How I finally stopped trying to fix everyone — and started healing myself

One day, it all became too much.

When I was in Ibiza with David, my idea of what I wanted to do completely crashed.

We spent six months taking care of the SOMA Villa — a beautiful space used for retreats. Every month, new groups arrived. David, my husband, was teaching future SOMA Breath Instructors alongside other facilitators. I was in the kitchen, cooking for everyone, and once or twice during each retreat, I’d guide a SOMA Breath Yoga session.

I loved cooking — I still do. But what I hadn’t expected was how intense the energy of a retreat environment could be when you’re living and working in it full-time.

As facilitators, we were all passionate and dedicated, but the mix of personalities, egos, and expectations was… a lot. Each retreat reflected something different back to me — my need for harmony, my sensitivity to tension, my tendency to take responsibility for everyone’s comfort. It was never about anyone being “bad” — it was about how easily I absorbed what was around me.

One day, it all became too much.

I drove out to do the groceries and ended up pulling over on the side of the road. I sat there, sobbing. Tears streaming down my cheeks. It was that kind of crying that comes from somewhere ancient — a pain I couldn’t name.

When I thought I was done, I restarted the car, tried to pull onto the road, and nearly caused an accident. I was so… off. Not just confused — there was anger, deep sadness. I knew I had always carried this sadness, but I didn’t know why.

That moment was the turning point. I decided that my emotional health had to come first. I looked at my life and realised how often I had bent for others, put them first, told myself I’ll heal later. I stopped pretending I was fine — because clearly, I wasn’t.

It wasn’t just about Ibiza or the people. It was years of keeping the peace, proving I could handle it, staying small so others could shine. I was fading away to let everyone else be the star. What I truly longed for was to be seen — not as the cook, but as the healer I was becoming.

When Emotional Root Healing came into my life, I didn’t just want a few sessions — I wanted to learn how to do it. I hadn’t even had a session yet, but I knew — deep down — this would be the game changer.

My first session (during my yearlong teacher training) was mind-blowing. I went back to when I was in my mother’s womb. I sensed her longing to be free from her parents — her dreams, her wishes — and how those dreams shattered the moment she realised her life was about to change.

I wasn’t feeling her sadness; I was feeling mine — the deep sense of not being wanted. That moment revealed one of the first pieces of the puzzle, a root of the sadness I had carried all my life. And when I let it go, something inside me lifted.

It’s hard to put into words what happens after a session like that — it’s as if a weight dissolves, leaving only lightness, joy, and quiet calm.

I used to fix everyone else to avoid feeling my own pain. Now I see that real healing began the moment I turned that care inward — when I stopped trying to save and finally started to listen.

About the author

Chantal Genecand is a SOMA Breath® Advanced Instructor, Emotional Root Healer, and yoga teacher. She guides women to reconnect with their emotional truth, release survival patterns, and return to a life rooted in authenticity and peace — alongside her husband and co-facilitator, David Genecand.

If this resonates with you, don’t hesitate to book a free consultation today.

Also, we invite you to follow us on social media, check our instragram and our facebook page for more information. And check all our blog post content here.

Categories: : blog