How to Bring Somatic Movements into Our Daily Routine
You’ve read the theories before, now how do we actually incorporate somatic movements daily?
As we are riding this swelling wave of emotional journey that is life, our bodies observe, record and guide us through it. The muscles, joints, skin, the hairlines - all of them - collect the stamps of all the experiences from the elation of joy to the pain of trauma and isolation of shame.
That stiffness in your hips, the chronic pain in your thighs, the weird sensations in your chest that you can't seem to shake every time you're scared, imagine if we can gently work with these parts of us so that we can heal and understand ourselves better? That's where somatic practice comes in.
What are somatic movement practices?
Somatic practice is doing any movement (or lack thereof) that emphasizes the internal experience rather than the external appearance or outcomes. With slow movements and mindfulness, somatic practice asks us to observe what we feel in our body as we move through our breaths, stretches, movements and stillness.
How to incorporate somatic movement and practice into our daily routine:
Start or end the day with a body scan: Take the time early or late in the day to sit or lie down comfortably and direct your attention through different parts of the body. Observe the sensations that your body is telling you without the need to respond or judge. You can also try this guided somatic morning and evening routine for a more dynamic observation.
Add movements and practices that can ground you throughout the day: As we move through our day, grounding movements can support us to recalibrate, reset and allow flow of bodily and emotional tension out of the system. Practicing to ground throughout the day will give us the tool to support us navigate and heal throughout the day. Try this guided mindful breathing or explore movements that involve pandiculation (a process similar to yawning).
Take small breaks to move mindfully: Similar to the practice of grounding ourselves throughout the day, take the time for breaks and use it to move with intention and intuition. A simple stretch of the arm, a brisk 3 minutes walk are all great as long as we move while observing the body and what sensations or feelings we are experiencing. Just be curious about them without needing to respond or judge.
Incorporate somatic practice on your next yoga practice: Rather than focusing on how the pose should look like, take your next yoga or other wellness activities as a time to be a keen observer of yourself. "What am I feeling?" or "does this work for me right now?" are a few great questions to ask as you observe yourself in your practice.
Through this small, intentional choices we make meaningful change and healing from the inside. We hope these practices can help you to move towards the healing, ease and well-being you desire.