Somatic movement is a type of movement that is performed consciously with the intention of focusing on the internal experience of the movement rather than the external appearance or result of the movement. The term "somatic" means "of or relating to the living body," and it has long been used in medical terminology like somatic cell, somatic nervous system, somatic disorder, and somatic pain. Somatic movement can be used to describe a variety of forms of movement and healing modalities, such as somatic yoga, somatic experiencing, somatic psychology, somatic therapy, or somatic dance therapy.
Key features of somatic movement include:
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Internal focus: Somatic movement is exploratory in nature and must be performed consciously, with complete internal focus and attention. Conscious attention is key to the learning process; we cant learn something new if we arent aware of what were doing.
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Quality over quantity: Even when we practice a somatic movement with the intention of improving our posture or movement in a specific way, we still need to be focused on the internal experience of the movement rather than on the end result. Its not about the quantity, its about the quality.
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Interoception: Somatic movement builds interoception, which is the ability to sense and understand what is happening inside our bodies. This helps us make better and more clear choices about our well-being.
Somatic movement can be performed through various exercises, such as somatic stretching, rolfing, Body-Mind Centering, Alexander technique, Feldenkrais method, and Laban movement analysis. Somatic movement can also be used for self-care through gentle movement series to promote mind-body connection and well-being.
It is important to note that somatic movement can pose some risks when its not practiced properly, so its highly recommended to work with a practitioner who has specialized training. If you have any concerns about whether somatic exercises are right for you, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider before attempting any type of somatic movement.
