BUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES SOMATIC EXERCISE ENTAIL?

Well, there are many techniques one can try, from body scans and progressive muscle relaxation to yoga, Pilates and martial arts – and we’ll dive into these further in the article.

But what all these practices have in common is the fact that they encourage mindfulness and body awareness, promoting relaxation and emotional understanding through movement. They help you connect with your body on a deeper level, anchoring you to the present moment and enhancing your overall well-being.

Improved mind-body connection

By engaging in somatic movement, you can better understand how your emotional state impacts your bodily sensations, and vice versa.

This can lead to powerful therapeutic benefits, making somatic movement an effective tool for addressing trauma and emotional issues.

In fact, studies have suggested that: • Somatic experiencing, a type of somatic therapy, can help address PTSD

• Laban movement analysis, another somatic technique, can help people emotionally adapt to challenging situations.

Stress management

Somatic movement is different from many other types of exercise because involves slow, deliberate movements that prioritise relaxation and tension release over speeding up your heart rate.

Through mindfulness, somatic exercise effectively reduces stress, and can even help you manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. Plus, this type of movement can promote better sleep, with somatic therapy being used as a treatment for insomnia.

In terms of stress management, this form of movement is particularly beneficial for those who are short on time with a busy work week, individuals who spend long hours sitting or who have sedentary lifestyles.

Somatic-based movement is also perfect for people who are still looking for the endorphinproducing benefits that exercise offers.

Pain relief

When you practise somatic exercise, you pay special attention to your bodily sensations,

particularly any areas of discomfort or injury – and this can be a helpful step towards pain relief.

While research on the painrelieving benefits of somatic movement is limited, preliminary studies have shown promising results. For example, a 2014 study demonstrated the benefits of a 10-minute body scan in people experiencing chronic pain and a 2013 study found that PMR may help reduce symptoms of neck pain.

Improved flexibility, coordination, and balance

A lot of somatic exercises combine slow and controlled movements with deep breathing to stimulate blood flow and warm up muscles, which helps improve mobility. Through structured movements and proper alignment, somatic movement also promotes flexibility, coordination, and even strength.

Plus, it can be a great complement to other, more traditional types of training.

Incorporating somatic-style movement into your training routine can allow you to see benefits in other areas of your training by harnessing increased mobility and body awareness.

By focusing on the quality of your movement through somatic-based principles, these practices are transferable across other skill-based movements such as weightlifting, where completing exercises with good form is essential for remaining injury-free and building strength over time.

Accessible form of movement

Somatic exercise is accessible for individuals of all backgrounds, exercise abilities and ages. As this style of movement incorporates gentle low-impact movements rather than higher intensity workouts, it’s perfect for beginners and those who are recovering from injury.

It’s a great choice for those who don’t have that much free time, as you don’t need to spend hours a week practising somatic movement in order to benefit from it.

In fact, you may only need to practice for a few minutes each day. Longer, more focused sessions can also be used for targeted rehabilitation or to improve flexibility and mobility.