Somatic Tools for Nervous System Regulation + Healing
These videos were a collective effort between Aziza Bisanz and Deema Dabis, with the support of Layla K. Feghali. They were inspired by the people in Beirut after the Beirut Explosion this past August and are for anyone in the world experiencing anxiety, a sense of disconnection, deep sadness or who wants to practice presence and grounding. These videos are in English with subtitles in Arabic. We hope you find them to be supportive.
They could not have been made were it not for the support (that came in various ways) from the following: Susan Baghdadi, Raghda Butros, Rula Hiyari, Majd Manaa, Mahey Gheis, Tala Ascender, Sophie Jubeh, Doha Abu-Summaqah, Agnes Artoonian, Tara Tabassi, and Sia Hanna.
intro video…
This video offers an introduction to some basics about shock trauma and the somatic perspective on how to work with feelings and sensations in the body that may arise after a traumatic event. This is a basic and general overview that was created for people in Beirut after the Beirut explosion but will likely be useful for anyone who has experienced a high impact traumatic event (or on-going events like this), who is experiencing feeling disconnected or ungrounded or who just wants to practice more presence and grounding. This video by no means covers all of the experiences one might have after a traumatic event or on-going traumatic events nor all of the available approaches for supporting different individuals healing.
breathing + containment exercise:
This exercise may be useful if you're experiencing a sense of stuckness, stress, tension in your body, constriction in your breathing or a sense of disconnection from your own body or other people and invites connection and grounding in the body and breath. **Please note: Some people may find that closing their eyes during an exercise like this feels uncomfortable or even causes a bit of stress or panic and others may find closing their eyes feels calming and pleasurable. Please notice what feels best for you today and do open your eyes and find pleasant or neutral things to focus on in your space as you are doing the exercise.
orienting + grounding:
This video may be particularly supportive in helping folks re-orient to the ground, and reconnect with the map of the body after a traumatic event like an explosion and may also be supportive for anyone looking to find deeper connection with their body and the land.
partner exercise:
These exercises may be supportive if you are feeling a sense of disconnection from other people or your own body, stress, panic or are moving through sadness or grief. Finding social engagement, touch and connection with loved ones when possible during these times can be supportive in moving through big emotional states and tension in the body and finding a sense of connection and ease together.
tension exercise:
This exercise can be useful in working with tension in the body that may be accompanied by strong emotional states and may be supportive in gently moving with tension and finding places of ease in the body. We invite you to do this exercise anytime you feel emotional stress or physical tension.
**Please note: Some people may find that closing their eyes during an exercise like this feels uncomfortable or even causes a bit of stress or panic and others may find closing their eyes feels calming and pleasurable. Please notice what feels best for you today and do open your eyes and find pleasant or neutral things to focus on in your space as you are doing the exercise.