CONNECTION
EMBODIED CONNECTION
Psychology & Trauma Sensitive Yoga
Empowering your healing journey through self-awareness, mindful movement, breathwork practices and integrative mind-body therapies.
WELCOME
We’re Silvana and Larisa, the founders of Embodied Connection — an initiative grounded in our shared passion for psychology and trauma-sensitive yoga. Drawing on evidence-based practices, we created Embodied Connection to support individuals in reconnecting with themselves and others through mindful, compassionate approaches. Together, we bring a blend of professional expertise, lived experience, and complementary strengths to offer an environment rooted in authenticity, care, and community.
“When we connect with the body through gentle movement and breath, we begin to feel safe, present and empowered" – David Emerson
ABOUT US
WHY EMBODIED CONNECTION
Embodied Connection highlights the inseparable nature of the mind and body, and the importance of nurturing this relationship for self-awareness, psychological well-being and holistic health. It is about reconnecting with ourselves in meaningful and embodied ways which can help us become open to the possibility of trust, self-compassion, and authentic connection with others.
We recognise that trauma, stress, anxiety, and depression often lead to disconnection—within ourselves, from our bodies, and from the world around us. Drawing from psychological principles and evidence-based approaches, we understand that healing this disconnection involves consciously and intentionally cultivating awareness of our internal experience, and deepening our mind-body connection to support nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, and a more balanced way of living.
Our vision is to promote well-being and personal growth through the integration of Psychology, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, and other therapeutic modalities that support inner connection, self-expression, and healing.
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At Embodied Connection, we strive to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds and abilities can feel welcomed and supported. We believe that Trauma-Sensitive Yoga is a powerful tool for healing, self-discovery, and empowerment, and we are committed to walking alongside our clients as they reconnect with themselves and their sense of wholeness.
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“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – The Bhagavad Gita
Begin your practice today and let your inner light guide you towards balance and peace.
OUR SERVICES
DISCOVER THE PATH TO WELLNESS WITH OUR TAILORED OFFERINGS
Counselling
Our one-on-one psychological support is available both in person and via telehealth, offering a compassionate space for healing, growth, and self-awareness. Grounded in a holistic and evidence-based approach, our sessions integrate elements from Jungian analysis, Sandplay therapy, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, and other therapeutic modalities. Treatment is thoughtfully tailored to meet the unique needs of the individual, supporting emotional balance, inner connection, and personal transformation.
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Clinical Consultation
Clinical Consultation and Supervision designed to support professional growth and refine clinical expertise. This approach offers a reflective, collaborative method, fostering ethical practice, evidence-based strategies, and resilience through ongoing dialogue, all tailored to the unique needs of mental health professionals.
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Workshops
Tailored Psychology and Yoga Programs blending movement, breathwork, mindfulness, Sandplay Therapy practices, Art therapy, and psychoeducation. Our monthly workshops and weekly group sessions explore neuroscience, polyvagal theory, Internal Family Systems, and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga practices—fostering self-awareness, nervous system regulation, and integrated healing.
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We also design and deliver tailored Trauma-Sensitive Yoga sessions and workshops for mental health and caring professionals, designed to nurture self-care and stress management. These sessions offer a safe, grounding space to pause, reconnect and cultivate interoceptive awareness, fostering sustainable resilience and enhancing professional practice.
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Trauma Sensitive Yoga
​We integrate Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY) as a powerful and evidence-based approach to nervous system
awareness, self-regulation, and self-compassion. Developed by David Emerson and grounded in the clinical insights of Bessel Van der Kolk, TSY is specifically designed for individuals navigating the effects of trauma, anxiety, depression, and chronic stress.
Through invitation language, gentle mindful movement and breath practices, TSY provides a safe and empowering way for
individuals to reconnect with their bodies, fostering grounding, a deeper sense of self-awareness and resilience. This practice not only helps calm hyperarousal in the sympathetic nervous system, but also gently supports individuals experiencing shutdown responses—such as numbness,
disconnection, or exhaustion—by stimulating regulation and reconnection through breath, movement, and choice..Our approach aligns with yogic philosophy, particularly the teachings in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which emphasize cultivating mental clarity and supporting a return to one’s natural state of connection, clarity and balance., health, and well-being.
“Few of us have lost our minds, but most of us have long ago lost our bodies.” – Ken Wilbur
TEAM
OUR TEAM
“The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love” – Brené Brown
CONTACT US
GET IN TOUCH
For services in Russell Lea:
Silvana Cannavo
289 Lyons Road
Russell Lea, NSW 2046
Australia
Ph: 0489 207 225
silvana@embodiedconnection.com.au
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For services in Sutherland:
Larisa Zilenkov
Suite 2, 2A/16 Boyle Street
Sutherland, NSW 2232
Australia
Ph: 0414 405 019
larisa@embodiedconnection.com.au
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“Beneath the surface of the protective parts of trauma survivors there exists an undamaged essence, a Self that is confident, curious, and calm, a Self that has been sheltered from destruction by the various protectors that have emerged in their efforts to ensure survival. Once those protectors trust that it is safe to separate, the Self will spontaneously emerge, and the parts can be enlisted in the healing process.” – Bessel Vanderkolk
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we work.
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We pay my respects to the elders past, present and future and acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded in this country.
Every Identity Welcome
We welcome people of all backgrounds, experiences, bodies and identities.
We acknowledge the systems of oppression that impact the lived experience of LGBTIQI+, disabled people, neurodiverse people, BIPOC people and others.
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We hope to facilitate a safer space in which you can experience yourself, your body and your needs as equal to those of others without discrimination.