Why mindset work alone isn’t enough for change and the somatic tools I use instead

Mindset work is powerful. After all, I retrained as a coach, I truly believe in it. But over time, through my own growth and with client after client, I started to notice something.

Mindset work can be powerful. But sometimes, no matter how much we think our way through something, nothing shifts. That’s usually a sign the body isn’t on board.

My method: Release. Regulate. Reclaim.

This is what led me to develop my approach - a method that honours the mind, but works with the body.

Release what’s holding you back.

Regulate your nervous system.

Reclaim your self-trust, your power, your voice.

This is the framework everything now flows through - whether I’m supporting someone to step into a bold life or career change, navigate leadership challenges, or finally make a move they’ve been circling for years. In my work, I combine coaching with somatic tools for change to help clients move past what’s been keeping them stuck

Practicing mindfulness and self-compassion through somatic breath-work.

The body holds more than we realise

So much of what holds us back isn’t just in our thoughts, it’s in our nervous system.

When we’re stuck in a survival response, we can’t show up the way we want to. We hesitate. We overthink. We make a plan and then avoid it. We freeze. We shrink. We keep waiting to feel ready.

And we wonder why it feels so hard to move forward... even when we know what we want.

What is the polyvagal nerve?

The polyvagal nerve plays a huge role in this - it's basically the main communication channel between our brainstem and body. And only about 20% of that communication goes from brain to body. A full 80% goes the other way.

Just let that settle for a second.Your body is telling your brain how safe it is. Constantly. Not the other way around.

How I work with the body: somatic tools for change

That’s why the work I do now is all about restoring and strengthening the mind-body connection.

Yin Yoga helps release tension held deep in the body - especially in the fascia, where we carry emotional residue and stress. It also helps us practise being with stillness and sensation, which is where self-awareness grows.

Somatic tools (like breathwork, tapping, and acupressure) help us tune into our bodies, regulate the nervous system, and release stuck patterns.

And coaching helps you get clear on what you want, make decisions that align with it, and start taking consistent, focused steps forward.

These somatic tools for change help regulate the nervous system, restore self-trust, and create momentum. Each part plays a role. Together, they create real, transformative change.

A real-life example

Let’s say you feel ready to start something new, maybe it’s launching a business or finally changing direction in your career.

You’ve done the thinking. You’ve analysed it from every angle. You’ve listened to the top productivity podcasts, built out a 12-month plan, maybe even mapped out your budget.

But you’re stuck in flight mode.

You keep procrastinating, getting stuck in thought loops, or avoiding the next step altogether. And under that is a quiet undercurrent of fear... what if it doesn’t work, what if I fail, what if I’m not good enough?

Rather than pushing through and getting nowhere, we’d begin with a tailored Yin sequence and somatic tools selected specifically to help your system feel safer and more regulated. This is how we regulate.

You might begin to notice what your body is holding - tension, urgency, fear. Through awareness, movement, and nervous system work, we begin to release it.

Then, once your body is more settled, we bring in coaching. We explore what you actually want, what action would serve you, what version of success feels most aligned and help you start taking steps toward it. This is how we reclaim your voice, your agency, your next chapter.

Curious to experience it?

I offer weekly online Somatic Yin classes every Thursday evening - they’re a great way to build this work into your routine and start reconnecting with your body in a safe, supported way.

And if you’re ready to release what’s holding you back and finally move forward into the life you’ve been circling, book a free discovery call to explore how we can work together 1:1.

You don’t have to keep doing this alone. Let’s get you back into flow with yourself, your goals, and the life that’s waiting.