Episode 552: Liz Tenuto: Why Stress Gets "Stuck" In The Body, The Science of Somatics, & How to Finally Let It Go

May 8, 2026

Liz Tenuto, The Workout Witch: certified somatic movement coach and author who teaches nervous system regulation. She explains why stress gets physically stuck, the science behind somatics and Polyvagal theory, how sleep positions reveal stress, the role of the psoas in fight-or-flight, and a stepwise protocol for releasing chronic tension.

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ANECDOTE

Liz Stopped Beta Blockers With Somatics

Liz Tenuto used somatic exercises to stop taking beta blockers for anxiety.
She credits somatics with resolving her panic and anxiety symptoms that previously required medication.

INSIGHT

Emotions Start As Bodily Sensations

Emotions begin as physical sensations that are sent to the brain and then labeled as emotion.
Liz explains an email can cue fight or flight, contracting jaw and psoas because our nervous system treats modern stressors like predators.

ADVICE

Physically Discharge Stress To Reset Hormones

Do physical discharge exercises after stress to complete the biological stress response.
Liz gives examples like chopping a pillow to safely release anger and prevent chronic cortisol elevation and inflammation.

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The field of somatics has one uncomfortable truth most people aren't ready to hear: you cannot think your way out of trauma or chronic stress. If the stress response of the body never gets discharged through physical movement, your body stays on high alert. Some people still write somatics off as “woo-woo”. That gap between what the science actually says and what people assume is exactly why I wanted to go deeper with Liz Tenuto, better known as The Workout Witch.

Liz holds a degree in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, is certified in Pilates and Reiki, and spent six years being mentored in the Feldenkrais Method under Augusta Moore. She got herself off beta blockers for anxiety using the same somatic exercises she now teaches.

In part two of this three-part Fitness Friday series with Liz, she breaks down the actual science, Polyvagal Theory, the psoas muscle, why betrayal trauma has a biological address in your body, and why your nervous system is still running an operating system designed for surviving predators, not inbox anxiety.

If you have ever felt stuck in stress no matter what you try, this is the episode that explains exactly why.

What's Discussed:

(0:00) How Liz grew to 4.8 million followers and who her audience really is.
(1:01) Why somatics bridges the gap where doctors just tell you it's stress.
(1:48) How Liz got off beta blockers for anxiety using somatic exercises.

(3:12) What somatics can actually help with and how it works for sleep.

(9:11) The science behind somatics and how your body stores stress physically

(13:33) How trauma gets stored as subconscious muscle tension and shows up as pain.
(16:52) Liz's personal story: how quitting dance made her chronic pain worse, not better.

(27:05) Sleep positions that reveal your stress state: T-REX ARMS, mountain climber, extreme fetal.

(33:21) The psoas muscle: the muscle of the soul and its role as a first responder in fight or flight.

(35:13) The gentle 18-day protocol Liz uses before ever touching the psoas.

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Find more from Jen Cohen:

Website: www.jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen

Books: www.jennifercohen.com/books

Speaking: www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements

Find more from Liz Tenuto:

Website: theworkoutwitch.com/

Instagram: @theworkoutwitch

TikTok: @theworkoutwitch

YouTube: @theworkoutwitch

Threads: @theworkoutwitch

Facebook:The Workout Witch

Embody App: theworkoutwitch.com/products/embody

When The Body Speaks Book: theworkoutwitch.com/pages/book