In a world where stress and disconnection from the body are all too common, Emily stands as a guiding light, supporting others on their reclamation journey home through Somatics, Polyvagal Theory, and Intuitive Healing. As a Somatic Wellness Practitioner and Energy Healer, she blends science-based theory, intuition, and ancient spiritual practices, offering a holistic approach to nervous system regulation and trauma healing.
In this exclusive interview, we dive into Emily’s journey, the transformative power of somatics, and the launch of Nourish.Me, a groundbreaking online somatic wellness membership.
Emily Hopkins, Somatic Wellness Practitioner & Energy Healer
Your work is deeply rooted in personal experience. Can you share what led you to somatic healing and energetic modalities?
My journey began from a place of profound anxiety and disconnection. Growing up in poverty, with parents who struggled with addiction, I learned to disconnect early on to protect myself. Running away from the pain for as long as I could: I was the good girl, did well in school, kept busy in relationships that didn’t serve me, worked multiple jobs, survived, and ran away.
It wasn’t until my undergrad I began to experience anxiety and panic attacks. The stress of financially getting myself through post-secondary education, compounded with memories and the reality of the impact of my childhood began to surface. I turned to coping mechanisms outside myself, like binge eating and binge drinking, to mask away the pain I was experiencing.
White knuckling it through my 20s, being faced with an emotionally abusive, long-term relationship, experiencing a sexual assault, and losing my mom to addiction all within one year finally led me to awaken to the deep healing and support I desired and was worthy of.
I started to look at my experiences head on through therapy, integrate spiritual practices into my life like kundalini yoga and pranayama, I started healing my energetic body through shamanic and energy healing; then, when the magic really started to happen I began to connect the two through somatics.
Somatic experiencing and energetic healing have allowed me to reconnect with my body and release deeply held emotional blockages, memories, and stories from my body and nervous system. Through breathwork, movement, and energy work, I found my way back to my authentic truth.
The transformation I experienced within myself was so profound; it ignited something within me, and I knew I had to share it with others.
You blend somatic healing with energetic practices, how do these modalities complement each other?
Somatic healing and energetic healing are deeply interconnected, each addressing different layers of our nervous system, physiology, and energetic field. By integrating both, we create a multidimensional approach to healing that supports the body, mind, and energy system simultaneously.
From a scientific perspective, somatic healing works primarily with the nervous system and interoception of the body’s ability to sense and interpret internal signals. Considering Polyvagal Theory, when we experience stress or trauma, our autonomic nervous system may get stuck in a state of hyperarousal (fight-or-flight) or hypoarousal (freeze, shutdown). This dysregulation can lead to chronic tension, dissociation, and physical symptoms like digestive issues, pain, and fatigue. Somatic practices such as breathwork, movement, and gentle touch help regulate the autonomic nervous system by completing stress response cycles, improving vagal tone or the function of the vagus nerve, and restoring a felt sense of safety in the body.
Energetic healing, on the other hand, focuses on the electromagnetic field surrounding and permeating the body, which has been studied in modalities like Reiki, Bodywork, and Thai Yoga Massage. Research in biofield science suggests that disruptions in this energy field can correspond with emotional and physical imbalances. Techniques like Reiki and Intuitive healing are thought to help restore coherence in the biofield, influencing physiological processes such as heart rate variability, immune function, and the body’s ability to self-regulate, resulting in a felt sense of groundedness and presence.
Additionally, throughout my own healing I’ve been able to get in touch with my intuitive gifts more deeply. We move through energetic healing with clairvoyance and clairsentience, adding another layer to this integrative approach. Clairvoyance, or intuitive seeing, allows me to perceive energetic imbalances, emotional blockages, and stored trauma patterns that may not be immediately accessible through conscious awareness. Clairsentience, or intuitive feeling, enables me to sense and attune to the subtle emotional and physical states of my clients, guiding the healing process in a way that is deeply aligned with their unique energy signature. These intuitive abilities help bring subconscious patterns into awareness, allowing for deeper emotional processing and energetic realignment.
The integration of these approaches is powerful because somatic healing works from the body outward in a bottom-up approach, while energetic healing, including intuitive insights, works from the field inward in a top-down approach. For example, when I work with a client, I may begin with energetic bodywork and intuitive scanning to facilitate a sense of felt safety within the body, regulate the nervous system, and soften areas of physically stored trauma. This primes the nervous system to better respond to somatic practices, allowing for deeper releases. Conversely, after somatic work, energy healing guided by clairvoyance and clairsentience can help integrate shifts, provide insights, and restore balance at a subtle level.
By bridging these approaches, we engage both the biological and energetic aspects of healing helping clients move from dysregulation to a state of greater embodiment, presence, and empowerment.
Your work combines science-backed nervous system support with energetic and somatic healing. Can you share a bit about your background and the training that has shaped your approach?
My approach is deeply rooted in both scientific understanding and holistic healing. I have a B.A. in Psychology from Brock University, which gave me a strong foundation in understanding the mind-body connection, the impacts of trauma on mental and physical health, and attachment theory.
From there, I expanded into somatic and energetic healing modalities to create a more integrative approach. I completed my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training and became a Certified Breathwork Facilitator both of which deepened my understanding of breath, movement, and the body's ability to self-regulate.
My hands-on training includes Thai Yoga Massage and Reiki First & Second Degree, which allow me to support healing through physical touch, acupressure, and marma point stimulation and energy work.
I’ve also pursued trauma-informed training, including a Trauma-Informed Somatic Healing Certification and ongoing studies in Trauma-Informed Myofascial Release and Polyvagal Theory. Additional studies in anatomy and physiology have helped me refine my understanding of functional movement, mechanics, and bodywork.
By combining all of these modalities, I empower my clients to understand how their bodies' unique language, experience nervous system resilience, release stored tension, and reconnect with their body in a deeply transformative way.
What’s your mission and purpose with Nourish Your Soul? How did the name come to you?
Nourish Your Soul was born from my desire to guide people back to themselves to help them feel safe in their bodies, trust their nervous systems, and reconnect with their authenticity. My work is rooted in the belief that true healing happens when we integrate science-backed somatic practices with intuitive and energetic wisdom.
The name Nourish Your Soul came to me in the middle of the night, during a pivotal moment in my personal awakening. It was an intuitive download so clear and powerful that it woke me up. I changed my Instagram handle immediately, and the rest was history. The name embodies everything I offer: deep nourishment on all levels physical, emotional, and energetic. The logo for Nourish Your Soul is half of a female face and half of a male face; both to reflect on the importance of honouring the masculine and feminine within us all, but also to be a safe space for men and women to access healing.
I am passionate about creating spaces where folks feel truly seen, held, and empowered. My work is built on the pillars of trauma-informed care, embodied healing, self-trust, and holistic well-being. Whether through breathwork, somatic movement, energy healing, or community support, my mission is to provide tools that allow people to reclaim their power, regulate their nervous systems, and return home to themselves.
Can you share a little bit more about the values you hold close to your heart and within your practice?
Oh, I love this question. It’s something that’s been top of mind for me lately as I get clearer on what really matters at Nourish Your Soul.
Definitely embodied healing and self-trust. We are committed to helping individuals reconnect with their bodies, cultivate inner awareness, and trust their own healing process.
It’s extremely important we provide compassionate, trauma-informed care; holding space with empathy, respect, and an understanding of each person’s unique healing journey. Folks who’ve experienced trauma can be extremely vulnerable, and it’s important to lead with integrity in this space.
I foster authenticity and community by leading by example through honesty, vulnerability, and cultivating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected.
I commit to offering holistic, integrative well-being by blending somatic practices, breathwork, and energetic healing to support whole-person transformation.
Finally, I stay rooted in curiosity, evolution, and expanding the offerings at Nourish Your Soul to serve others and myself more deeply through lifelong learning and growth.
This year, Nourish Your Soul is expanding online with membership and courses. Can you share more about Nourish.Me, launching in March, and your 8-week course, Embodied Awareness, returning in May? What are the benefits of each?
Moving into the online space allows me to make a deeper impact in a sustainable, ongoing way. I’ve seen firsthand how transformative somatic and nervous system work can be, but one of the biggest challenges most people face is consistency. They leave sessions feeling amazing, but without regular support, it’s easy to slip back into old patterns.
Nourish.Me: The Somatic Wellness Community is designed to change that. It’s a monthly membership where members receive live and recorded somatic breath and body practices, myofascial release techniques, and nervous system regulation tools all in a structured, science-backed way. It also includes quarterly workshops and live Q&A hot seat coaching to deepen the learning experience.
The biggest benefit of this community is ongoing integration when you have access to regular, guided practices and a supportive group, transformation becomes more sustainable. I have some great free resources that allow a preview into the membership, I will make sure those get linked in!
Embodied Awareness: A Journey to Interoception is an 8-week guided course that helps people reconnect with their body’s internal cues like hunger, thirst, tension, emotional, bodily responses, and fatigue.
Interoception is a key component of nervous system regulation and self-trust, yet many of us are disconnected from these signals due to chronic stress or trauma. This course blends somatic breath and movement practices, as well as modules on Polyvagal theory and nervous system science, to help participants rebuild that connection. The first cohort went through in January, and the second round launches this May.
Together, these offerings bridge the gap between in-person and online healing. The membership provides long-term consistency, while the course offers a deep dive into healing. Both are rooted in tangible somatic skills, nervous system education, and a supportive community so that healing doesn’t just happen in a single session, but becomes a way of life.
Being a spiritual solopreneur can be both rewarding and challenging. How do you maintain a healthy balance?
It’s definitely a journey! I prioritize my own somatic and energetic practices, movement, breathwork, receiving energetic work and massage regularly, and spending time in nature with my dog Kobe. I value making time for my soul tribe, connecting with friends, making time for self-care, and dropping into restful practices.
One thing I’ve learned is that I can’t pour from an empty cup. Rest, nourishment, and honoring my own nervous system are just as important as supporting others. I can only hold the space for others that I have within. Nourishing my body from the inside out with nutritious meals and supplements and staying on top of my hydration. It’s about practicing what I preach deeply, listening to my body, and honouring its needs before it asks me to. Don’t get me wrong; sometimes I fall off track because I am human, but keeping my values in the forefront helps get me back much quicker than it ever would have in the past. We have to celebrate those wins!
I allow spaciousness in my schedule for rest and recharge time, creativity and planning time, client and teaching days, and what I call ‘personal admin time’, where I can get my own needs met, appointments, errands, cleaning, all that fun stuff! It’s important to carve out time in each area so I can feel rested and present for my clients, while still leaving space and time to get what I need done to feel prepared.
I’ve learned to stay on top of caring for my body with regular movement and low-impact strength workouts, regular recovery work like stretching and Myofascial release, and leaning on my trusted practitioners for massage and energetic healing. Keeping these sessions in my schedule regularly allows my nervous system to feel more supported and overall more comfortable in my body.
Making time for fun, play, creative adventures, and self-care encourages more flow and my inner child to fly freely. This allows me to feel so much more grounded, present, and expanded.
Overall, I do my best to move from a place of authenticity both in my personal life and in my business keeping my values close to heart.
For those just starting their journey, what’s one simple practice they can try today?
I’m going to share two practices one for when folks are feeling upregulated and need to discharge extra energy, and one for when we’re downregulated and need to call in energy naturally.
If you’re feeling upregulated (stressed, anxious, wired) and you need to move some of that energy, try Somatic Shaking.
I invite you to do it with me. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and start bouncing gently through your knees. Let your arms, hands, head, feet, legs, hips, and shoulders shake freely, allowing the movement to ripple through your body. You can even make a sound humming, sighing, or shaking out your voice. This helps release excess energy, cortisol, and adrenaline from the nervous system and brings a sense of groundedness.
After 30 seconds- 3 minutes of shaking, come into a proud mountain pose, a seat, or a place or rest to tune in and notice the aliveness within. Notice any emotion rising. Allowing yourself to fully be a witness as you scan your body and take some long cleansing breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Perhaps bringing your hands to any place on your body that may appreciate the support. Noticing how you feel, witnessing any emotion with non-judgment.
The second practice I want to share is that when you’re feeling downregulated (tired, sluggish, disconnected), you want to call in energy with a faster pace of breathing.
Let’s do it together. Notice your feet on the ground, the surface beneath you. Bring the shoulders away from your ears and consciously release your jaw. Inhale deeply through the nose, filling up your lower belly, sides of your belly, and chest. Hold for a moment at the top, then exhale with an audible sigh through your mouth, softening your shoulders to start.
Then breathing in and out through your mouth with slightly pursed lips, inhale twice quickly and a longer exhale with a pace that feels good to you. Perhaps starting slower to begin and quickening the pace. You can do this for 30 seconds to start to see how this feels for your body. Take a pause to notice how you feel between and after the breaths, scanning your body for subtle shifts. Perhaps you try this for 2 minutes and then see how you feel. When you complete, you can end the same way you started with a cleansing audible exhalation (or a few). Stay conscious of dizziness and always listen to your body during these types of practices to ensure you stay present and embodied in your experience.
What’s one message you’d love people to take away from this conversation?
Healing is possible, and you are not broken. Your nervous system is not working against you; it’s doing its best to protect you. You are powerful within, and sometimes we forget that, or life experiences cause us to forget it.
With the right tools and support, you can rewire old patterns, deepen self-trust, and return to a state of ease. You don’t have to do it alone, and you don’t have to wait until you feel “ready.” Start where you are, even if that means just taking one deep breath right now. You are capable and worthy of this healing.
I am confident this is exactly what you've been looking for.
Experience work with Emily firsthand: book 1-1 Somatic or Energetic Bodywork Healing, join Nourish.Me: The Somatic Wellness Community online and take a peek inside Nourish.Me through 5 Days of Somatics or hop on the Cohort II waiting list for Embodied Awareness: A Journey To Interoception happening in May.
In-person sessions in Kawartha Lakes and online
Join 5 Days of Somatics and get special Access to Nourish.Me or hop on the waiting list for Embodied Awareness
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