What to do if you get triggered by an exercise?

In this chapter, you will find three practices that tend to trigger most people – the practice of being with uncomfortable emotions, and two practices that allow you to feel deeply into part of your somatic ancestral imprint. You can find yourself feeling anger, sadness, shame, fear, or even go numb. All emotions are valid and whatever you are feeling, it’s OK.

If this happens, give yourself time to process your emotions. Pace yourself. Pause when you need to, listening to what your body needs. Take a break, if needed, to feel and be with what came up so you can process and integrate. For some, this might mean a week or a month’s break. Don’t power through. Let the process unfold as it needs to. And if you don’t know how to respect your body’s needs, contact us to find out about witnessing sessions or join the next Ask Chen live event.

Right after these practices, you will find soothing exercises that will help you work through the emotions that arise. Breathing, meditation, and prayer can really support you to move through these emotions and heal.

Be kind to yourself and demonstrate self-compassion.

You might be one of those who can land easily into these exercises and have a great feeling about your past, your ancestral line etc. It’s still recommended to do the soothing exercises right after because they will take you deeper within yourself. For some, the soothing exercises can be triggering because, through breathwork for example, you can release emotions that have been trapped in your body needing to release.