Nervous System Regulation is having its moment, and we love that for it.

But what if regulation isn’t about staying calm, but about reclaiming flexibility, boundaries, and embodied strength as a sensitive high-achiever?

In this episode, Julie reconnects with longtime friend and Somatic Experiencing® practitioner Audrey Burke to explore what real nervous-system “regulation” is (hint: it’s flexibility, not monk-on-a-mountaintop calm).

Audrey traces her path from dancer/yoga teacher to trauma-informed touch work, unpacking why co-regulation and consent-based touch can complete stress cycles when talking can’t. Together they name the difference between embodiment and “moving without being in your body,” the balance of internal/external locus of control, and how sensitive, intuitive women can build boundaries without abandoning compassion.

Audrey shares practical boundary practices (the yarn exercise, push-hands “I can” reps), reframes healthy aggression as protecting life-force, and explains why titration beats catharsis.

Julie weaves in the Conformity Corset, parts-work in coaching, and the both/and of mobilization and rest.

They close with real-life community building beyond “pay-to-play,” and the advice they’d give their younger, hyper-capable selves: trust your body’s cues—and let that be enough.

1. From Movement to Embodiment — 01:03
   Audrey’s journey from dancer and yoga teacher to Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner — and the difference between moving your body vs. being in your body.
2. The Power of Touch — 03:23
   Why touch can be a missing piece in trauma healing and regulation, and how it differs from talk therapy or manual therapy.
3. Redefining Regulation — 08:01
   Unpacking misconceptions about regulation (it’s not endless calm), and reclaiming fight/flight energy as part of a flexible, responsive nervous system.
4. Context, Culture & the Nervous System — 11:32
   Exploring locus of control, trauma, and how regulation can’t be separated from culture, systems, and social context.
5. Boundaries & Sensitivity — 43:13
   Somatic practices like the yarn circle and relationship mapping, the challenges of being a highly sensitive person, and reframing boundaries as acts of care.
6. Reclaiming Healthy Aggression — 56:29
   How suppressed fight responses impact safety, and how titrated exercises help sensitive people feel both strong and relaxed at the same time.
7. Belonging & Community — 1:08:19
   Turning 40, moving back to Durham, longing for non-monetized circles, and building community rooted in secure, ongoing relationships.

Love what you hear from Audrey and want to learn more? Follow her on Instagram at @somaticswithaudrey

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