussion guide: Somatic techniques for massage therapists

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya
Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What happens when a decade of deep somatic healing leads you to a diagnosis you never saw coming?

Today’s episode is raw and vulnerable, as Aimee Takaya shares a life-changing discovery she made: she was born with severe bilateral congenital hip dysplasia. She takes us through the shock, the grief, the unexpected wisdom of her body's compensations, and more!

This is a story about the limits of somatic work, the grace of acceptance, and the courage to finally get the structural help you've always needed.

Aimee takes us through:

• Why her severe hip dysplasia went undiagnosed for 37 years

• How the body creates protective patterns that mask underlying structural issues

• Why she chose to stop exercising entirely to protect her body

• How somatics helped her function despite bone-on-bone arthritis

• Explore the emotional journey from shame and anger to gratitude and advocacy

  And so much more!

  
  

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

Betrayal can shatter your sense of reality, your trust in others, and even your trust in yourself.

But what if that devastating pain could become the fuel for your most authentic, empowered life yet?

Aimee welcomes Lora Cheadle (a former attorney turned betrayal recovery coach, bestselling author, and TEDx speaker) to explore the messy, nonlinear journey of healing after infidelity and broken trust.

If you've ever been blindsided by betrayal, this episode offers a compassionate, realistic, and empowering path forward.

Lora takes us through:

• Why shame and self-blame are common first responses to betrayal

• The difference between forgiveness (hierarchical) and acceptance (grounded)

• Why rebuilding trust with yourself comes before trusting anyone else

• Why healing isn't linear and why numbing out can be a healthy survival tool

• How to stay in a relationship after betrayal without abandoning yourself

And so much more!

Guest Bio:

Lora Cheadle, JD, CHt, is a nationally recognized betrayal recovery expert, licensed attorney, and speaker who helps high-achieving women navigate the disorienting, soul-shattering impact of infidelity and return to themselves—clear, sovereign, and whole.

After discovering her husband’s fifteen-year affair, Lora learned firsthand that betrayal doesn’t just break trust—it shatters your sense of reality. It fractures identity, safety, and the ability to trust your own perception. Healing required more than time or traditional therapy. It required truth, nervous system repair, legal clarity, and a profound spiritual return to self.

As the creator of Life Choreography® and the FLAUNT!® Framework, Lora offers a rare, fully integrated path to recovery—blending legal insight, somatic attachment work, clinical hypnotherapy, and spiritual guidance. Her work bridges the practical and the sacred, helping women not only make empowered decisions, but transform betrayal into deeper self-trust, wisdom, and personal truth.

Through her work, Lora helps women quiet the chaos, regulate their nervous system, and reclaim clarity, identity, and inner authority—so they can choose what comes next from a place of grounded power. Because betrayal isn’t the end of your story. It’s the moment you stop living inside someone else’s version of truth—and begin living your own.

Learn more at: www.LoraCheadle.com

Download your free Betrayal Recovery Guide at www.BetrayalRecoveryGuide.com

Connect with Lora Cheadle:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/loracheadlelifechoreographer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loracheadle/

Lora Cheadle, Life Choreographer FB: https://www.facebook.com/LifeChoreographer/

Podcast: https://loracheadle.com/flaunt-podcast/

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What if the secret ingredient to your professional success isn't a harder skill, but a softer one?

In today's conversation, Aimee welcomes Jenn Cohen, an intuitive consultant and former entertainment industry executive, to explore how your intuition is not just a tool for personal growth but the ultimate guide for navigating your career, leadership, and creative work.

If you're ready to stop talking to walls and start flowing with your purpose, this episode is for you.

Jenn takes us through:

• Why intuition is your first sense, not your sixth
• How physical pain can be a signal of being out of alignment at work
• The difference between intention (felt in the body) and goals (held by the ego)
• Why resistance and "procrastination" might be your body telling you it's not time yet
• How a leader's nervous system directly impacts the entire team

And so much more!

Guest Bio:

Jenn Cohen has always been captivated by the power of intuition. After a life-changing experience in her 20s, she explored how intuition could shape her life and career. During her 27 years in the entertainment industry, Jenn found that intuitive decisions often led to success.

Now an intuitive consultant, she helps individuals and organizations unlock potential, gain clarity, and achieve their goals through practical, intuition-based strategies. Jenn’s work fosters growth, creativity, and purpose in both personal and professional realms.

Connect with Jenn Cohen:

Website: https://www.jenncohenintuitive.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-cohen-intuitive-consultant/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenncohenintuitive

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What if the key to deep healing wasn't pushing harder, but learning how to pivot? In this week’s conversation, Aimee welcomes Megan Edge, a Master Healer, educator, and author, to explore the profound freedom that comes from choosing yourself, even after you've said yes to everyone else.

Megan shares her wisdom on how the words we use shape our reality, why true healing requires self-responsibility, and the liberating practice of listening to your body's "no." If you're ready to stop performing and start living from your heart, this episode is your invitation.

She takes us through:

• How the language you use keeps you stuck in old stories

• Why saying "no" is an act of profound self-care and bravery

• The difference between being an introvert and hiding from connection

• How to follow the chain of clues from overwhelm back to the core wound

  And so much more!

Megan Edge is a Master Healer, educator, and author based in Victoria, Canada. Growing up in a family of foragers, she developed a deep connection with nature and learned the art of harvesting from the wild. Born in Vancouver, BC, she has lived across Canada and holds degrees from Dalhousie University in Women's Studies and Social Work, along with an undergraduate degree in geology.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, Megan has held various managerial roles but ultimately found her passion in self-employment. She creates certification courses and workshops for health professionals, blending her extensive training with alternative healing practices. Megan is the author of "The Heart's Journey: Healing Hearts Oracle Cards and Guidebook" and the manual for her Healer’s certification program, "Falling into Being Human: Intuitive Healing."

As an international radio host and public speaker, she focuses on empowering individuals to access their healing abilities. Megan lives with her family and enjoys foraging for clams, oysters, and wild mushrooms in her spare time. Her mission is to facilitate lasting healing and wellness for all.

Connect with Megan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megan_edge11/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meganedgehealing/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MeganEdgeHealing

Discover more at: http://meganedge.ca/

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What if your sexuality wasn’t just a separate part of your life, but a vital expression of your life force? Aimee sits down with Darshana Avila, an Erotic Wholeness Guide and Somatic Experiencing practitioner, to explore the radical act of reclaiming pleasure.

If you’re ready to come home to your body in a way that feels powerful, pleasurable, and safe, this episode is for you.

Darshana takes us through:

—Why we separate sexuality from the rest of our lives and how to bridge that gap

—The true definition of eroticism as your core life force and creative energy

—How releasing people-pleasing in the bedroom empowers you in every area of life

—How deep, consent-based healing can unlock grief, vulnerability, and authentic connection

—The difference between performative intimacy and true, embodied partnership

And so much more!

Darshana Avila is a trauma-informed somatic educator, practitioner, and international speaker who helps people reconnect with the most essential aspects of themselves — their truth, their desires, and their capacity for profound pleasure and power.

Known for her grounded, candid, and relational approach, she bridges the worlds of embodiment, emotional intelligence, and personal agency with depth and accessibility.

Darshana’s work has been featured on Netflix’s Sex, Love & goop, The Guardian, The New Yorker, and numerous leading podcasts.

Connect with Darshana:

WEBSITE: darshanaavila.com

Instagram: instagram.com/darshana_avila

YouTube: youtube.com/@darshana-avila

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/darshana-avila

Galgasm: skool.com/galgasm

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What if everything you've been told about baby sleep is backwards?

In this week’s episode, Aimee welcomes infant and toddler sleep specialist Aleni Katsinis to challenge Western sleep culture and reveal a more instinctual, connection-based approach to helping your child rest.

From co-sleeping to understanding what babies really need at night, this episode will transform how you think about sleep—not just for your child, but for yourself.

They take us through:

—How sleep training isn't the only option, and babies waking at night is biologically normal and healthy

—How positive sleep associations through connection create lifelong healthy sleep habits, not independence training

—Why your parental instincts are valid, even when they contradict mainstream advice

—How we were raised around sleep affects our nervous system and beliefs as adults

—Why building community support is essential when mainstream culture isolates new parents

And so much more!

Bio:

I live in Buffalo, NY, with my beautiful daughter Nora and lovely partner (for life) Dave. As a certified infant and toddler sleep specialist—and a mom myself—I know how overwhelming sleep struggles can be. Trust me, I’ve been through it all! As a first-time mom, there was so much pressure to sleep train. That pressure was overwhelming, exhausting, and draining. It took away from the moments I should have been enjoying with my daughter. I knew there had to be another way we could achieve sleep without using separation. That’s why I founded Rooted in Sleep, to honor that connection with my daughter while still getting some sleep!

My approach is based on attachment, helping families build strong roots in their relationships while nurturing their babies’ sleep needs—without using any type of sleep training methods. Together, we’ll focus on your family’s unique needs, creating a sleep rhythm that honors connection. I don’t push for strict independence; instead, I empower families to create sleep solutions that align with their values, instincts, and unique dynamics.

Connect With Aleni:

Website: Rooted In Sleep

Email: alenikats@gmail.com

IG: @rootedinsleep https://www.instagram.com/rootedinsleep/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555776178545

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

What if the digital connections we've built during years of isolation are actually preparing us for something deeper?

Aimee and intuitive coach Elysia Skye explore why embodied presence matters now, how wounds become curriculum, water's lessons on forgiveness, and why gathering—physically, energetically, and intentionally—opens portals to collective brilliance.

This episode weaves together energy work, Oracle wisdom, and lived experience to reveal how coming back into the flesh is essential for authentic connection and transformation.

Elysia takes us through:

—Why in-person connection create a deeper transformation

—Learning to listen to your somatic wisdom as a mindfulness practice

—How Somatic wisdom is a mindfulness practice

—How physical awareness builds an authentic connection

—Why athering amplifies healing and insight

—Trusting your own knowing over external validation and control

And so much more!

Elysia Skye is a speaker, mindset and leadership consultant, and host of The Brilliance Method Podcast. She has produced educational and motivational content for global brands and continues to lead mindfulness workshops for Fortune 500 companies and small businesses.

Through her podcast, speaking, and Patreon community, Elysia shares practical tools and profound insights that inspire people to trust themselves and create a wealth mindset rooted in presence, purpose, and authentic leadership. Her work provides actionable ways to quiet the noise, strengthen intuition, and step fully into your zone of genius. The 7 Secrets to Waking Up Happy Every Day

https://sevensecrets.thebrilliancemethod.com/gift-7-secrets

Connect with Elysia:

Website: elysiaskye.com

Podcast: elysiaskye.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elysiaskye

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elysiaskye

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elysiaskye/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elysiaskye

Connect with Aimee:

Instagram: @aimeetakaya

Facebook: Aimee Takaya

Learn more about Aimee Takaya, Hanna Somatic Education, and The Radiance Program at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.freeyoursoma.com⁠⁠⁠.