The Native Americans had a word that could heal anxiety naturally:...
Lorwen Harris Nagle, PhD@LORWEN108
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Aug 27, 2025
~2 min read
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The Native Americans had a word that could heal anxiety naturally:
"Hakomi"
In 1970, Ron Kurtz turned this ancient wisdom into one of the most powerful therapy methods ever.
Here's the protocol: 🧵
"Hakomi"
In 1970, Ron Kurtz turned this ancient wisdom into one of the most powerful therapy methods ever.
Here's the protocol: 🧵
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While psychiatrists were prescribing pills for anxiety in the 1970s, Ron Kurtz made a radical discovery:
The body holds trauma that talk therapy can't touch.
His search for answers led him to Native American healing traditions.
The body holds trauma that talk therapy can't touch.
His search for answers led him to Native American healing traditions.
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"Hakomi" comes from the Hopi Indians.
It means "How do you stand in relation to these many realms?"
This question became the foundation of a therapy that would revolutionize how we understand healing.
It means "How do you stand in relation to these many realms?"
This question became the foundation of a therapy that would revolutionize how we understand healing.
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Here's what makes Hakomi revolutionary:
Instead of analyzing your thoughts for years, the therapist uses mindful touch and presence.
"When I put my hands on you," Kurtz explained, "I'm helping you deepen into what your body already knows."
Instead of analyzing your thoughts for years, the therapist uses mindful touch and presence.
"When I put my hands on you," Kurtz explained, "I'm helping you deepen into what your body already knows."
3:15
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Why does this work?
Because anxiety isn't just a thought problem.
It lives in your clenched jaw, tight shoulders, and shallow breathing.
Your body remembers what your mind has forgotten.
Because anxiety isn't just a thought problem.
It lives in your clenched jaw, tight shoulders, and shallow breathing.
Your body remembers what your mind has forgotten.
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Traditional therapy tries to think its way to healing.
Hakomi helps you feel your way through.
The difference? One takes years. The other creates shifts in sessions.
The method rests on 5 ancient principles:
Hakomi helps you feel your way through.
The difference? One takes years. The other creates shifts in sessions.
The method rests on 5 ancient principles:
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• Nonviolence - gentleness with yourself
• Organicity - trusting your natural wisdom
• Mindfulness - awareness without judgment
• Mind-body holism - everything is connected
• Loving presence - healing happens in relationship
Here's how a Hakomi session actually works:
• Organicity - trusting your natural wisdom
• Mindfulness - awareness without judgment
• Mind-body holism - everything is connected
• Loving presence - healing happens in relationship
Here's how a Hakomi session actually works:
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1. First, the therapist creates complete safety.
2. Then, they guide you into mindful awareness.
3. Small "experiments" help you notice body patterns.
4. Gentle touch deepens your experience.
5. Hidden emotions naturally surface and release.
2. Then, they guide you into mindful awareness.
3. Small "experiments" help you notice body patterns.
4. Gentle touch deepens your experience.
5. Hidden emotions naturally surface and release.
2:04
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But here's what modern psychology won't admit:
We've become so afraid of touch and presence that we've abandoned our most powerful healing tools.
We treat the mind like it's separate from the body. It never was.
Kurtz's greatest insight was simple:
We've become so afraid of touch and presence that we've abandoned our most powerful healing tools.
We treat the mind like it's separate from the body. It never was.
Kurtz's greatest insight was simple:
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Healing happens when we stop fighting ourselves and start listening.
I've integrated Hakomi principles into my own approach.
Combined with walking meditation and expressive arts, it creates what I call "embodied transformation."
I've integrated Hakomi principles into my own approach.
Combined with walking meditation and expressive arts, it creates what I call "embodied transformation."
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The body remembers how to heal.
We just forgot how to listen.
• Your anxiety isn't broken.
• Your depression isn't a defect.
• Your overwhelm isn't weakness.
They're your psyche's attempt to get your attention.
We just forgot how to listen.
• Your anxiety isn't broken.
• Your depression isn't a defect.
• Your overwhelm isn't weakness.
They're your psyche's attempt to get your attention.
Lorwen Harris Nagle, PhD@LORWEN108
Drawing—as a visually expressive, motor-integrated activity—engages the salience network by:
Processing emotionally relevant internal stimuli (like memories or feelings).
Prioritizing sensory and interoceptive input (e.g., how the drawing "feels").
Facilitating switching between introspection (DMN) and executive planning (ECN).
My Anxiety Relief Transformation (ART) 3-Month Community emphasizes drawing to process strong emotions.
DM “draw” if you’re interested in joining.
Processing emotionally relevant internal stimuli (like memories or feelings).
Prioritizing sensory and interoceptive input (e.g., how the drawing "feels").
Facilitating switching between introspection (DMN) and executive planning (ECN).
My Anxiety Relief Transformation (ART) 3-Month Community emphasizes drawing to process strong emotions.
DM “draw” if you’re interested in joining.
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What if you finally listened?
Anxiety Relief Transformation™ opened August 5th.
12 modules blending Hakomi body wisdom, mindful walking, and expressive arts—the way healing was meant to happen. Join us:
offers.lorwenharrisnagle.com/anxiety-relief…
Anxiety Relief Transformation™ opened August 5th.
12 modules blending Hakomi body wisdom, mindful walking, and expressive arts—the way healing was meant to happen. Join us:
offers.lorwenharrisnagle.com/anxiety-relief…
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Hi, I'm Lorwen Nagle.
I've spent 40 years as a Harvard-trained psychologist, studying consciousness with the Dalai Lama, and helping thousands untangle their minds.
Follow @Lorwen108 for threads on anxiety, mindfulness, and the science of inner peace.
I've spent 40 years as a Harvard-trained psychologist, studying consciousness with the Dalai Lama, and helping thousands untangle their minds.
Follow @Lorwen108 for threads on anxiety, mindfulness, and the science of inner peace.
Lorwen Harris Nagle, PhD@LORWEN108
The Native Americans had a word that could heal anxiety naturally:
"Hakomi"
In 1970, Ron Kurtz turned this ancient wisdom into one of the most powerful therapy methods ever.
Here's the protocol: 🧵
"Hakomi"
In 1970, Ron Kurtz turned this ancient wisdom into one of the most powerful therapy methods ever.
Here's the protocol: 🧵