Celinakeyswellness

04/06/2026

I swear, the universe really knows how to motivate me. I've been working on a series about movement and the nervous system, and for the last two weeks, I've been scheduled to talk about proprioception. I've also been struggling with stress and avoidance, leaving my own mind and body disconnected. Like I always say, the body keeps the score. I'll spare you the pictures, but today my body is walking proof of what can happen when our mind and body are disconnected.
So, what is proprioception? Proprioception is the brain's awareness of where the body is in space and time. It's not shocking that trauma would cause impairment in our brain's capacity for proprioception, because in a traumatic experience, the brain literally disconnects from the body. It would make sense that for the brain to know where the body is, it would need to be connected.
Now, let's talk about last night and the universe's personal accountability check. As my evening was winding down, I could feel my own body disconnecting. I had spent the day avoiding feelings, and my body was telling me it was over it. My energy was draining, and I could feel the significant amount of effort it was taking me to continue my evening chores. The last thing I needed to do before I let my body have the rest it needed was to take the dogs out. It's in this moment that I honestly couldn't tell you what happened. I was looking at a streetlight one minute, and the next minute I was somewhere on the ground, crying for help because my body was in so much pain I couldn't move. In my disconnected state, I had tripped (who knows on what), and fell on a garden fence that has been in the same place for two years. When I finally got myself together enough to get in the house, I was cursing myself, because I knew my body was reminding me of what I needed to do, instead of what I was avoiding doing. I say all the time, the body keeps the score, and y'all, today, my body won the battle, and I'm humbly surrendering. I've spent this morning completing this post (lol), and I have now completed several of the other things I was avoiding over the weekend. The lesson: Do what you feel so that your body and mind can stay connected, and your body doesn't try to kill you because you didn't 🤣🤣🤣. Here's a simple daily practice you can do to promote proprioception and mind/body connection for yourself.

03/26/2026

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03/23/2026

Check back in tomorrow for more on Movement and the Nervous System

03/17/2026

Real talk. I had an entire plan for today that included finishing out my social media posts for the week. When I woke up today, it was clear that my body had a few different ideas. I dragged my heavy and tense body out of bed wondering how in the world I was going to accomplish anything today.
As I tried to find my motivation, I paused to check in with my body. I stretched and opened my heart, and as I began to take a deep breath...I remembered. Yesterday, I felt triggered. My nervous system sent me a warning. I felt it. And I ignored it.
I spent the day silently hoping it would go away, focusing on the next thing I needed to do, the next decision I needed to make, while holding on tight and repeating an incomplete cycle from the past. Today, my body told me so.
I'm not going to lie. For a moment, a part of me wanted to try and forge ahead, continuing the pattern. But, I knew better. And when I remembered that, I didn't feel shame. I felt trust. I did know better. So I stayed. Stayed with the emotion the trigger brought up. Stayed with myself. Stayed in the present and moved through it, gaining clarity and understanding. Then I was able to develop a plan to complete that cycle, and now, here I am, moving on to the next thing :)
The body really does keep the score. When we don't complete a stress response cycle, our bodies will tell us. If we pause to listen, we can complete these cycles. When we complete these incomplete cycles, we return balance. We can rest, restore, and reset. Healing happens in the pause. When we rush past or ignore our feelings, or rush through our healing, the body will continue to remind us.
Are you finding yourself unmotivated? Heavy? Groggy or slow? Take time to pause and check in with your own body. Plant your feet on the ground. Open your heart and take a breath. Then ask yourself what cycle or cycles from yesterday do you still need to complete? What can you to do to complete them? Make a plan. Follow through. Be gentle. Be slow. Healing happens in the pause ❤️

03/16/2026

Movement and the Threat Cycle.
▶▶▶ When a threat is perceived by the body, the Sympathetic Nervous System activates. This causes a surge of stress hormones as it prepares the body for action. The heart rate increases, muscles tense, and breathing changes. The brain decides on an act and the body either moves towards the threat (fight) or moves away (flee). Once the action has happened, the stress response cycle is completed. If we aren't able to move, or act, that mobilized energy gets trapped inside of us. Movement can help our bodies complete cycles trapped from the past. Even simple movements, like walking, stretching, or shaking, can signal to the body action happened, it is over, we survived, and we are safe. In the 2 videos below I demonstrate 2 movements you can use to complete stress cycles. The low lunge can help our bodies complete a flee response, or a need to run, or "go" somewhere. The shaking forward fold can be used to discharge or release any excess or stuck energy from any overwhelming experience. You can use this to complete a current cycle, or one from the past. Stay tuned for more on Movement and the nervous system for Moving on Mondays!

03/12/2026

Thursday's Thought of the Day:
"If you aren't running from a bear (or a tiger), there is literally no reason whatsoever for you to be in a rush. Slow down and be here."

03/11/2026

Spring is right around the corner, and here in Georgia, one of my favorite w**ds are popping up everywhere! Cleavers, aka Bedstraw, or "sticky w**d," are known for their diuretic properties that help detox the body and cleanse our lymphatic system. These sticky and leggy plant typically grows in moist soil along the borders of woods. I nearly always find them next to Chickw**d and/or Henbit Deadnettle (w**ds also with lots of benefits!). Cleavers are best used fresh, internally or externally, by washing them and placing them in a jar of cool water for 12-24 hours. Strain the water, add some honey, and enjoy a refreshing glass of wellness today! Check out CelinaKeysWellness.com to order fresh cleaver tea or juice for your health and wellness today! Thank you to Alternative Nature Online for providing the pictures of cleavers for this post

Photo Credit: Alternative Nature Online (altnature.com)

03/11/2026

03/10/2026

Real Talk. If you are a therapist right now, it probably feels like the whole world is on fire. It kind of is. Regulating your own nervous system through collective trauma is no easy feat.
I have found myself overwhelmed with the weight of the world these last few weeks. We are all OVERWHELMED. Taking care of myself, taking care of my family, taking care of my clients, all while trying to survive what feels like the collapse of everything we know....it can be a little exhausting. Am I right???
I'm finding small ways to regulate, tiny spaces to stay connected, and micro moments to breathe. In the video below, I demonstrate 3 different techniques you can try yourself during or between sessions for your own nervous system
👣 Take a short walk outside between sessions. Stretch your body, look up to the sky, let the sun shine on your face, and soak up the light for 3 minutes before going to your next session
👣 While you are in session, or between sessions, gently tap using the "Karate Chop," by using two fingers on one hand to tap the fleshy outer edge of the other hand, below the pinky finger, OR bring your hand to your chest, or breast bone, and either gently ta, or just hold it there for soothing and regulating
👣 While you are in session, or between session, place your feet firmly on the ground. Straighten your spine by imagining a string tied to your breast plate being pulled up to lift the chest. Take a breath in through your nose, and gently out through your mouth
Any or all of these techniques can aid you in staying grounded and connected to yourself, so that you can be fully present and available for your clients and family during really difficult and stressful times. Stay regulated ❤️

03/10/2026

Staying grounded and connected for your clients when you are also carrying the weight of the world can be realy difficult. Join me as I demonstrate a few techniques you can try yourself to ground and regulate during and between sessions with your clients.

03/09/2026

Moving on Monday! This week I am starting a 6 week series, Movement and the Nervous System.
Let's start with when and how does regulation begin. In utero.
While we are in our mom's belly, our nervous system is regulated by:
➡️Mom's heartbeat
➡️ Mom's breath
➡️ The cadence of mom's walk
➡️ The rise and fall of amniotic fluid
You see, MOVEMENT regulates our nervous system. Tempo, rhythm, and oscillation. We experience safety from steady and patterned movements. Without movement, we are not safe, we are not regulated, we are not connected.
When baby's are born, mom's continue to regulate the baby by holding, rocking, by singing and being present. When babies are old enough to begin moving independently, they can begin regulating their own nervous systems with their own bodies. As children grow up with safety, they will ebb and flow from coregulating to self-regulating.
Think about this. If our bodies need movement to regulate, what impact do systems that require us to be still and be silent have on our nervous systems and development (ie school, work, etc)?
Practice moving and regulating your own nervous system today by sitting in a chair with your feet on the ground and gently rocking your body from side to side. Try this for a few minutes and notice if you can feel your own nervous system soothing, or regulating?