Case Study: EI Breakthrough Using Jenga + Somatic Method – Transforming Long-Term Stress (Delhi & Amsterdam)

Why This Case Study Matters

Many leaders, professionals and coaches live with long-term stress that has become so normal they barely notice it – until the body starts shouting. This case study shows how a combination of Jenga Emotional Intelligence Model™ + somatic method + NLP-based emotional fitness helped participants from Delhi and Amsterdam experience a tangible breakthrough.

This is not just an “inspiring story”. It is a practical example of how emotional intelligence, somatic work and play-based Jenga exercises can integrate into a structured Emotional Fitness Gym® process.

Background: Two Participants, Two Continents, One Pattern

In one Emotional Fitness Gym® workshop, we had:

A senior professional from Delhi – juggling leadership responsibilities, family expectations and chronic self-pressure.
A creative professional from Amsterdam – successful on the outside, but internally drained by long-term anxiety and people-pleasing patterns.

Both described themselves as “high-functioning but exhausted”. They had already read about emotional intelligence and tried basic stress management tips, but the body-level stress kept returning.

Step 1 – Mapping Emotional Patterns Using the Jenga EI Model™

We began with the Jenga Emotional Intelligence Model™, the same core element used in my Emotional Fitness Gym® workshop and Gamified EI experiences.

Each participant built a Jenga tower where each block represented:

Key roles – Leader, Parent, Partner, Friend, Professional.
Hidden beliefs – “I can’t fail”, “I must always be available”, “If I say no, they will leave”.
Emotional patterns – suppressed anger, guilt, shame, fear of conflict, fear of being judged.

As they labelled blocks, their nervous systems began responding. You could see micro-reactions in the body – changes in breath, posture, eye contact – as they touched certain “high-charge” blocks. This is where somatic emotional intelligence becomes crucial.

Step 2 – Somatic Awareness: Where Does Long-Term Stress Live?

Next, we shifted focus from thoughts to somatic method for long-term stress. Participants were guided through a body scan for emotional awareness:

Delhi participant – noticed a tight band across the chest and shoulders whenever they touched blocks labelled “responsibility” and “family”.
Amsterdam participant – felt a heaviness in the stomach and a subtle shaking in the legs when interacting with blocks labelled “clients” and “rejection”.

This stage connected emotional intelligence in the workplace with somatic signals. Instead of just saying “I feel stressed”, they could now specify: “I feel stress as a contraction here and a shaking there.”

Step 3 – Jenga + Somatic Interventions

We then combined Jenga-based emotional intelligence workshop elements with somatic emotional breakthrough techniques:

Breath + touch – placing a hand on the area of tension (chest or stomach) while breathing slowly and maintaining gentle focus on the block that triggered it.
Safe movement – allowing micro-movements (shoulder rolls, small shakes in the legs, soft stretching) while keeping attention on the emotional theme.
Block re-labelling – rewriting labels from “I must not fail” to “I learn and adapt” or from “I must be available 24x7” to “I can serve best with healthy boundaries”.

Throughout this, we used NLP language patterns and timeline work in the background, so the new meanings anchored in both mind and body. This is the essence of Emotional Fitness Gym® – emotional intelligence plus somatic and behavioural training.

Step 4 – Before & After: What Changed?

By the end of the workshop, both participants reported noticeable shifts.

Delhi Participant – From Tightness to Grounded Presence

Chest tightness reduced from a “9/10” to “3/10” when discussing work and family responsibilities.
They could now say “no” to unrealistic demands without collapsing into guilt.
In follow-up, they reported fewer late-night overthinking episodes and better sleep.

Amsterdam Participant – From Constant Anxiety to Emotional Clarity

Stomach heaviness eased; they described feeling “lighter and more spacious inside”.
They recognised how people-pleasing had become part of their identity and started setting small boundaries with clients.
Follow-up showed reduced physical anxiety symptoms before client calls.

These are real examples of emotional intelligence transformation stories when EI is combined with somatic method for long-term stress and Jenga emotional intelligence case work.

Case Study Patterns Across Cities

Over multiple batches with participants from Delhi, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Bangalore, London, New York, Singapore, Dubai, similar patterns keep showing up:

High-functioning professionals carrying silent emotional overload.
Leaders and senior managers whose bodies show stress before their minds admit it.
Coaches, therapists and HR professionals who help others but rarely give their own nervous system the same care.

This is why the Emotional Fitness Gym® model is designed as a repeatable, practical system – not a one-time motivational talk.

Where This Fits in the Bigger EI Ecosystem

This case study sits alongside other EI resources in the Knowledge Hub such as:

And it connects to solutions and programs such as:

Applicability for Different Roles

This kind of emotional intelligence workshop case study is especially relevant if you are:

Senior leader / manager dealing with long-term stress in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, London, New York.
Team manager or HR leader in Amsterdam, Singapore, Dubai wanting real behaviour change from EI programs.
Coach or therapist looking for Jenga emotional intelligence case studies and somatic method for long-term stress tools.

What You Can Take From This Case Study

Even if you never attend a workshop, you can still apply some principles from this case:

Treat your body as a key signal source – notice where stress sits and how it changes.
Externalise your inner world – use blocks, cards or diagrams to represent roles, expectations and beliefs.
Make small, embodied changes – breath, posture, micro-movements – while holding new, more compassionate meanings.

Next Steps – If You See Yourself in This Story

If this case study feels familiar, here are practical next steps:

Read the broader EI framework in The Complete EI Guide.
If you want a workshop experience, check out the Emotional Fitness Gym® workshop and Gamified EI.
If you want a structured transformation journey, explore:

Who Is Behind This Work?

This case study is part of the Emotional Fitness Gym® ecosystem created by Anil Dagia – NLP Master Trainer, ICF PCC mentor coach and creator of multiple pioneering models combining NLP, Emotional Intelligence, Somatic work and Jenga.

To understand the integrity and track record behind this framework, explore:

Common Search Phrases Related to This Case Study

“emotional intelligence case study”, “emotional intelligence workshop case study”.
“jenga emotional intelligence case study”, “gamified emotional intelligence case study”.
“somatic method for long-term stress”, “somatic method for chronic stress”.
“emotional intelligence stress breakthrough in Delhi / Amsterdam / Mumbai / Bangalore / London / New York / Singapore / Dubai”.

If you’re ready to turn your own long-term stress into a transformation story, Emotional Fitness Gym® gives you a structured, embodied path to do it.

Frequently Asked Questions – EI Breakthrough Case Study

What does this EI case study from Delhi and Amsterdam demonstrate?

This case study shows how the Jenga Emotional Intelligence Model™ and somatic methods were used to help two professionals from Delhi and Amsterdam transform long-term stress patterns. By combining Jenga-based externalisation, body awareness, breathwork and NLP reframing, both participants experienced reduced physical tension and clearer emotional boundaries. The case illustrates how Emotional Fitness Gym® integrates emotional intelligence concepts with practical, embodied tools.

Is the Jenga + somatic method only used in Delhi and Amsterdam, or in other cities as well?

The Jenga + somatic method described in this case study has been used with participants from many cities, including Delhi, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Bangalore, London, New York, Singapore and Dubai. The Delhi and Amsterdam examples are highlighted here because they show how similar long-term stress patterns can appear in very different cultures, and how the same Emotional Fitness Gym® approach can help people shift those patterns in a practical, respectful way.

Who can benefit from this type of emotional intelligence and somatic work?

Leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, coaches and HR practitioners who live with chronic stress or emotional overload can benefit from this integrated approach. Participants in cities like Delhi, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Bangalore, London, New York, Zurich, Singapore and Dubai often describe themselves as high-functioning but exhausted. The Jenga + somatic method gives them a safe, structured way to see their emotional patterns, feel where stress is stored in the body and begin releasing it with guidance.

Does this case study replace the need for therapy or clinical treatment?

No. This case study is an example of how Emotional Fitness Gym® uses Jenga, somatic practices and NLP within a personal development and coaching context. It is not a substitute for therapy, psychiatry or clinical treatment. Participants from Delhi, Amsterdam or any other city who have a history of trauma or mental health conditions should continue to work with qualified healthcare professionals while using Emotional Fitness Gym® as an additional emotional fitness and self-regulation pathway.

How can I experience this kind of EI breakthrough for myself?

If you relate to the patterns in this case study, you can explore the Emotional Fitness Gym® ecosystem. Options include joining the Emotional Fitness Gym® workshop, participating in Gamified EI with Jenga, or enrolling in deeper journeys such as the Jenga + NLP + Somatic Practices Emotional Intelligence track and the Somatic Emotional Mastery Program. These are accessible to participants from Delhi, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Bangalore, London, New York, Singapore, Dubai and many other locations through in-person and online formats.