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When Stress Shows Up in Your Body with Elisabetta D'Agata

Exploring the Connection Between Stress, Tension and Pain

What we’ll explore

During the workshop, you’ll learn more about:

• How stress can show up physically — including changes in muscle tension, breathing and body sensations.
• The connection between stress, emotions and pain — and why our experience of pain can change even when nothing obvious has changed physically.
• The nervous system and persistent pain — including a simple introduction to how our nervous system can become more sensitive over time.
• Body awareness and self-regulation — recognising some of your own signs of stress and discovering ways to respond with greater awareness and choice.

But this won’t just be a workshop where you sit and listen.

You’ll have the opportunity to experience

• A gentle guided body-awareness practice.
• A body-mapping exercise to explore where you notice stress, tension or discomfort.
• A simple breathing practice to explore how your breath can support nervous-system regulation.
• Guided reflection and journaling to help you relate what you’re learning to your own experiences.

You’ll also begin creating your own personal self-regulation toolkit — simple things you can turn to when you notice stress, tension or discomfort showing up in your body.

Everything is offered as an invitation. You can participate in the exercises in whatever way feels appropriate and comfortable for you.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is particularly relevant if you live with scoliosis and:

• notice that your pain or tension can vary considerably from one day to another;
• feel that stress sometimes seems to show up physically in your body;
• want to understand more about the relationship between your nervous system and pain;
• or would simply like some practical tools to help you feel more grounded and supported during difficult days.

You don’t need any previous knowledge of pain science, psychology or the nervous system.

Meet your workshop teacher

Dr. Elisabetta D’Agata, PhD, is an Italian psychologist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology and extensive experience in the psychological aspects of idiopathic scoliosis.

Her work is grounded in a holistic, biopsychosocial approach, recognising the deep connection between mind and body and the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological dimensions of physical health.

She is particularly interested in how people experience and relate to their bodies, and how emotions, stress and personal experiences can influence physical well-being, body awareness and the experience of pain.

Through her work, she aims to support individuals in developing a more compassionate relationship with their bodies, fostering self-awareness, emotional well-being and personal resources.

Alongside her clinical interests, she is actively involved in international education and training and is the author of a book on the psychological aspects of idiopathic scoliosis (2018).

What you’ll need

Please have:

• a notebook or a few sheets of paper and a pen;
• coloured pencils or markers if you have them;
• a comfortable, quiet space where you can sit or lie down and change position when needed.

Workshop details

Thursday 19 November 2026

5pm UK time

Live online via Zoom

90 minutes

Can’t make it live?

No problem. Everyone who purchases the workshop will receive the recording with lifetime access, so you can watch — or come back to the practices — whenever it suits you.

£49

SHINE members: This workshop is included in your membership. You do not need to purchase a separate ticket.

Join us live — or watch in your own time

Come and explore what happens when stress shows up in your body — and leave with a better understanding of your own responses and some practical tools you can use in everyday life.