Meet Susana Victoria Perez | Trauma & Somatic Based Embodiment Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susana Victoria Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susana Victoria, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The desire to start embodyment emerged as I realized the potential of combining various modalities that had been instrumental in my transformative healing journey. It became evident that those around me, as well as society at large, were grappling with a profound disconnection from their bodies, navigating life in a robotic, autopilot manner. This resonated deeply with my own past; for years, I had lived in a state of dissociation and survival, feeling numb and trapped, as if life was happening to me, instead of me creating my life.

I knew there was a better way to live life and I recognized that the life I desired was within reach; all I needed to do was step into it, embracing an embodied approach. As I underwent this transformation, those in my inner circle began to take notice. Curious about the shift in my life, they wanted to understand the methods that had lifted me from survival mode to a life filled with richness and purpose.

So, I began to share the tools and insights that had proven effective for me. My intention was to assist others in reconnecting with their bodies, regulating their nervous systems, and embarking on a journey towards the life they had always dreamed of living.

What should our readers know about your business?
Embodyment is a trauma and somatic-based embodiment practice that encompasses a range of tools tailored to individual needs.

Many mindfulness practices out there often adopt top-down approaches, relying on disciplined stillness, which can be intimidating as achieving true mental quietude may require years of practice and is not necessarily what every nervous system requires.

Embodyment offers an alternative approach. By reconnecting with your authentic self through the felt sense, the focus shifts from the mind to the body. Consider how we express overwhelming emotions – sadness is described as gut-wrenching, thrills as heart-pounding, and joy as warmth and tingling. We articulate these sensations not through analytical minds but through our bodies. So, why suppress the body and rely solely on the mind when seeking to transition into a new reality?

Embodyment facilitates the connection of body, spirit, and soul through practical physical applications that can be seamlessly integrated into daily life. Employing the scientifically supported principles of Somatic Experiencing® therapy, we engage with our nervous system, recognizing it as a collaborator rather than an adversary in the critical task of ensuring our survival. Through somatic tools and embodied movement, we begin to experience our feelings and emotions, moving beyond intellectualization and allowing us to use them as valuable information rather than suppressing them.

All my past learning and professional experiences have led me to this point. From a very young age, I was a dancer and a performer; before the layers of conditioning started to pile up, I was fully embodied and filled with joy when I moved my body. I was an actor for many years and looking back at that chapter of my life, I see it as my embodiment grad school; I learned what it was to truly embody, incarnate, and become a feeling, an emotion, a person. I carry so many of those lessons into embodyment now.

I also worked alongside Dr. Joe Dispenza for 3 years and as his Director of Communications I learned invaluable lessons in leadership, community-building, and a science-backed approach to mindfulness. I also bring a lot of that experience into what embodyment is. I have studied Kabbalah for over 7 years and the lessons in how the laws of the universe operate, influence my work immensely. My training in Somatic Experiencing® by Dr. Peter Levine plays a pivotal role in my work as well as my studies in Polygaval Theory and the intersection between embodiment and spirituality.

Building this business is the fruit of years of my own personal healing and devotion to living a fuller, more purposeful life. It is the evidence to show that, without this work, I couldn’t have had the capacity to launch embodyment and hold space for the community which continues to grow at a rapid pace.\

I offer 1:1 somatic sessions to individuals both in person in the LA area as well as virtually. I do a lot of group work, which is what I feel most passionate about because doing the work in community is the most potent way to heal. I also lead and teach in both English and Spanish (my native tongue). 

If you’re curious about reconnecting with your body I’ll add a link below for all readers interested to book a free discovery call with me. I’m also leading an all-women/female identifying group online that spans over 6 weeks and is a great way to dip your toe into the work if you don’t have a lot of time or resources to invest at the moment. I’ll also add the link below.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is so much to explore in LA and the surrounding areas! I personally love the diversity of nature and wellness activities available at our fingertips, so the perfect itinerary would include a full day on the Westside with brunch at Gjusta, a bike ride, or a walk at sunset by the beach, hot yoga at Sweat, a massage at Osea spa, and dinner at Dudley Market. I would then head to Joshua Tree for a night and do a long hike at the national park, lunch at Pappy + Harriet’s, and tuck in for the night at a cozy Airbnb where you can watch the sunset next to a fireplace.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to extend my gratitude and shoutout to Jessica Bishop. She is an incredibly talented individual who has provided immense support as I navigated the past year of growth and transformation. Jess is a phenomenal actor, yoga, and reiki practitioner, and she is also trained in somatic therapy.

Sometimes, life introduces you to people who recognize the greatness within you and reflect it back, enabling you to blossom and believe in yourself. Jess has been this guiding force for me. She embodies the essence of a multidisciplinary modern entrepreneurial woman, and I am profoundly thankful for her friendship and the impactful work she shares with the world. Through her acting, she brings joy, and through her yoga, reiki, and somatic practice, she imparts healing to those fortunate enough to experience her contributions. You can follow her on IG @jessicabishoptv

Website: https://EmbodymentAppointments.as.me/freeconsultation

Current virtual program: https://susana-perez.mykajabi.com/sales-page-0e466174-833e-4799-8dc4-8c66a0274e8d

Instagram: the_embodyment

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanavictoriaperez/

Other: TikTok: @the_embodyment_