Healing Through Movement Part 3: The Amazing Benefits of Somatic Movement

We hear a lot about somatic movement these days, and there’s a good reason for it. As

we learn more about the mind/body connection, the management of chronic pain, and

the mental and physical processing of grief and trauma, we discover a practice that can

address it all.

In the health and wellness industry, the term “somatic” has become something of a

buzzword. But any type of movement or therapy that involves focus on the mind/body

connection can be described as somatic. In somatic practice, we focus on the internal

sensation and experience of a movement instead of pushing our bodies to move in a

certain way.

Simply put, somatic movement is mindful movement that encourages us to observe how

we feel as we move our bodies. Somatic stretching helps promote mind-body

awareness, reduce stress, and ease muscle tension. While the practice of somatic

movement is specific and considered a category unto its own, other mind-body

practices such as yoga, tai chi, Pilates, and even mindful walking are all forms of

somatic movement.

The key is in how you approach your practice. When moving mindfully, it's not about the

number of reps or speed of movement and agility. The emphasis is on the process and

what you’re feeling in your body at that moment. This means that what you experience

will likely be unique with every practice.

First and foremost, somatic movement is exploratory. Even when practicing somatic

movement with the intention of releasing muscle tension, relieving pain, improving

posture, or letting go of stress, there is still a need to focus on exploring the internal

experience and process of our movements rather than the end result.

This can be a challenge for a lot of us at first. We’re accustomed to doing certain

movements a certain number of times so that we can achieve a certain goal. But that

doesn’t allow us to discover the long-held patterns that exist within us, and it doesn’t

allow us to develop new, healthy patterns of movement.

Practicing somatic movement is very different from doing sit ups or pushups; it’s not

about the quantity or intensity, it’s about the quality of exploration and conscious

attention to internal sensations.

The human nervous system, which controls muscle tension, posture, and movement,

must learn slowly. The goal is to forge new neural pathways rather than reinforce

existing patterns that are deeply learned in our nervous systems. Over time, we can

gradually speed up to perform movements more quickly while still maintaining correct

form and muscular control. This allows us to address ingrained motor patterns and

eventually retrain our muscle memories.

Our muscles need a deep release from the tension our brains are telling us to hold onto.

Retraining our muscle memories can promote the release of chronic muscle tension,

provide relief from chronic pain, improve our posture, and aid in recovery from many

common musculoskeletal conditions.

Whether guided by a certified instructor, or practiced on our own as part of a self-care

regimen, somatic movement can release tension, relieve pain, and improve our somatic

functioning throughout our lives. Be present, be patient, and prepare to be amazed by

the many benefits of somatic movement.

THE BENEFITS:

Stress management: Somatic therapy can help reduce stress and address physical and

emotional issues.

Pain relief: Somatic movement can help reduce physical pain, especially pain caused by

unnecessary muscle tension.

Improved mobility: Somatic movement can help improve mobility and range of motion.

Improved posture and balance: Regular somatic movement can help improve posture

and balance.

Mind-body connection: Somatic stretching can help strengthen the mind-body

connection, which can help with overall health management.

Trauma healing: Somatic Experiencing can help heal trauma by helping people notice

suppressed physical sensations associated with trauma.

Standing awareness: Somatic exercises can help people become more aware of their

bodies and pinpoint tense or painful areas.

Easier breathing: Combining somatic movement sequences with breathing can help

people relax their muscles and reduce feelings of tightness and pain.

Mind-body integration: Somatic mindfulness can help create mind-body integration

and reduce hyperarousal in the nervous system.

Tension release: Somatic release is a series of small movements that can relieve pain

and excess tension.