Mommy Finger, Baby Finger

How Pretty Princess Pilates, Somatic Healing, and Breathwork Helped Me

“Did you lose weight?” That’s what my friends notice first. And yeah, I do feel lighter—but not so much in my jeans. For me, it’s more like… less bloated, more breathing room. I feel lighter in my belly, in my breath, in how I carry myself.

But this journey didn’t start with a diet. It started with a decision:
I wanted to heal from the inside out. You see, before I even rolled out a yoga mat, my therapist would ask during EMDR sessions, “Where do you feel it in your body?” (shout-out to my therapist for this)

It made me realize trauma wasn’t just in my mind—it was lodged deep in my body. As Bessel van der Kolk explains in The Body Keeps the Score, trauma is stored in the body’s muscles, tissues, and nervous system—not just in memories. And that’s kind of how it all took off for me. I started small and slow—with somatic movement, then Pilates, grounding, and mobility and flexibility. For the first time in a long time, I started feeling safe in my body again.

The Early Days: Feeling It All

Somatic healing felt… emotional. And honestly? A little awkward at first. There I was, tuning into sensations, doing gentle movements, breathing through tension—and suddenly, tears would well up or memories bubble to the surface. My body held so much more than I realized. But I stuck with it because I knew I didn’t want to carry that trauma anymore. I wanted to feel. Then release.

Pilates & The Power of Strength

After a pinched nerve left me struggling—even unable to lift my right arm—I was frustrated and feeling weak. But that injury forced me to stop pushing and finally start listening to my body. I made a choice: to love where I was at and focus on building strength from there. I was so weak at first that I had to do senior exercises (yes, senior exercises) on YouTube and physical therapy. That’s just where my body was.

Then came Pilates. Whew. Even with just 3–5 lb. weights, I was sweating, shaking, and realizing how disconnected I’d become from my body. It wasn’t about how heavy the weights were, it was about how present I had to be. I had to feel my core. Engage muscles I’d neglected. Slow down enough to notice where I was not breathing, or where it hurt. These days, I call it Pretty Princess Pilates. Yep. Because it makes me feel soft, feminine, grounded—like I’m in my soft girl era. Lately, I’ve added in some calisthenics too—bodyweight moves that make me feel strong in a whole new way. It’s all part of building a body that feels capable, not just cute.

Redefining Strength (aka: soft and still strong)

As I kept showing up for myself, I added in mobility and flexibility exercises. I wanted to wake up and not feel stiff or tight or creaky. I wanted to move with ease. And honestly? I got more flexible at 33 than I ever was in my 20s. My kid can’t even touch her toes, and I could! It shocked me. I’m still learning this part, but here’s what I’m starting to understand: when you really notice how your body feels during movement—it actually makes your workouts better. The mind-body connection is real.

Reclaiming My Feminine Energy

And then came the hips. One day I found myself in the living room doing hip circles and little pelvic tilts and was like… wait, is this allowed? It felt playful. A little sexy. Kind of silly. But it also felt powerful. Because here’s the thing: so much of our trauma as women gets stored in our hips. Moving them is not just physical—it’s spiritual. And the more I moved that energy, the more I felt like myself again. Like a woman. And as I moved, I thought back to the little girl who once wanted to be a ballerina but was told she was too fat to be that. Now, I dance for her.

The Everyday Practices That Anchor Me

It’s not just Pilates or somatic healing that changed me—it’s the little rituals that ground me. Some days I pause mid-chaos and just breathe—reminding my nervous system: “You’re safe.” One thing I picked up from my mom is grounding my feet on the grass, really feeling that solid connection. I even stretch my toes apart like I’m waking up every little part of me. And somewhere along the way, I realized strength wasn’t enough. My body needed love. So, I started massaging myself with oils—arms, feet, neck, scalp—just showing myself a little extra kindness.

Why I Move (And Why I Keep Going)

Losing my grandmother recently hit me hard. She was in her 80s, full of love and laughter, but she didn’t move much. Watching her age made me realize I want something different. I want to be the kind of woman who’s dancing in her kitchen at 70, running marathons in my 80s. That old woman walking around the neighborhood with cute handheld weights, matching sets, a little gloss on, and my girlfriends right beside me. Aging with energy.

Most importantly, I want my daughter to see that movement is necessary, that caring for your body is love, not punishment. I’m chasing strength, energy, and joy. And if I get some nice arms and a booty along the way? Well, I’m not mad about that either.

From my healing journey to yours! Thank you for being here and sharing this space with me.

Until next time,
Jeannette | @_mujerdepalabras