Somatic Healing: Tending Your Mind, Heart, And Body

Students will learn where the body stores emotions and feelings and how to heal disharmonies between the mind, heart, and body. We will learn accessible yogic principles and practices, and modern mindfulness exercises, in order to identify and transform trauma. We will discover the importance of processing the past so that right perceptions can be cultivated in the present and future. We will also bring awareness and transformation to physical sensations that manifest when difficult memories, attachments, and expectations arise. Ultimately, we will unify mind, body, and spirit to find lasting harmony, peace, and freedom in all areas of life.

Leçon 1: What Is Somatic Healing?

Students learn where the term “somatic healing” comes from, what it means, and how it relates to the body. We also discuss somatic sobriety as it relates to the mind and body of an alcoholic, addict, and others who experience disassociation or disconnection between physical sensations and emotional or mental processes.

Leçon 2: Foundation

We learn about the legs and the root chakra. This lower area of the body is our connection to the earth. Students discover they must have a foundation beneath them. We learn that our legs and connection to the earth provide a sense of safety and solidity which enables us to establish roots, feel grounded in the present, and know stability and firmness within our thoughts and actions.

Leçon 3: Fluidity

We bring awareness to the hips. This area is our connection to the water element. Here, abandonment, rejection, betrayal, and sexual trauma are stored. When the hips become tight, it is unlikely we have processed things related to these emotions and circumstances. We visualize and breathe together. We discuss the second chakra and its healing properties associated with color, sounds, and mantras so we can open and heal the hips to know greater creativity and dynamism.

Leçon 4: Fire

We bring awareness to the core and lower back. In the belly region, we store control issues and fears. In the sacrum, the body holds anger, resentments, grudges, and unforgiveness. In this general area, there is also guilt and shame. We talk about the third chakra, and how to burn away things that do not serve our highest good. We chant a mantra to set ablaze old behaviors. And we strengthen and purify the stomach and lower back with yogic breathing to engender strength and courage to live fully and deeply.

Leçon 5: Air

We visit the heart. Within the chest, we store sadness, loss, grief, and depression. When this fourth chakra area is closed or tight, we cannot truly feel or know love, understanding, mercy, grace, forgiveness, or compassion. We do conscious breathing exercises to open the heart. We bring air into this space to clear the area and to keep it open so we can live open-heartedly. We also learn the mantra “Aham Prema” = I am Love.

Leçon 6: Space

We visit the throat. Within the throat chakra we find our ability to speak our truth. Our inner voice, communication, and opinions depend upon this chakra being open. When we have been shut down in the past or not allowed to speak or share our ideas, this area closes and others speak and make decisions for us. If this area is not open, we lose our autonomy, our freedom, our ability to live our purpose. We will breathe and self-express to open this area. We also discuss the power of journaling as preparation for truthful speech.

Leçon 7: Gravity

We bring awareness to the shoulders and upper back. This is where we store the weight of the world, and burdens and responsibilities. Here, we carry the heaviness of life and we are physically and mentally pulled down as a result. If we do not bring lightness and ease to this area, tension and tightness prevent us from freely moving with poise and confidence. We cannot hold our head high or look the world in the eye if we do not bring transformation to the shoulders. We discuss yogic stretches and movements to let go of tension, worry, stress, and anxiety from this area.

Reviews

Wonderful! I’m going to redo this one because the knowledge is so valuable and calming. Thank you 🙏🏻

Excellent course applying yogic traditions to the chakras while in recovery. (Aren’t we all in recovery from something?) I appreciated the wisdom presented in these short lessons and will probably repeat them for greater absorption. Thank you, Brian.

I always enjoy Brian’s courses, this is no exception. Brian brings depth and clarity to his topics, and as he says, he “makes it personal.” Interweaving mind, body and spirit nurtures healing, and I valued the tips and tools presented here for my journey (which is ongoing!) Thank you 🙏🏼