Letting life
flow through you.
Somatic therapy for those who feel stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed — and are longing to feel more alive and create real, lasting change beyond talking and analysis.
The body and its structure are not solid — they are ever-changing. When we change the sensations in the body, we change the state of our mind; we change our reality.
Somatic Therapist & Yoga Teacher
A lifelong student of the human experience.
My work is rooted in a deep curiosity about the connection between body and mind. I'm continually amazed by how the body holds our stories — how it remembers, protects, and communicates through sensations, tension, and movement.
There was a time when I found it difficult to feel safe in new environments. I often held myself back, struggled to express what I felt, and found it hard to take up space. Even when I had something to say, I would hesitate.
Through somatic work, this began to change. By learning to listen to my body — to recognize sensations, name them, and allow them to move — I experienced a profound shift. What once felt overwhelming became something I could stay with. What once felt stuck began to transform.
This work has brought me a deeper connection to my body, more clarity around my emotions and needs, more freedom and ease in self-expression, and a sense of aliveness.
Now, I support others in reconnecting with their bodies, building safety from within, and creating lasting change — not just through understanding, but through direct experience.
- MA in Psychology
- Certified Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System Facilitator
- Certified Body-Oriented Therapist
- Certified Myofascial Energetic Release Practitioner
- Certified Yoga Teacher
- 10+ years of experience in holistic mental health support
This work is for you if…
You don't have to know what you need yet. We'll find it out together.
One-on-one sessions
Somatic Healing & Embodied Coaching
This extended session allows us to go deeper into what is present for you — physically, emotionally, and mentally. We take time to gently explore patterns held in the body, understand what they are protecting, and support the release of what is no longer needed. This format creates space not only for insight, but for real transformation on a nervous system level.
Depending on your needs and the natural flow of the session, we may draw on breathwork, bodywork, movement, and coaching — working on a massage table, seated on chairs or meditation cushions, or exploring standing movements and postures.
Especially supportive if you:
- Feel stuck in recurring patterns
- Are ready for real, lasting change
- Want to explore how your body, emotions, and mind are connected
- Value having enough time and space to fully process and integrate
Myofascial Energetic Release
These sessions are primarily hands-on and take place on a massage table — a powerful entry point if you're carrying a lot of physical tension, stress, or emotional load and want to begin with direct, body-based work. Through myofascial release, we work with the body's connective tissue to release tension, restore balance, and create more space and ease. Many clients begin here, and later feel ready to explore deeper work through longer sessions.
Especially supportive for:
- Chronic neck and shoulder tension
- Back pain and stiffness
- Jaw tension and clenching
- Hip and pelvic tightness
- Postural imbalances and restricted mobility
Symphony of the Cells & Myofascial Release
This session combines massage therapy and follows the Symphony of the Cells protocol — a specific sequence of essential oils applied along the spine and on the feet, chosen to support whichever body system needs it most: digestive, lymphatic, nervous, immune, or another, depending on what you need in the moment. It takes place on a massage table, working through touch and the sense of smell to offer a slow, nourishing way to relax, regulate, and come back into balance, inviting deep rest and integration.
Especially supportive if you:
- Feel overwhelmed or depleted
- Want to reconnect with your body through both touch and scent
- Are looking for aromatherapy support tailored to a specific system — digestive, lymphatic, nervous, immune, or another
- Are going through a stressful period and want extra support for your nervous system
- Want a nurturing space to simply receive, without needing to do anything
Yoga Teacher Mentorship
Designed for yoga teachers and teachers in training looking for guidance and deeper embodiment in their practice and teaching. Alongside sharing my experience as a yogi of over 20 years and more than 10 years of teaching, I integrate somatic tools to help you work with what may be holding you back — such as self-doubt, lack of confidence, or feeling disconnected while teaching. Sessions may include practical guidance on sequencing, hands-on adjustments, and holding space, as well as somatic practices to release tension and deepen integration.
Especially supportive if you:
- Are new to teaching, or teaching but still finding your confidence
- Feel self-doubt or find it hard to fully show up while you teach
- Are looking for practical tools — sequencing, adjustments, holding space
- Want to work on your own sense of presence, not only your teaching skills
- Are ready to trust your own voice and teaching style more fully
Wherever you are, we start there.
Regardless of the format, each session is tailored to meet you exactly where you are.
Together, we slow down and begin to listen to what is happening in your body — through sensations and breath. Instead of only talking about your experiences, we include the body, where many of our patterns and emotions are held.
Many of the ways we respond today were once intelligent protective strategies. In our work, we gently acknowledge these patterns and create space for something new to emerge.
By working with the body, we can begin to release what is no longer needed and reconnect with a sense of safety, presence, and aliveness.
"I had some awareness of my challenges, but this work revealed how deeply they were held in my body. It has been profoundly transformative — I've gained emotional regulation, self-awareness, and a deeper sense of self-respect. I felt completely safe, even in my most vulnerable moments."
— CatharinaGuided by your needs, unfolding organically.
Depending on the session's format, we may work lying on a massage table, sitting on a chair or meditation cushion, or through gentle movement and standing practices. Sessions may include movement, breathwork, touch, sound expression, and compassionate inquiry. Emotional release may be a part of the session, but it's never a goal. At times I include elements of embodied coaching to support clarity, direction, and integration in your daily life.
We meet at a calm, private space in The Hague. You will receive the exact address and details after booking. Sessions typically last 75–120 minutes depending on the format you choose.
Sessions are a space to explore at your own pace, with no pressure to perform, fix, or "get it right."
The approaches behind the work.
Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release
Utilizing breath as a powerful tool, we work together to release stored tension and restore natural, healthy breathing patterns — encouraging emotional release and promoting physical and mental well-being.
biodynamicbreath.com →Body-Oriented Therapy — Bodynamic
This approach integrates developmental psychology and body awareness, helping you understand how past experiences are held in your body and how they influence your current behavior.
bodynamic.com →Myofascial Energetic Release (MER)
Through this technique, we address physical and emotional tension stored in the fascia — the connective tissue that permeates your body — allowing for freedom of movement and relief.
myofascialtrainings.com →Healing happens in community, too.
Somatic Healing Workshops
Group experiences for connection, resilience, and inner support
These workshops are guided somatic experiences that bring together movement, breathwork, touch, and body-based awareness to support emotional well-being and nervous system regulation.
Each session explores themes that many of us encounter in times of challenge or transition — such as emotional regulation, boundaries, grief, inner conflict, self-trust, and finding a sense of grounding and belonging.
Through a combination of movement, breath, self-touch, and gentle inquiry, participants are supported in reconnecting with their bodies, processing experiences, and accessing their own inner resources.
These workshops were originally created to support displaced individuals navigating the impact of war and living away from their home country. At the same time, the work itself is universal — offering support to anyone moving through uncertainty, change, or emotional intensity.
Beyond the practices themselves, these spaces often grow into something more: a sense of connection, shared humanity, and community. For many, it becomes a place to slow down, feel, and reconnect — both with themselves and with others.
I offer these workshops in collaboration with non-profit organizations and am open to sharing this work with a wide range of communities, groups, and organizations.
Yoga & Movement Classes
Yoga is the art of meeting yourself in the present moment — both on and off the mat, through curiosity, self-compassion, and attentive presence.
Not from the need to fix or improve anything, but through curiosity, self-compassion, and attentive presence. I'm deeply fascinated by the connection between body and mind, and by the many ways movement can influence how we feel, relate, and experience ourselves.
In my classes, I aim to create a space where structure and exploration can coexist — offering guidance while also inviting you to listen to your own body and discover what feels true for you. Alongside my background in yoga, movement, psychology, and somatic healing, I integrate elements of breath, body awareness, and nervous system regulation into my teaching.
Whether the class is dynamic or restorative, what matters most to me is creating an experience that supports presence, connection, and a deeper sense of aliveness.
Current schedule — classes in the studios in The Hague
- Thursday, 12:30–13:15 — Pilates at Balanzs
- Sunday, 9:15–10:15 — Pilates at Balanzs
- Sunday, 10:45–12:00 — Yin Yoga at Balanzs
Trauma sensitive yoga for displaced Ukrainians
- Tuesday, 20:00–21:30 — Rotterdam @Svitloproject
- Wednesday, 20:00–21:30 — The Hague @Svitloproject
- Thursday, 20:00–21:30 — Delft @Svitloproject
Yin Yoga Meets Bodywork
A deeply restorative experience of touch, presence, and embodiment.
Yin Yoga Meets Bodywork is a collaboration between me and my dear friend Kaja Kusnirova — created from a shared desire to make the healing power of mindful touch more accessible in a group setting.
During the practice, yin poses are held for several minutes, inviting the body to soften and open. At the same time, the mind often becomes busy — planning, analyzing, or drifting away from the present moment. Through conscious and supportive touch, we help you stay connected to your body and deepen your experience within each pose. We intend to create a space where you feel held, supported, and safe enough to soften into what is present.
This combination of yin yoga, embodiment, and bodywork can support deep relaxation, nervous system regulation, emotional release, and a stronger sense of connection to yourself.
More than anything, these group sessions are an invitation to slow down, receive, and reconnect — with yourself and with the experience of being gently supported by others.
Each journey is unique, yet many arrive with similar feelings.
Disconnection, tension, uncertainty — and leave with a deeper sense of presence, safety, and ease.
Good to know before you begin
Each session is guided by what is present for you in the moment. We move at your pace, gently exploring sensations, emotions, and patterns that show up in your body. There is no pressure to do anything "right." The focus is on creating a safe space where you can reconnect with yourself and your inner experience.
A session typically lasts around 75–120 minutes, depending on your request and the chosen format.
For bodywork sessions, clothing is usually removed to your level of comfort (you will always be properly covered). For somatic healing sessions, it's best to wear something comfortable that allows you to move and relax easily. Soft, loose clothing is recommended.
Sessions take place in a calm and private space in The Hague. You will receive the exact address and details after booking.
You can book a session via calendly.com/feel-alive or by contacting me directly. You can cancel or reschedule your booking 24 hours prior to the session free of charge.
This is a body-oriented therapeutic practice that supports emotional and nervous system regulation. It is not a replacement for psychotherapy or medical treatment, but it can be a valuable complement.
We move slowly and with care. You are always in control of the process, and we will adjust the pace together. If something feels too intense, we pause, ground, and return to a place of safety.
Yes. I work with a strong focus on safety, consent, and nervous system awareness. We do not force or push experiences, but gently follow what feels available and resourced.
This work can support you in reconnecting with your body, reducing stress and physical and emotional tension, and understanding your inner patterns. Many people experience more clarity, emotional balance, more softness in the muscles and joints, and a deeper sense of inner support.
This depends on your intention and needs. Some people come for a few sessions around a specific theme, while others choose ongoing work for deeper support and integration. For more sustainable and long-term change, a series of at least 5 sessions is often recommended.
Yes, many people come with these experiences. By working with the body and nervous system, we can begin to release tension, understand patterns, and create more space for movement and change.
Yes. Bodywork sessions can be especially supportive in working with chronic tension and pain in muscles, joints, and connective tissue. We approach this gently, also considering the role of the nervous system in holding and releasing tension.
This work is for people who feel a desire to reconnect with themselves, understand their inner world more deeply, and find more ease and authenticity in their lives.
If you are looking for quick fixes, structured step-by-step solutions, or advice-based coaching, this approach might not be the best match. The work is gentle, experiential, and process-oriented.
My approach is body-based, intuitive, and grounded in nervous system awareness. I combine structure with sensitivity, always meeting you where you are and supporting your process with care and presence. You can find more about the modalities I use above, under "What a session can look like."
That is completely okay and more common than you might think. We start exactly where you are. Through gentle attention and guided exploration, sensitivity and awareness can naturally grow over time. There is no need to force or "try harder."
All emotions are welcome. If something intense arises, we slow down and stay with what feels manageable. You will be supported in staying connected and grounded, without being overwhelmed. You are never alone in the process.
Talking is welcome, but not required. Sometimes words help to bring clarity, and sometimes the process unfolds more through the body and felt experience. We follow what supports you best in the moment.
In MER and Symphony of the Cells sessions, touch is one of the main tools. In somatic healing sessions, touch can also be offered as a supportive part of the process, depending on your needs and comfort. Everything is always based on your consent, and we can adjust at any moment if something does not feel right for you.