Okay,
So let's talk a little bit more about somatics.
What is that?
What does it actually mean?
The word somatic actually means relating to the body.
It's an ancient Greek word,
Soma,
Which is the body.
And somatics is an approach that recognises that our experiences are not only held through our thoughts and memories,
But they're also experienced in the body.
Many of us have learned to only really focus on the mind.
We try to understand,
Analyse,
Reflect.
We tell ourselves that we should feel differently,
But actually we feel through the body.
So while insight and understanding are incredibly valuable,
Sometimes we can know something logically and still find ourselves responding in the same ways.
This is because many of our patterns are not just conscious thoughts.
They are also connected to our nervous system.
And they show up in emotion sensations and the way our body has learned to respond over time.
For example,
You may know that you are safe in a moment,
But you still feel really anxious.
You may know that you need rest,
But you still find it really difficult to slow down.
So you may understand where a pattern comes from.
Still find yourself repeating it.
And this is where somatic work can offer something different.
So rather than only asking,
Why am I feeling this way?
We begin to also ask,
What is my body experiencing right now,
In the present moment?
What is my nervous system trying to communicate with me?
What support might my body need in this moment?
So this isn't about forcing yourself to revisit difficult experiences or pushing yourself into uncomfortable emotions.
A trauma-informed approach focuses on safety,
Choice,
And moving at a pace that feels supportive to the individual,
Because everyone is so different.
So through practices such as grounding,
Breath awareness,
Gentle movement,
Sound.
Body awareness and supportive self-talk as well,
We begin to create new experiences of safety and connection with ourselves.
And over time,
This can help us build a deeper relationship with our body,
Not as something to fix or control,
But as something really to listen to and work with.
Your body has been communicating with you all along,
And somatics is an invitation to slow down enough to listen.
So I've got a little somatic checking question for you.
So just see if you can notice one sensation in your body right now.
Perhaps the feeling of your feet on the ground.
Or the support beneath you.
The movement of your breath.
Maybe a tightness in a certain area of your body.
Maybe a tingling in another.
Just noticing one moment at a time.
Is the start of beginning to return to yourself with more presence and more ease.
