Societal Transformation Through Self-Discovery: Insights from Rae Johnson
Rae Johnson, a somatic movement therapist, has drawn attention to the need for activists to prioritise their physical and mental health to avoid burnout. Her work highlights the challenges faced by activists, as she has observed many of them feeling discouraged and depressed.
Johnson's strategies for combating burnout in social and political activists centre around embodied activism, an approach that focuses on working with and regulating the nervous system. This method is demonstrated in her co-facilitation of workshops such as “The Politics of Regulation: Knocking the Nervous System,” which emphasise the importance of attending to activists’ physical and emotional experiences to address trauma and exhaustion.
Embodied activism, as referenced in related contexts, involves recognising bodily sensations, habits, and underlying beliefs as crucial for healing and sustained resistance. Johnson’s work aligns with these principles by incorporating somatic (body-based) practices that help activists process stress and avoid burnout, thus continuing their social and political work in healthier, more sustainable ways.
Johnson's book, "Embodied Activism," offers practical advice for activists to sustain their energy and passion for their work. It provides tools and strategies for activists to stay resilient and maintain their well-being. The book emphasises the importance of self-awareness, self-compassion, and listening to one's body during activism.
Johnson believes that incorporating somatic movement therapy into activism can help activists manage stress and maintain energy. By focusing on nervous system regulation and embodied awareness, Johnson's work encourages activists to recognise and address their emotional needs during their activism.
No direct comprehensive publication or detailed framework by Rae Johnson on this exact topic appeared in the search results, but her facilitation of live virtual classes focused on nervous system regulation in social justice contexts highlights her strategy of grounding activism in embodied practices as a core method to combat activist burnout.
In summary, Rae Johnson's work provides a unique perspective on preventing burnout in activists. By emphasising the importance of self-care, self-awareness, and embodied practices, Johnson offers a sustainable approach to activism that prioritises the well-being of activists, ensuring they can continue their vital work for the long haul.
- Rae Johnson's work, presented in her book "Embodied Activism," emphasizes the importance of self-care, self-awareness, and embodied practices to prevent burnout in activists, offering practical tools and strategies for sustainable activism in health-and-wellness and mental-health perspectives.
- Johnson's unique approach to activism, known as embodied activism, centers around somatic (body-based) practices that help activists process stress, focus on nervous system regulation, and prioritize mental-health and personal-growth.
- As a somatic movement therapist, Johnson's strategies for activists also involve education-and-self-development, such as understanding and addressing underlying beliefs, to foster long-term resilience and well-being in activists, thereby ensuring their continuous contribution to social-and-political therapies-and-treatments.
