What if feeling better isn’t about pushing harder, but about coming back online in your body… and letting nature help regulate what modern life constantly dysregulates?
In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins sits down with Katie Asus (@somaticnaturetherapy), a licensed psychotherapist, life coach, teacher, mentor, and wilderness guide, to explore the powerful intersection of somatic therapy and nature-based therapy—and how both can support your nervous system, your quality of life, and even your genetic expression.
Somatic Therapy: Your Body Is Your First Language
Katie explains that somatic therapy is any therapeutic approach that includes the body-mind connection. Before we had words, we experienced life through sensation, comfort, fear, hunger, safety. Over time, many of us learned not to trust those signals (“don’t cry,” “toughen up,” “keep it together”). The result? A lot of people feel disconnected from their bodies—and don’t even realize it until they’re asked, “What do you feel right now?”
Health Is Flow, Dis-ease Is Stuckness
From a somatic perspective, health is flow: breath moves, emotions move, energy moves. Dis-ease happens when we stop the flow, holding our breath, tightening, numbing, pushing feelings down. Katie normalizes something many people fear: when you finally have enough safety, your body may release old patterns through crying, shaking, or deep exhales, sometimes without a specific “story.” That release isn’t a problem; it can be your nervous system letting go.
Building Capacity for Safety (Yes, Even Feeling Good)
A huge insight: many people struggle not just with stress, but with tolerating feeling good. When you’ve lived in survival mode, the brain can interpret relaxation as dangerous (“don’t relax—something bad will happen”). Katie’s approach starts with grounding and building somatic awareness, then connecting to “resource” (something calming or supportive), and gently strengthening the ability to stay present with safety before working through heavier stress.
Nature Therapy: Regulation, Presence, Perspective
Nature-based therapy isn’t just “going outside.” It can lower stress, support the immune system, and regulate the nervous system through sensory input—fresh air, smells, sounds, movement. Katie uses practices like sensory grounding, finding metaphors in nature for what you’re experiencing, and even interacting with the natural world as a mirror for insight and healing.
Because the goal isn’t just to get through life.
It’s to live it, in flow.
RESOURCES:
Connect with Katie Asmus:
Website: https://www.somaticnaturetherapy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somaticnaturetherapy/
Events: https://www.somaticnaturetherapy.com/calendar
Connect with Susan:
- Check out Susan’s NEW E-book! Download it FREE here: https://healthyawakening.co/ebook-signup
- Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching! To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening
Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach - Susan’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins
Learn more about our guest Katie Asmus:
Katie Asmus, MA, LPC, BMP is a licensed psychotherapist, life coach, teacher, mentor and wilderness guide with over 25 years of professional experience working with people in and out of the wilderness. Katie incorporates body-mind connection, the natural world, expressive arts and contemplative awareness into her work with others. She works with individuals as well as groups to bring forth their innate wisdom and to support them in opening their minds and hearts to greater possibilities.
Learn More about Susan Robbins:
Susan is a retired law enforcement officer and an accomplished Certified Epigenetic Human Performance Coach with a diverse and extensive background in wellness. She began her wellness career in 2015 as a holistic health and stress management coach. Her passion for helping others led her to expand her expertise into epigenetics in 2019, where she discovered the missing piece of the health optimization puzzle: Personalized health.
As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Level 2 Apeiron Zoh Epigenetic Human Performance Coach (DNA), and Certified PH360 Coach through Precision Health Alliance, Susan has developed a unique approach to health and wellness through completely personalized health. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 Precision Health Alliance Coach of the Year award. Susan works with clients to elevate their health and overall quality of life by understanding their unique needs based on their genetic makeup, taking out the guesswork, and getting results.
