Ever notice how your shoulders tense up when you’re stressed? Or how a deep breath can instantly make you feel calmer?

That’s your body talking.

Somatic practices are all about tuning in to what your body is saying. The word “somatic” comes from the Greek word “soma,” meaning body, and these practices focus on the connection between your physical body and your emotions, thoughts, and overall well-being.

In short, somatic practices are body-based approaches to healing and self-awareness.

The Body-Mind Connection

We often think of the mind and body as two separate entities. Your mind deals with the stress, while your body just follows along. Right? Not exactly.

Somatic practices are based on the idea that the mind and body are deeply interconnected. When something affects your mental state, your body feels it too. That’s why unresolved emotions, trauma, or stress can manifest as physical tension, pain, or illness.

In somatic work, you use the body to process and release these stored emotions. Instead of only talking about what’s going on in your head, you listen to your body’s cues—whether it’s a tight chest, a stiff neck, or a gut feeling you can’t shake.

Examples of Somatic Practices

So, what does this actually look like? Somatic practices come in many forms, but they all focus on physical awareness and movement to create emotional and mental shifts.

Here are a few examples:

1. Somatic Experiencing (SE):
Somatic Experiencing is a therapeutic approach that helps people release trauma stored in the body. It was developed by Dr. Peter Levine and is often used for trauma recovery. The idea is to gradually increase your awareness of physical sensations and release tension in a safe, controlled way.

2. Body Scanning:
In this practice, you mentally “scan” your body from head to toe, noticing any areas of tension, discomfort, or numbness. By focusing on these sensations, you start to release stored emotions and relax areas of the body that have been holding on to stress.

3. Breathwork:
Breath is central to somatic practices. Techniques like deep breathing, box breathing, or breath-focused meditation can help calm your nervous system and release emotional tension. Conscious breathwork is one of the easiest ways to bring yourself into a state of relaxation and awareness.

4. Yoga:
Certain types of yoga, like Yin or restorative yoga, emphasize slow, mindful movements and deep stretches, which help release tension and improve body awareness. Yoga is one of the most well-known somatic practices that bridges the gap between body and mind.

Why Somatic Practices Matter

In a world where we’re constantly in our heads, somatic practices offer a way to come back into our bodies.

They help you process unresolved emotions, release trauma, and reduce stress—not just mentally, but physically. And since we know that chronic stress and unprocessed trauma can lead to long-term health issues, these practices aren’t just about relaxation. They’re about healing.

Your body holds onto everything your mind tries to forget. Somatic practices are your way of listening to what it has to say.

Somatic practices remind us that healing isn’t just a mental journey—it’s a full-body experience. By tuning into the physical sensations your body is holding, you can release tension, reduce stress, and improve your overall well-being.

Because when you learn to listen to your body, it has a lot to tell you.