A transformative guide and radical invitation to come home to your body-finding safety, joy, and connection, exactly as you are
Movement, breathing exercises, parts work, and writing practices for a fully embodied life-somatic resources for readers dealing with chronic illness, trauma, and more
We all deserve to live fully embodied lives that are attuned to the joys, pleasures, challenges, and vibrancy of being alive. Writing Home offers accessible somatic writing practices to help you connect more deeply to your body-and embrace your own unique story and creative genius beyond the boundaries of health, wellness, and ability.
This book guides you on a somatic journey to root into your body's presence; listen to your body's wisdom; reclaim pleasure; and integrate joyful, creative practice into your daily life. Each chapter blends evocative teachings, insights from author Johanna Franzel's lived experience with chronic illness, and practical, gentle prompts that are designed to meet you-and nourish you-where you are. You'll learn to:
• Listen to your body's wisdom and respond with compassion
• Nurture a sense of belonging in the body you have, right now, as it is
• Break free from imposed definitions of health and wholeness
• Cultivate creativity and presence
• Build daily practices to nourish your embodied wisdom
This book doesn't ask that you embrace toxic positivity, adopt individual solutions to collective problems, or ignore the challenges and struggles you hold in your body. Rather, it serves as a radical invitation into your own embodied healing-and a guide to creating your own vision of wholeness. Franzel began her study of craniosacral therapy in 2012 via trainings with both the Upledger Institute and Courageous Heart Therapies. In 2018, after a two and a half year training with Dr. Kate Klemer in Northampton, Massachusetts, she received certification in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. Franzel is also a student of Zero Balancing and graduated from the Namaste Institute of Massage in Portland, Maine in June of 2013. She apprenticed with Integrated Awareness in 2008 and is a Reiki Level 2 practitioner.
Before beginning her health studies, Franzel received her B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1999, attended the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in 2002 and received her Masters in Education – specializing in digital media and storytelling – from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2006.
Franzel is a long-time educator with a decade of experience working in public radio, has taught writing and social studies to middle schoolers in Costa Rica and documentary radio to incarcerated youth in Maine, and produced youth radio specials on topics as wide-ranging as immigration, parenting and the environment.
