Transforming Stress into Wellness: Chantal Donnelly on the Mind-Body Connection and Healing
Welcome to the ANEW Body Insight podcast, where we explore the profound connection between mind and body to help you achieve optimal health. In this episode, Dr. Supatra Tovar, a clinical psychologist and registered dietitian, sits down with Chantal Donnelly, an experienced physical therapist and author of the Amazon bestselling book Settled: How to Find Calm in a Stress Inducing World. Together, they dive into Chantal’s journey from actress to physical therapist, her discovery of the mind-body connection, and how it transformed her approach to healing.
Chantal Donnelly’s journey is a testament to the power of understanding the mind-body connection. Originally an actress, she experienced the physical manifestations of stress through jaw pain and other health issues. Realizing the deep link between emotional well-being and physical health, Chantal pursued a degree in psychology from Occidental College, followed by a Master’s in Physical Therapy from Mount Saint Mary’s College. Her personal experience with stress, coupled with her academic background, led her to create a holistic approach that combines traditional physical therapy with innovative mind-body practices. This approach allows her to address not just the symptoms but the root causes of chronic pain, stress, and other health issues.
A key theme of this episode is how stress affects the body through the nervous system. Chantal explains that chronic stress leads to inflammation, exacerbating conditions like chronic pain, type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and even cognitive issues such as dementia. She emphasizes the importance of "stress fluency"—understanding the biological processes of stress to better manage its effects on the body. Additionally, Chantal introduces the concept of "body fluency," which is the ability to communicate with your body through mindful movement, breathing exercises, and nervous system regulation. By mastering these practices, individuals can effectively transition from fight-or-flight mode to a state of calm, promoting overall health and resilience.
Chantal shares valuable insights on how physical therapy can play a crucial role in managing stress. She discusses how traditional physical therapy can fall short if it doesn’t address the underlying stress factors contributing to chronic pain. By integrating stress management techniques into her practice, Chantal offers a comprehensive approach to healing, emphasizing the importance of moving fluidly between states of alertness and calm, which is key to building resilience and maintaining overall health.
Throughout the episode, Chantal provides practical tools for managing stress and improving body fluency. These include:
Breathing Exercises: Techniques to calm the nervous system and reduce stress.
Mindful Movement: Gentle practices accessible to those with chronic pain.
Jaw Release Techniques: Relaxing the jaw to promote overall calmness.
Alternating Bilateral Stimulation: Techniques like the butterfly hug to calm the brain’s fear center.
These tools help listeners manage stress more effectively, improve their physical health, and enhance their overall well-being.
Chantal’s personal struggles with stress, insomnia, and perimenopause have significantly influenced her approach to therapy. She shares how these challenges have made her more empathetic and effective as a therapist. Chantal also discusses how hormonal changes during perimenopause and Menopause impact stress and Sleep, and the steps she has taken to address these issues in her own life. Her journey underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the complex interplay between stress, hormones, and overall health.
In this episode, Chantal also shares the inspiration behind her bestselling book, Settled. Initially, she had no plans to write a book, but after seeing the profound impact of her stress management techniques on her clients, she felt compelled to share her knowledge with a broader audience. Settled offers readers a comprehensive guide to managing stress and improving health through practical tools such as breathing, movement, eating, stretching, and mindfulness. It is designed to help readers build resilience, manage stress, and live healthier, more balanced lives.
Listeners who want to learn more about Chantal Donnelly’s work or are interested in one-on-one consultations or workshops can visit her website at BodyInsight.com. Chantal offers both in-person and online workshops, guiding participants through her book and teaching them how to apply these stress management techniques in their daily lives. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @bodyinsightinc for more tips and insights.
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