As we journey through life, we naturally gravitate towards familiar patterns and behaviors that have proven effective for us in the past. However, this inclination to stick with what we know, even when it no longer serves us, can inadvertently perpetuate our own suffering. Similarly, our muscles exhibit a tendency to retain and repeat patterns of tension and constriction as a subconscious response to trauma, stress, or grief. This muscular memory can lead to a lingering physical holding pattern, resulting in symptoms such as pain, inflammation, reduced mobility, and compromised posture, long after the initial experience has passed.
Somatic movement, also called somatic therapy or somatic exercise, offers a transformative approach to addressing these deeply ingrained patterns of tension and pain. Somatic movement involves deliberate, mindful movements designed to re-educate the muscles, prompting them to release held tension and return to a state of equilibrium. These conscious, subtle movements also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for inducing a sense of calm and rest within the body. With consistent practice, somatic movement can result in parasympathetic dominance, or a state in which our ‘rest and digest’ system is more active than our ‘fight or flight’ system.
What is Somatic Movement?
Somatic movement consists of gentle, subtle movements and inward exploration of our body’s response to them. Unlike traditional exercise routines that often prioritize external performance and appearance, somatic movement’s emphasis is on internal sensations, feelings, and perceptions during movement, encouraging participants to explore and understand their bodies on a deeper level. Like yoga, Ayurveda, and other holistic healing modalities, the concept behind somatic movement links both physical and emotional issues to a disconnect in the mind-body connection and lack of awareness of what our body is telling us to address.
When we experience situations that trigger a trauma response within us, our bodies often store the memory of that trauma. This stored memory can manifest in various physical and emotional ways, impacting our overall well-being. The body’s response to trauma can result in muscular tension, heightened stress levels, and emotional distress, all of which can persist long after the initial traumatic event. These stored memories may influence our behaviors, thought patterns, and even our physical health.
Somatic movement can retrain or reset the brain and what it tells our muscles to do, allowing us to move with greater ease and efficiency. By engaging in gentle, mindful movements and exploring subtle nuances in body sensations, somatic movement helps to create a heightened sense of body awareness. This heightened awareness allows for recognition and release of unconscious holding patterns, leading to improved posture, flexibility, and overall movement quality.
Somatic movement can be practiced on your own, one-on-one with a practitioner, or in a group/class setting. A somatic movement class will flow similarly to a yoga class, and typically involve an opening meditation or breathing exercise, a series of guided movements, and a closing mindfulness exercise. By emphasizing breath, movement, and awareness, somatic movement helps release stored trauma by providing a safe space to explore and release physical and emotional tension held within the body. This approach allows for the gradual release of trauma and the restoration of a sense of wholeness and well-being.
Defining Trauma
The concept of trauma encompasses both physical and psychological elements. Physical trauma involves bodily injury resulting from events such as accidents or sports injuries, while psychological trauma can stem from experiences like the early death of a parent, neglect, or other distressing events. Some experiences, such as sexual or physical abuse, can lead to both physical and psychological trauma. Trauma can be categorized into three types—acute trauma resulting from a single incident, chronic trauma stemming from prolonged exposure to trauma-inducing events, and complex trauma involving exposure to multiple traumatic events, both acute and chronic.
It’s important to recognize that trauma exists on a spectrum and is influenced by an individual’s perception of a situation rather than the situation itself. Essentially, trauma encompasses anything that an individual perceives as distressing or disturbing. Even seemingly non-extreme situations such as bullying, chronic work stress, and personal relationship problems can trigger responses in our nervous systems similar to those caused by extreme events, especially when these issues persist over time. Trauma isn’t reserved for extreme situations such as physical abuse or neglect, although those situations are certainly traumatic. Trauma is deeply personal, as what may be traumatic for one person may not be distressing for another.
The body has a remarkable capacity to store traumatic experiences, and somatic movement offers a unique pathway for addressing and releasing these stored traumas. When an individual experiences trauma, whether physical or emotional, the body’s natural response is to protect itself by storing the unresolved experiences in the form of muscular tension, postural patterns, and restricted movement. Over time, these somatic manifestations of trauma can contribute to chronic pain, discomfort, and a diminished sense of well-being. Somatic movement practices provide a safe and gentle approach to accessing and releasing these stored traumas, allowing practitioners to gradually unravel and release the physical and emotional residues of past experiences.
Somatic Movement Benefits
– Release of chronic muscular tension
– Improved posture and flexibility
– Stress reduction and relaxation
– Enhanced body awareness
– Mind-body connection
– Management of stress and anxiety
– Greater sense of physical comfort
– Mental and emotional well-being
In somatic movement, it is best to engage in physical movements at a deliberately slow pace. This allows our nervous system the necessary time to relearn and adapt its response patterns. Just like with meditation and yoga, consistency is key, as it takes time for these new responses to take hold. It’s important to approach the movements with intent and focused awareness; when our mind and body are aligned and in harmony, we can achieve the best results. Through acceptance of our current physical state, we can effectively release tension and disperse old, stored energy within us. This heightened awareness and intentional focus during movement can lead to profound transformative effects on our overall well-being.
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Does somatic movement sound like something that you might benefit from? If so, we welcome you to join us at Inspiring Actions and experience it for yourself! Our Somatic Movement class, held at our River Falls studio, offers the perfect opportunity to explore this healing practice. During the class, you’ll participate in a series of gentle somatic exercises aimed at releasing long-held muscular tension in a supportive and inclusive setting. No prior experience is required, so everyone is welcome to join. This class will help reestablish your mind-body connection and provide you with tools you can use to practice body awareness in your daily life.
At Inspiring Actions, we extend a warm welcome to individuals at every stage of their yoga journey, whether you’re taking your first steps onto the mat or have been practicing for years. In addition to our Somatic Movement class, we provide a diverse range of yoga styles to cater to everyone’s preferences, including Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa, and more. Our offerings extend beyond regular classes as we host a variety of monthly special events such as rejuvenating sound healing sessions, kid’s yoga classes, informative workshops, and a fun book club! We believe in the transformative power of yoga and its ability to positively impact lives, ultimately creating ripple effects that enrich entire communities.
Join us in this journey of self-discovery and community building through the practice of yoga!
