April Blog | The 12 Stage of Healing – Stage 4 | Dr. Codi Osborne, Innately Yours Chiropractic Studio

After becoming aware of our suffering… feeling the tension between conflicting parts of ourselves… and recognizing the stories that shape our identity… we arrive at Stage Four: Reclaiming the Body’s Wisdom.

This is a huge turning point.

Stage Four is when we stop trying to think our way through healing and instead, we begin to feel. We move from being stuck in our heads to inhabiting our bodies. This is where healing starts to happen with the body, not to it.

🔄 A Shift in Attention

Dr. Donald Epstein describes Stage Four as a moment of surrender, not in weakness, but in trust. We start noticing breath. We place a hand where it hurts. We let ourselves cry, yawn, or exhale. We give ourselves permission to soften.

In this stage, we stop asking “What’s wrong with me?” and start asking, “What is my body trying to show me?”

And often, the body responds with a wave of relief.

💬 My Experience With Stage Four

I’ll never forget the first time I laid on a NetworkSpinal table and fully let go. I wasn’t trying to analyze the contact or make anything happen, I just breathed, surrendered, and felt my spine begin to move on its own. A soft wave, a subtle unwinding. It was like my body had been waiting for permission to heal.

That’s when I knew: the wisdom isn’t outside of us. It’s always been within.

🧠 What Happens in the Nervous System

In Stage Four, we see a reorganization begin. The nervous system shifts from defense to connection. You may notice:

• Spontaneous breath patterns (deep sighs, longer exhales)
• Gentle spinal movements or body awareness
• A sense of groundedness or emotional release

This is the stage where many practice members say, “I feel something shifting, but I can’t explain it.” That’s a great sign. You’re learning to speak the body’s language.

🛠️ Practices for Stage Four

This is the stage of embodiment, of taking your power back. Try these tools:

• Self-Touch: Place your hand gently over your heart, ribs, or pelvis. Breathe there. Let your hand say: “I’m here.”
• Journaling Prompt: “What does my body want me to know today?”
• Movement: Try undulating, stretching, or swaying to music. Let your spine lead.

Your body doesn’t need fixing. It needs your presence.

🤍 Let’s Connect

If you’ve felt more emotional, more in tune, or more in your body during or after care—you’re likely in Stage Four. This is a beautiful place to be.

Ask us how this stage might relate to your care journey. Your body is your greatest ally. Let’s help you listen to it with more clarity and compassion.

With embodiment and trust,
Dr. Codi