Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Hayes
Maggie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been interested in an active, healthy lifestyle and have always been a curious person. It came naturally to me to wonder “why” things are the way they are, if there is anything deeper, and if so, how I can get there.
I was working in politics in New York City when I committed to a consistent yoga practice. Through exploring the traditions and feeling the impact and shifts the practice was making in my body, politics eventually started to feel like just a game that I wasn’t interested in playing anymore. I started teaching yoga full time, which led me into places within myself that I didn’t know existed.
I was in my mid-20s and for the first time, it was just me trying to figure out my life. I had always relied on others to tell me what to do, or to check in with them to make sure I was doing the “right thing.” I believe the pressure I felt invoked unresolved trauma from childhood, and I was suddenly experiencing very raw expressions of a freeze response. In the middle of teaching a class, or a conversation, or even like, ordering food at a restaurant – my voice would stop, and I couldn’t speak. My body would tense up.. and while I was panicking inside, I couldn’t move on the outside.
This led me to learning about the nervous system and how trauma is held and manifests through us. I experienced firsthand how a somatic approach (specific styles of movement, meditation and breathwork) could change your internal environment, and really just bring you back to yourself.
Shifting from teaching yoga to somatics happened organically. As I was healing myself, I started sharing everything I was learning. It was almost as if I didn’t have a choice.
Throughout this process, I have created The Core Rising Method of body-based recovery from trauma and stress. It is a specific sequence that works with the nervous system to establish greater safety and create the space needed within to start relating to your emotions differently – with more autonomy – and start processing what you feel.
I feel very blessed to have taken my personal experience and turned it into something that has allowed me to connect with so many people through the very deep and profound process of healing, and I’m excited to see where it continues to go from here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’d say the biggest struggle has been taking myself seriously, and trusting I have value to offer the world. I was conditioned to very much doubt myself and take a backseat to others, and going against that at times has made me check out of my body because of the discomfort. Making sure I am grounded in myself is a process I have to be actively committed to as I change those patterns.. and as I do so, I can see clearly that it’s not about me, it’s about the work. Taking myself seriously and trusting myself is simply a service that lets me be a vessel to keep sharing these tools.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Core Rising?
The Core Rising is a community, first and foremost. Our practitioners share integrative lifestyle techniques comprised of somatic movement, body work, breath and experiential meditation. When these modalities come together in a particular way, they support the nervous system and You to create greater internal safety and change how you relate to your emotions. When this happens, we create greater autonomy and access to your inherent sense of authenticity and empowerment.
Through our work and offerings, we intend to make the above description less about fluffy language and more about a tangible and real experience.
We offer 1:1 somatic coaching, group programs and breathwork journeys from practitioners who live this work every single day, and are a true, embodied example of you must practice what you preach.
We prioritize deep connection and a space where you are seen, heard and (gently, safely) challenged to FEEL all that you are capable of.
What matters most to you?
Feeling safe enough to believe in yourself, hold your standards, and follow what makes you excited. This lets us create the life, the connections, and the frequency that we want. When this happens, the world heals and we move forward differently than ever before.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thecorerising.com
- Instagram: @itsmaggiehayes
- Other: TikTok @itsmaggiehayes
Image Credits
Upload 1: Altar Ego
Upload 2: Michelle Etchison
