"The only times I’ve ever finished a workout and felt regret is when I left knowing that I really didn’t put my all into it like I could have. Maybe it was because I was unmotivated, tired, or just straight up didn’t feel like being on my mat, but instead of putting intention into the exercises I was doing, I coasted through them just to get them over with. This always leaves me feeling like I didn’t give it my all or really give my body what it needed, whether my intention for the exercises was supposed to be strength, mobility, flexibility, or something else altogether.
And I know I’m not the only one who has experienced this. It’s all too easy to do a workout just to check it off your never-ending list of things you want to do in a day. But what if on our to-do list, we wrote down “connect with my body” instead of writing “workout”? This perspective shift is a strong one, isn’t it? Instead of exercising to exercise, your intention is to exercise to honor your body and give it what it needs—no matter what that means for the day. Now, this idea isn’t something I came up with all on my own–in fact, it’s called somatic exercise, and it’s going viral RN. Ahead, we’re sharing what exactly it means to engage in somatic exercise, its benefits, why people are swearing it changed their lives, and tips so you can try somatic exercise for yourself.
What is somatic exercise?
The term “somatics” comes from the wider field of somatic movement. According to Healthline, the term somatics describes “any practice that uses the mind-body connection to help you survey your internal self and listen to signals your body sends about areas of pain, discomfort, or imbalance.” “Somatic movement is awareness or presence during movement, and being connected in your body,” explained Rachelle Tsachor, a movement therapist registered with the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA), to Everyday Health.
This type of connection can be accessed through exercises like Pilates or yoga (think: slow practices that connect breath to movement) but is mostly practiced through stretching. During somatic exercise, your intention is to truly connect with your body and gain an understanding of what it needs internally, rather than moving to get a certain number of repetitions in or focusing on external factors. The practice looks like focusing on being in tune with your body, thinking about the muscles you are engaging, and feeling where your body is holding tension. In doing so, you access somatic energy, allowing your internal needs to guide the movement in a way that removes tension, rather than pushing your body to move in a certain way for the sake of movement. Mindful movement is a key component of somatic exercises, promoting body awareness and emotional release through gentle and intentional practice.
Somatic experiencing is a therapeutic approach that focuses on bodily sensations and inner strength, helping individuals release trauma stored in the body.
What are the benefits of somatic exercise?
Somatic exercise has been used to relieve chronic pain because it can increase awareness of body signals, emotional awareness, and self-management of symptoms. Somatic therapy is also a method of releasing trauma that’s stored in the body–yes, the body can hold onto emotions that have not been released (a lot of women especially experience tight hips due to stored emotions). Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, teaches that trauma literally reshapes the body. Even if you don’t experience chronic pain or believe you have tension related to stored emotions, somatic exercise can be beneficial. According to the Somatic Movement Center, this type of exercise can help everything from posture to a tight pelvic floor to muscular strength because it allows you to create new muscular habits (basically rewiring muscle memory and how your muscles react).
For example, I hold a lot of tension in my quads and rely on other muscles to feel the load of an exercise so I don’t have to put more strain on them. Somatic exercises help me to correct that, so instead of compensating in another way, I can release the pain in my muscles by changing my movements. Not only can somatic exercise help you strengthen muscles correctly, but it can improve mobility, balance, and coordination. But no matter the reasoning, it never hurts to tune into your body for the sake of healing—whether that’s physically or mentally.
Somatic exercises can be incredibly beneficial for mental health because they go beyond just physical movement—they help you reconnect with your body and emotions. By focusing on sensations and being fully present in your body, these exercises can promote a deeper sense of emotional well-being. They may help you release pent-up tension or stress, making it easier to navigate challenging emotions and feel more grounded. For those who struggle with anxiety or overwhelming feelings, somatic practices can offer a sense of calm and empowerment through simple yet powerful techniques.
Six somatic exercises to try for yourself
1. Somatic exercises for lower back pain relief
2. Somatic exercises for total body stretching
3. Somatic exercises to release physical tension in the shoulders
4. Somatic exercises for emotional relief and mental health
5. Somatic exercises for hip pain
6. Somatic-inspired yoga for tension that is stored in the hips
Somatic-inspired yoga is a unique blend of traditional yoga and somatic practices, designed to target and release tension stored in the hips. This type of yoga emphasizes the mind-body connection, encouraging you to move mindfully and with awareness. By focusing on the sensations in your hips and the surrounding muscles, you can identify areas of tightness and gently release them through mindful movements.
This practice not only helps alleviate physical tension but also promotes relaxation and reduces stress and anxiety. The hips are often a repository for emotional stress, and by engaging in somatic-inspired yoga, you can facilitate the release of these stored emotions. This holistic approach not only enhances your physical flexibility and strength but also supports your mental and emotional health, making it a valuable addition to your wellness routine.
Hailey Bouche, Associate Editor
As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Bouche oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.
Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer
Katherine Chang is The Everygirl’s Wellness Staff Writer with over five years of experience in the health and wellness space. She navigates the latest wellness topics and trends through expert interviews and studies, and she’s always first in line to try them firsthand.