Embracing Wholeness: My Path to Embodied Living
We live in a society that prioritizes productivity and living in the mind over being present and connected to ourselves, others and nature.
The heart of somatic wellness is embodiment.
My education and lived experience are the foundation of what led to me offering somatic wellness coaching, a modality that facilitates returning to the body and embracing presence. I resonate with Karden Rabin’s definition:
“Embodiment: verb // The act of expanding one’s self awareness to include the felt experience of the body, such as sensory, sensational, emotional and physical experiences, and incorporating that information into one’s overall conception and conduct of themselves, their identity, beliefs, behaviors, and ways of being.//” (Source: Trauma Research Foundation)
Although coaching is typically future focused, setting a goal and taking steps towards it, this can be done experientially while connecting to the present moment. I align with the view we are bio-individual, one size does not fit all, which is why I choose to work with clients 1:1 rather than in groups, giving personalized attention to their individual needs and goals. Bringing a deep understanding of the body from my experience in massage therapy, yoga and meditation; I guide my clients toward reconnection with themselves. With an emphasis on presence, alignment, authenticity and capacity - somatic wellness coaching can provide the framework for transformation.
When working with clients, we begin by slowing down, bringing in curiosity, exploring and noticing. I invite clients during our sessions and between sessions, to experiment with various types of inquiry: body oriented (somatic) practices, movement, rest, nourishment and play. As we begin to grow our capacity, we in turn create more space to respond to what life brings our way.
Simply put, this work is about remembering and returning to our wholeness. As we step into presence and living an embodied life, our connection with ourselves transforms and ripples out into the world with everyone we connect with (including nature).
In 2011, I first learned what it was like to slow down when I took a trip to Hawaii.
It was my first real vacation from corporate life. I experienced island time and how very different it was from the hustle and bustle of the hamster wheel I was living in. I spent time at the beach, took my first surfing lesson, visited the local farmers market, went sky diving, got my second tattoo and enjoyed a yoga class. That trip is what began a big shift in how I wanted to live my life…
I took that trip after seven years of trying to force my body to change. After countless doctor appointments, tests, procedures and medications, I finally surrendered to living in my body instead of trying to control it. It was a challenging journey that taught me about the connection between the body, mind and spirit. During that journey, I began receiving massage therapy and acupuncture, started a gentle and restorative yoga practice, and began working with a Marriage and Family Therapist.
I had been working in Human Resources for ten years, when I finally decided to leave the field because the work no longer aligned with what I wanted to do in this lifetime. I relocated to Asheville (NC) to attend massage therapy school and simultaneously did my first (200 hour) yoga teacher training. I was beginning to explore meditation and various forms of asana while learning the amazing science and art of massage and bodywork. I dove into energy work and completed two levels of reiki training. I spent more time in nature, hiking and finding waterfalls in the beautiful blue ridge mountains.
When I graduated massage school, I immersed myself in continuing education to learn myofascial release, esalen massage and trigger point therapy. I attended workshops and immersions in restorative and yin yoga. I traveled to Big Sur, California to attend week long massage and yoga workshops at the amazing Esalen Institute. I participated in my first ten day silent meditation (vipassana) retreat in Georgia.
Then I traveled to Thailand and Bali for a cultural immersion and to learn the art of Thai massage. After this adventure of a lifetime, where I steeped myself in the practice of yoga and Thai massage, completed my second ten day silent meditation retreat at a Buddhist monastery and spent more time in nature than I had in many decades; I emerged as a different person (physically, mentally and spiritually).
After all of the hands on education and traveling, I decided to relocate from North Carolina to the Bay Area in California. While working as a massage therapist in Silicon Valley, I serendipitously landed in a holistic psychology masters degree program with the aim of becoming a psychotherapist. That journey was also life changing in so many ways, including giving birth to my two children.
Today, I have a ton of respect for the therapy profession. As a graduate student I fell in love with somatic (body based) psychotherapy and it had a lasting impact on me. As a result, I personally worked with a somatic therapist (Hakomi) and somatic practitioner (Somatic Experiencing). I was inspired to continue my yoga teacher training (300 hour program) and did a deep dive into yoga for trauma recovery. I also explored and experienced TRE (tension & trauma releasing exercises), feldenkrais movement practices, 5 rhythms dance and sound healing along my embodiment journey.
Mental health is vitally important, as is physical health and spiritual health. These are intricately linked and form the basis of holistic wellness. I understand we are more than the labels placed upon us and also acknowledge the labels have their place in today’s society. However, I deeply believe we are not broken, we are whole and I am on a mission to help people remember this.
Towards the end of my graduate program, I was introduced to coaching and experienced transformation in my own life by working with a coach. I was inspired to learn more about the field, so I immersed myself into various coaching certification programs; from life and health coaching, to parent coaching to sex, intimacy and relationship coaching.
In every step of this journey, I've discovered that the truest path to wellness is not just to be healed, but to feel whole. Let's embrace our wholeness, together.
Jodi Bippus, MA, LMT, Embodiment Coach
Blissful Connection, LLC
Please note, while our coaching is transformative, it is not therapy. We do not assess, diagnose, or treat mental health disorders. Our services are designed to complement your journey towards holistic wellness, not replace therapeutic interventions.
