Somatic Yoga & #Movement Therapy

Soma comes from a Greek word connoting “The Living Body” – pertaining to the consciousness of our living body, experienced and regulated from within. It is an exploration into waking up our innate senses to uncover our mind-body mapping.

A somatic movement is made with a focus on the internal movement instead of on the external movement. Internal movement is very different from most physical or exercise training. Because his internal way of moving builds your cognizance (self-sensing) it helps you feel good. And, as you master this skill, you will make better and more clear choices about your well-being.

Somatic Movement involves a series of specific exercises that reconnect the brain with the muscles so you can let go of tightness in the body. The movements are slow and mindful, and are performed on the floor, so your body is more comfortable and isn’t fighting against gravity.  No pain = more gain!

Somatic Movement Therapy is a gentle rhythmic movement gives you the tools you need to access the wisdom stored in your body. It helps unwind tension habits that cause pain. Somatic Movement helps you transform unhealthy habits caused by physical injuries, trauma, personal habits, or even skipped developmental stages.

Brain plasticity is the ability of your nervous system to change patterns and habits by reorganizing how it does things. Having a brain that can change improves how you move your muscles, how you perceive balance, how you react to outer stress, or when you notice tiredness, hunger or emotion. A reorganized brain changes and can help how you respond to any threats you perceive. This is very important for anyone in chronic pain or who has high sensitivity (HSP), because you can change how you experience the world around you.

What are Somatic Principles?

• It is body centered to improve awareness of the body-mind connection
• It is a sensory approach (rather than cognitive approach) to learning / unlearning / relearning
• It is exploratory in nature, based on the premise that the body is shaped by the mind, and that the mind can be reshaped through the body
• It is focused on the internal experience of the movement rather than on the end result.

Benefits Of Somatic Movement Yoga

Somatic Movement yoga is useful for many challenges. Here are a few:

• Pain and stress management or alleviation
• Sexual health and pelvic floor issues
• Balance
• Difficulties with smooth or fluid movement
• Nervous system calming and meditation
• Trauma and injury recovery
• Fitness training
• Anxiety, worry, despair, and mental health concerns
• Alleviating Parkinson’s symptoms
• Meeting loss and grief

The many benefits of Somatic Yoga

Somatic Yoga can improve posture, mobility, strength, balance, coordination and proprioception. It can reduce neuromuscular pain and symptoms related to chronically tight muscles such as headaches, frozen shoulder and breathing issues. It can mitigate symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleeping issues and fatigue.

The right approach can significantly improve your quality of life and maintain these gains over time. Try Somatic Movement to relieve your symptoms, reduce your pain, and feel confident to live life to the fullest. 

Make Yoga Practice a “Somatic” Practice.

1) Breathe: try to keep a slow, even, steady, and comfortable pace of breathing, through your nose where possible.

2) Move slowly and consciously: notice what it takes to make a movement occur or what it takes to hold your body in a yoga pose.

3) Move gently and with as little effort as possible: notice where you hold “secret” unnecessary tension, such as in your face, shoulders, or hands.

4) Somatic movement shouldn’t be painful: don’t force any movement and see what movement and what poses you can inhabit without causing pain.

5) Be persistent, patient, and positive: don’t expect your body to change by sheer determination. Relax. Give yourself time to explore what is there and find gratitude with what you have as you patiently and compassionately explore. 

READY TO TAKE FULL OWNERSHIP OF YOUR HEALTH