Discover Your Inner Resilience©
A connection-centered, neuroscience-informed group intervention for embodied resilience
Discover Your Inner Resilience© is a 7-module, data-driven, evidence-informed group intervention designed to cultivate resilience through the experience of connection, mindfulness, and interoceptive awareness. At the heart of the program is the creation of a felt sense of safety, supported by experiential learning, embodied practice, and guided group process.
Resilience does not develop in isolation. It does not develop through cognitive learning.
It develops in relationship, and through experience, through the capacity to notice, interpret, and respond to internal experience.
Why Connection Matters:
The nervous system is shaped in relationship. Research across trauma science, attachment theory, mindfulness research, and polyvagal theory shows that cues of safety in connection allow the brain and body to shift out of survival states and into states that support learning, regulation, and growth.
DiY-IR intentionally uses the group as a healing container, supporting co-regulation, belonging, and shared experience, so that resilience skills are not only understood, but experienced in real-time, with others.
Participants frequently describe the group itself as one of the most impactful elements of the program.
Learning through experience
DiY-IR is grounded in the understanding that lasting change occurs through experience, not insight alone. Rather than focusing primarily on discussion or cognitive understanding, the program emphasizes experiential learning—inviting participants to notice, sense, and engage with their internal experience as it unfolds.
Sessions include guided practices that may involve:
- Mindful attention to breath, sensation, movement, emotion, and other internal experiences
- Somatic and grounding exercises that support regulation
- Experiential reflection within the group
- Opportunities to practice new skills in a relational context
This approach allows participants to feel regulation, safety, and connection in their bodies, supporting learning that is integrated, accessible, and transferable to daily life.
Honoring the wisdom of the body
A central premise of Discover Your Inner Resilience is that the body holds essential information about safety, stress, and resilience. Through interoceptive awareness, tuning into internal bodily signals such as breath, tension, ease, and emotional shifts, participants learn to recognize how their nervous systems respond to the world.
Rather than overriding or controlling bodily responses, the program invites participants to:
- Listen to the body as a source of guidance
- Develop trust in bodily cues and rhythms
- Respond to stress and challenge with greater attunement and care
By reconnecting with the body’s innate wisdom, resilience becomes less about “pushing through” and more about responding skillfully and sustainably.
What is this program, Discover Your Inner Resilience?
Discover Your Inner Resilience is a resilience embodiment and skills-training group that integrates:
- Neuroscience-informed psychoeducation
- Mindfulness-based and interoceptive practices
- Experiential and somatic learning
- Relational group process
Rather than focusing solely on symptom reduction, the program emphasizes capacity building—supporting participants in developing internal and relational resources that enhance resilience over time.
Program structure
DiY-IR is organized around seven empirically supported Keys to Resilience, each integrating education, embodied practice, and group reflection:
The Six Keys To Resilience
Each module is designed to help participants experience safety, awareness, and regulation in the body, not just understand these concepts intellectually.
Contexts:
- Clinical contexts: Offered as an adjunctive intervention alongside individual, evidence-based psychotherapy when clinically appropriate
- Wellness contexts: Offered as a stand-alone, non-clinical program focused on resilience education, stress regulation, mindfulness, and embodied well-being
“I recently had the pleasure of participating in the ‘Somatic Skills for Self-Regulation’ module, part of the seven-module resilience training program, Discover Your Inner Resilience, led by Dr. Haunani Iao. This class provided an in-depth exploration of how to harness somatic skills to enhance self-regulation, and I found it both enlightening and immensely enjoyable.
From the outset, the class highlighted the importance of recognizing and responding to bodily sensations to influence processes such as breathing, heart rate, and muscle tension. The blend of mindfulness, body awareness, movement, and reflective discussion created a holistic, accessible approach that resonated deeply with me.
One of the most impactful aspects of the class was the emphasis on grounding and present-moment awareness. The practices offered practical tools for staying connected to the body during times of stress, helping me feel more centered, regulated, and supported. Learning to release tension through gentle movement and mindful attention allowed for a noticeable shift toward ease and clarity.
Overall, ‘Somatic Skills for Self-Regulation’ was an exceptional learning experience that offered meaningful insights and practical skills for navigating stress and uncertainty. I left the session feeling more attuned to my body, more connected to others, and better equipped to meet life’s challenges with resilience and grace. This program is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to strengthen well-being and self-regulation in a non-clinical, supportive group setting.”
Kris Statler
Board Vice President, Pacific Birth Collective Haiku, Maui
What participants report
Community-based feedback following the Maui wildfires
The following reflection comes from a non-clinical, community-based cohort of health professionals who participated in Discover Your Inner Resilience following the Maui wildfires.
Across multiple cohorts, DiY-IR has demonstrated high retention and engagement, reflecting strong acceptability and perceived benefit.
Participants commonly report:
- Increased perceived resilience
- A strong felt sense of safety and connection
- Greater embodied self-awareness
- Practical tools for regulation and stress management
- Increased confidence applying skills in daily and relational contexts
Many participants identify the experience of being in regulated, mindful connection with others as a central source of the program’s impact.
Learn more or inquire
If you are interested in learning more for yourself, your organization, or your clients, please reach out:
- dr.iao@iaomindbodyhealth.com
- 808-664-0298