Style from the Inside Out
How Somatic Therapy Changed My Creative Practice
A few weeks ago, I found myself sitting on the doorstep, soaking up the afternoon sun. No phone. No book. Just me — eyes closed — pretending I was somewhere the weather is always warm.
A loud “Hello!” pulled me back. It was my neighbour, crossing the road for a chat. We usually just say a hello in passing, but this time she paused and said something that really stuck with me:
“It’s so lovely to see you resting.”
What a beautiful thing to say — and how surprising that someone noticed.
Rest hasn’t always come easy to me. Like many people in creative spaces, I’ve often linked my worth to output: to being visible, productive, useful. But lately, something’s been shifting.
Over the past few months, I’ve been exploring somatic therapy — and it’s been quietly, radically changing how I feel. Not just in my body, but in my work, my creativity, and my sense of self.
Meeting the Body Where It Is
I’ve been working with the incredible Rakhi Sachdev through weekly somatic healing sessions. Here's how she describes her practice:
"Somatic healing and therapy is a tender, gentle approach to beginning a deeper conversation with the body, and forming a relationship with our emotional landscape. It allows us to transcend the conditioned mind and enter the deep well of the body — where so much wisdom and possibility resides."
I first discovered Rakhi through another brilliant stylist, Neelam. After listening to Rakhi’s podcast and following her online, something clicked. Her words resonated. I felt seen. And I became curious — about my relationship with my body, and how this work might transform the way I support others as a sustainable style coach.
Investing the time and money felt a bit like falling in love: uncertain of where it might lead, but knowing in my gut that it was right.
The First Session
We began in January. I remember being both nervous and excited. Although we talked about what the 90-minute sessions might look like, I had no real idea what to expect.
I did a lot of talking that first time — all my freelance insecurities and imposter syndrome spilled out like wine in a glass that should’ve been taken away three pours ago.
Still, I felt safe.
Rakhi practices Focalising — a gentle, trauma-informed, intention-based approach. Each week, we worked with an intention I brought in — often around creativity, relationships, or difficult emotions — and explored how those feelings lived in my body through sensation, imagery, and memory.
“It allows us to transcend the conditioned mind and enter the deep well of the body — where so much wisdom and possibility resides.”
During our first body scan, I was self-conscious. I wanted to do it right. I must have been so annoying! But by the end of the session… we were dancing.
I don’t know why, but when I’m dancing, I feel fearless.
Moving my body to music is when I feel most free.
What the Body Knows
After that first session, I threw myself into the process. I began listening to what emotions were surfacing — and noticing where they lived in my body:
Fear hides in my lower back
Stress lives in my shoulders
Shame settles in my stomach
Through this work, I became more honest with myself. I learned to sit with emotions I’d normally avoid — especially anger and shame. And slowly, I began letting go of the fear around building a career that truly reflects who I am.
I became more playful. More creative. More patient with myself.
There were sessions when I cried. Days I didn’t want to show up. But Rakhi always met me with warmth. We circled back when I was ready.
It wasn’t always easy. But I kept showing up. And that commitment — to the process, to myself, to Rakhi — has changed me.
Redefining Success
One moment surprised me most:
I told Rakhi what I thought success looked like — and realized it was rooted entirely in fear.
Would I make enough money? Would I find clients? Could I do this on my own?
She paused and asked:
“But what would success feel like?”
And I had no answer.
I’d never considered that before.
With time and reflection, I’ve started to shape one. Because the most powerful thing I’ve learned is this: I get to define success for myself.
To me, success feels like:
Finding creative ways to feel hopeful and empowered
Supporting my children as they navigate the world
Laughing so hard with friends and family that my belly hurts
Believing in myself — and knowing I deserve to take up space
Inspiring joy and confidence in others through clothing and writing
Speaking up in a way that feels true
Grounding myself in ancestral wisdom
Resting in the sunshine
A New Way of Styling
This experience has deeply informed how I show up in my work.
As a sustainable style coach, I now know:
True style doesn’t start in your wardrobe. It starts in your body.
How do you want to feel in your clothes?
Confident? Grounded? Bold?
That’s what I help people do — reconnect, express, and take up space — fully, joyfully, and without apology.
"It was an utter joy being in session with Mithila," Rakhi shared, "to witness how her relationship with creativity, her body, and emotions was transforming through her devotion to the process. And of course — we can’t forget the dancing!"
Neither can I.
If this resonates with you…
I’d love to hear what your body is telling you about your style.
How do you want to feel when you get dressed?
Let’s explore it together — through movement, story, and the clothes that help you feel most like you.
Reach out here to chat or find me on Instagram @lifeincolouruk
