Tammy Chouinard

07/17/2026

Hello there!

If I were to ask you today “How is the state of your nervous system?”, would you know how to respond?

Sadly, most of us don't. I didn't until a few years back when my body began hurting head to toe and doctors couldn't tell me why.

After countless appointments and dead ends, I ended up on a Zoom call with a neurosurgeon who had left his medical practice to help people heal chronic pain. On that 20 minute call, I learned that all of my symptoms were due to prolonged stress and trauma and that my nervous system had been working from the Fight/Flight state for most of my life; it was finally was at a breaking pointing. He had me list every single strange symptom I could remember throughout life and take note if they paralleled difficult or traumatic events. They did. Every last symptom.

When I got on that call, I was certain that I would end up in a wheelchair because the widespread pain had become so bad. After that call, my pain significantly decreased day after day until it was gone.

KNOWLEDGE is most definitely power when it comes to our nervous systems.

If you are struggling with chronic pain or other strange symptoms, I would love to share with you all the ways yoga and creative practices help to reduce and eliminate symptoms as they arise.

If you are curious about this work and what I offer, please reach out. I am determined to help end as much needless suffering as I can!

In Love,

Tammy

ps- I offer two weekly community yoga classes at my home (3895 N. Chapin Rd) on Sundays 10:30-11:45 (this week cancelled) and Wednesday 7:45-9pm. You can text to RSVP 248-496-1047

This was from today's email. If you'd like to sign up go to my website 🪷

Home page of Made for the Garden Healing Home Studio. Tammy Chouinard- trauma informed artist and yoga teacher

07/17/2026

Friends and Neighbors-

Sunday mornings Yoga class is cancelled this week due to unexpected weather and family matters.

Next class is WEDNESDAY SUNSET YOGA from 7:45-9 pm. If air quality is still poor, we will practice in indoor space.

Have a blessed weekend and BE well. 🥰

07/15/2026

So bummed to cancel this evenings WEDNESDAY SUNSET YOGA class, but the air quality is terrible and not worth the risk.

PRAYERS for all those who struggle to breath and sending so much love and light to all things in this wildfires path.

♥️

07/14/2026

Many humans find it impossible to believe that our brains can generate pain without there being an actual structural injury or problem.

However, all the latest research on chronic pain tells a story far more empowering than most of us are ready to embrace.

OUR BRAINS ARE "PLASTIC" (not hardwired) AND WE CAN HEAL MOST OF OUR CHRONIC PAIN by simply understanding how the brain and our nervous systems work together.

Neuroplastic pain is pain generated by the brain because it senses fear. Every second we are alive, our brilliant nervous systems are scanning EVERYTHING to ensure our safety and when it catches even a whiff of something off, it can sound an alarm. It acts on our behalf to keep us safe without us even knowing it. The alarms are usually "symptoms" we've had for years.

Headaches. Digestive issues. Anxiety. Depression. Back pain. Neck pain. Hip pain. Skin issues. TMJ. Carpal tunnel. And on and on and on.

If you've got chronic pain that comes and goes and worsens during stressful times, it's very likely neuroplastic.

I have worked to heal my own chronic pain for years now. At one point I was certain I would end up unable to walk as my pain got so bad, but today I live a mostly pain free life. More, I know how to engage with pain, without entering into a fear cycle that fuels the pain.

Being in pain sucks the life right out of you, but it doesn't have to be that way 🥰 I am determined and passionate about sharing all I know about regulating the nervous system to anyone who will listen.

THIS WISDOM CAN CHANGE LIVES.

If you are suffering with chronic issues, I'd love to support you in recovery.

I do private sessions, both online and in-person.

www.tammychouinard.com

07/13/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14ryACJgQeT/

Your body isn’t broken. It’s not sabotaging you. It’s not the enemy.

It’s your brain that’s working overtime, scanning for danger and sending pain signals to keep you safe, even when there’s nothing left to protect you from. That’s not malfunction. That’s a nervous system doing its job a little too well.

Once you understand that, everything shifts. You’re not fighting your own body anymore. You’re teaching an overprotective brain that it’s safe to stand down.

Save this for the days you need a gentler story about your pain. 💚

07/12/2026

A dear cousin surprised me this week by sending this old photo of me, my brother and my Mamaw and Papa. My body instantly responded with tears when I looked into my dark brown eyes. I also had to laugh and smile because I have always loved little halter tops. The less clothes the better. 😍

There is nothing I would go back and "tell" this girl (she wouldn't listen anyway), but boy would I love to wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. BE with her and teach her to BE with herself. That would be the most helpful wisdom to impart on that sweet little soul and every other little soul born.

RADICAL PRESENCE.

Practicing presence can be a hurdle many of us avoid for many good reasons. As a child with BIG feelings, I was always running from ME and them as hard and fast as I could. But, while movement is key to health, running away from still moments of BEING and FEELING is not.

When we run from big feelings, our nervous systems senses fear and sound alarms that show up in many different ways in the body. Here's a few:

Chronic back and neck pain, tension headaches, migraines, Fibromyalgia, Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).Chronic dizziness, vertigo, and tinnitus.Unexplained burning, tingling, numbness, or "pins and needles".Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), non-ulcer dyspepsia, acid reflux, and spastic colon.Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Interstitial cystitis, chronic pelvic pain, and irritable bladder....
And even MORE, sadly.

If you want to learn about nervous system regulation and how it may be impacting your health message me today.

More info here: www.tammychouinard.com

07/11/2026

Next Yoga class- SUNDAY from 10:30-11:45 am on my Porch in Merrill at 3895 N. Chapin. This is a donation based and very gentle class 🪷

This photo is a sneak peek of a painting I am almost finished with after 5 years. Her name came to me this week as painting names often do- in a flash and out of nowhere...well, kinda 🥰 I can't wait to share the finished piece.

I've been painting out on the porch this week and it has been so good for my body and mind. Switching things up and doing things differently is so good for us and opens doors to new thoughts and ideas. Being outdoors is always that way for me. I want to do everything I can outside whether its hot or cold.

Give me Nature!

If you want to paint or do yoga, please reach out. I teach both and use them in my own life to keep my mind and body well. Both practices are scientifically proven to help regulate nervous systems that have been in heightened states for long periods of time. These prolonged states result in anxiety, depression, chronic pain and a whole host of other symptoms that can be reduced and even eliminated with simple daily practices like yoga, meditation and creative expression.

You can learn more about what I do here: www.tammychouinard.com

07/10/2026

Do you need to RETREAT to a little porch swing in the middle of farm country and catch your breath? 🥰

I offer Day, Overnight and Weekend Retreats. Check out the details here: https://tammychouinard.com/workshops-and-retreats

07/09/2026

Hi. My name is Tammy and I am one of countless humans who have struggled all through life with anxiety, depression and endless other symptoms.

As a baby, I cried a lot.

As a child, I had tantrums.

As an adolescent, I had fits.

And, as an adult, I have been enraged more times than I can recall.

RAGE is but one of the many "ways" I tried to cope with big emotions I had no idea what to do with. Others were:

drinking
drugs
s*x
food

Other people find other "ways", but we all find them, good and bad.

I have spent the past decade coming to understand my "ways" and then deciding whether or not they serve me. It's been liberating and brutal, but I am so thankful for the journey and where it has me today:

READY TO SERVE 🥰

I offer an 8 week course called Returning to the Garden that helps bring understanding to our lived experiences and how our nervous systems have decided to respond.

If you are anxious, depressed and struggle with chronic pain and other symptoms, I'd love to share this work with you. It changed my life and still helps me to heal old and new wounds every day.

Life changing doesn't seem big enough word to describe what this wisdom can do.

Find out more here: www.tammychouinard.com