What is Somatics? Five Somatic Awareness Tips
From a park bench with daffodils, to your desk chair to your bed…
Somatic Awareness Practice can happen anywhere!
Have you ever wondered where sayings like ‘pain in the neck, ‘knot in the stomach,’ or ‘lump in the throat’ come from? It's interesting to think about how our bodies reflect what's going on in our minds and souls. We call these physical signs of our mental and emotional states ‘somatic expressions.’
Truth be told, I've understood the importance of mind-body connection for quite some time. Yet, the term 'somatic' seemed a bit daunting until just a few years ago, when I delved into the world of presence-based coaching and the Enneagram system.
So, if you’re like me, I’ve got you! Let’s break it down, make it digestible, and then explore 5 simple ways to integrate somatic awareness practice.
To begin, Somatic is simply a fancy term for describing our connection to the body. Somatic awareness involves directing attention from the mind to bodily experiences.
The root word soma encompasses the first-person whole of ourselves on all levels. It also includes awareness of our inner landscape and emotions, thoughts and feelings. It's so incredible the wisdom our bodies hold and communicate to us when we listen!
Let’s keep going! There are two more helpful terms to be mindful of when being in the flow of the mind-body connection for enhancing overall health and well-being.
Interoception is the fancy word about feeling sensations from inside your body. Like when you can feel your heartbeat, or your breath, or recognizing when you’re full, as well as sensing the activity of your autonomic nervous system (which is tied to your emotions). This is the primary role of the vagus nerve. 80% of its function is just this…sensory.
The Vagus Nerve:
An integral part of the Autonomic Nervous System
The other fancy word is Exteroception, which connects to the senses (touch, pressure, taste, smell, vision, hearing, proprioception, movement) and the information from our environment. These 2 ways of experiencing ourselves and the world provide information about safety. And, all of this is relevant in a somatic awareness practice. Yay, science!
Although we’ve evolved and adapted to our environment in many ways, there are times we find ourselves out of balance and we might not know why. By cultivating a strong mind-body connection and somatic awareness practices (listen to the whole of our body’s wisdom) we really can experience profound impacts in every element of our lives.
So what then, is ‘somatics’? Simply put, it’s the personal, holistic experience we witness in our own self. Both external and internal, emotions, sensations and feelings all informing us for deeper self-awareness.
Now for some tips…
Here are FIVE TIPS for SOMATIC AWARENESS PRACTICE:
Acknowledge Your Intention:
This is important. I do believe we can practice somatic awareness in all sorts of different places and time frames. Because of this, it’s really important to create your own sacred space and name consciously for yourself what you’re doing. “I’m checking in to my body.” “I’m taking a time-out-check-in moment” or whatever you want to call it.
Get Comfortable:
Whether at your desk, standing in the kitchen, lying in bed, sitting outside or riding in the car. Settle in to your seat or stance, make adjustments to your clothing, work out any kinks, “feather your nest”, breathe and get comfy.
Close Your Eyes and Have Quiet:
There are so many external stimulations. Closing your eyes, even putting a pillow or cloth over your eyes can be helpful. Eliminating background noise as much as possible also opens channels for you to hear more of your own internal communications and signals.
Get “Curious with Compassion”:
Notice. Focus on your toes, your fingers, your heart beat and so on. But the key here is to do this noticing with a spirit of curiosity and self-compassion. Put that inner-critic aside, please. And when you notice your mind wandering, that’s ok! Just say kindly, “come on back here” and carry on. It’s all a part of the practice.
Be Creative and Keep Practicing:
Learning new things takes practice. But practice doesn’t have to mean burden. What will have lasting power is discovering what feels good to you and your mind-body-heart connection. While the benefits of Somatic Awareness are serious, the practice can be playful, creative and experimental. Oh…and one more bonus tip…
Breathe:
The magical, powerful, healing gift of mindful breathing is not to be taken for granted. Use your breath to help you access parts of your body. Breathe into your mind for calm. Breathe from the diaphragm. Breathe into your ankles and so on. It’s pretty cool.
Let’s keep practicing together! And as always, reach out with any questions, thoughts or comments. I love hearing from you.
Sending Grounded Peace and All Good Things Your Way,
💚 ~ Molly
P.S. I’m committed to continued practice both personally and professionally. If you’re curious about somatic awareness and want to keep exploring, these options are for you! Please join me.
The People’s Healing Collective is a monthly gathering that blends the somatic and spiritual during our 45 minutes together. We meet every Third Thursday of the month. Click here to register.
1:1 Coaching Sessions care for your whole self, including mind, heart and body. Click here to schedule a free 30 minute Chemistry Call with me. Or email me directly at molly@walktalkcoach.co. I’d love to connect with you.
