Somatic Movemoment Therapies for Self-Healing May Be Something for You to Consider!

You may benefit from learning more about the holistic health benefits of somatic movement therapy especially if you care to resolve physical issues with your body. Or want to move into a stronger, more flexible, resilient and healthy body.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy is a type of psychotherapy that emphasizes the importance of the body and the felt experience of the body in the therapeutic process. The word “somatic” refers to the body, and somatic therapy recognizes that the body holds important information and wisdom that can be used to promote healing and growth.

What Is Somatic Movement?

Somatic movement is a type of movement that focuses on the internal experience of movement, rather than on external form or technique. The word “somatic” refers to the body and the felt experience of the body, and somatic movement emphasizes the importance of connecting with and listening to the body in the movement process.

In somatic movement, the focus is on exploring movement from the inside out, rather than on performing a particular technique or achieving a specific goal. The goal is to develop a greater awareness of the body, and to learn to move with greater ease, efficiency, and freedom.

Stay in the loop on the next Somatic Movement  Summit for Healing.

Here are some common qualities  or conditions of people interested in self-healing or healing others with somatic therapies:

Trauma Release

If you are recovering from physical or emotional trauma and want to work through it in a safe and supportive environment, some forms of somatic movement therapies may be just what the doctor ordered!

Self-Expression

Maybe you are a dancer in your heart of hearts. How would you like to fuel this fire with not only therapeutic forms of  somatic movement, but therapies to explore your  physicality and movement as a form of self-expression and creativity?

Overall, somatic movement and somatic therapies can be helpful for anyone who wants to connect with their body, release tension and stress, and improve their physical and emotional well-being.

What are common modalities of somatic movement or somatic therapies?

There are various modalities. Here are some of the most common ones:

The Feldenkrais Method®: A system of movement education that emphasizes improving mobility, reducing pain, and enhancing performance through gentle movement explorations and self-awareness.

If the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic movement therapy speaks to you, I’d like to recommend our TOP teacher for Feldenkrais Method healing therapies, Long-standing faculty member of The Shift Network, Lavinia Plonka.

She offers a FREE online webinar:

Experience the Feldenkrais Method®: Discover how to transform habitual physical postures to heal from illness or injury and free yourself from chronic pain and unhealthy emotional patterns.

Somatic Experiencing®: It is a body-oriented approach to healing trauma developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine. It is based on the understanding that trauma and stress can become “stuck” in the body, leading to physical symptoms, emotional distress, and a range of other issues. SE aims to help individuals release these stored traumas and restore their natural capacity for self-regulation and healing.

The core principle of SE is that the body has an innate ability to heal itself, and that by tuning into the physical sensations and movements associated with trauma, individuals can learn to release the energy that has been trapped in the body. The SE practitioner works with the client to gently guide them through this process, helping them stay present with their bodily sensations and emotions without becoming overwhelmed.

If the Somatic Experiencing® speaks to you, I’d like to recommend Dr. Peter A. Levine’s course:

The Healing Trauma Online Course: An Online Course for Tapping into Your Innate Ability to Heal  and A Step-by-Step Program for Restoring the Wisdom of the Body

Qi Gong: It is a somatic movement therapy and an ancient Chinese practice that combines movement, breathwork, and meditation to promote health and well-being. It is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and aims to balance the flow of qi (energy) in the body, improve physical strength and flexibility, and enhance mental clarity and emotional balance.

If the practice of Qiqong speaks to you, I highly recommend the following FREE online webinars, with renowned Qigong Masters:

1. Connect to Your Inner Joy Through Qigong’s Xi Breathing with Qigong Master Robert Peng: Discover how Qigong’s Xi breathing technique opens you to spiritual abundance and experience a graceful Qigong movement practice to make your body flow like water.
2. Discover Qigong to Cleanse Your Organs for Better Health & Energy Flow with Qigong Master Daisy Lee: Cleanse and rejuvenate your body with an empowering form of Qigong and strengthen your immunity and reach your ideal body weight.
3. Discover the Power of Qi Medicine with Dr. Roger Jahnke: Traditional Chinese Techniques to Prevent Disease & Activate the Healer Within You.

4. The Key to Health, Happiness, and Vibrant Energy– A Free Teaching with Lee Holden: Learn how to flow through stress and how even a beginner-level qi gong flow interrupts the ratcheting effects of stress and mellows out emotional activation.

Get the scoop on the next Qigong Summit for Healing.

Tai Chi is also a form of somatic movement therapy and another ancient Chinese practice that combines movement, breathwork, and meditation. It is often described as a “moving meditation” and is known for its slow, graceful movements. Tai Chi aims to cultivate a sense of inner calm and balance, and has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including improved balance, reduced stress, and enhanced immune function.

If the practice of Tai Chi speaks to you, I highly recommend the mindbodygreen online course with expert instructor, Michael Taylor called: The Complete Guide to Tai Chi: Everyday Practices to Drop Stress, Release Pain & Create Whole Body Harmony.

Get Started Today!

Breathwork is a significant aspect of Tai Chi, Qigong, and yoga. You may want to explore the online course by SOMA Breath founder Niraj Naik called:

Breathwork for Life: This program is about gaining deeper awareness and mastery of your daily breaths – and elevating them into a limitless source of healing, spiritual bliss, and peak performance.

Your guide on this journey is Niraj Naik: founder of SOMA Breath, the world’s fastest growing breathwork movement with 1,700+ instructors worldwide.

In just 14 days, Niraj will permanently transform the way you breathe. Start your journey here.

Yoga Therapy: Is a somatic movement therapy and a personalized approach to yoga that uses movement, breath, and meditation to address specific physical or emotional issues. 

Types of yoga therapy that may be of interest to you are:

1. Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy that is a form of yoga therapy that was developed by Michael Lee in the 1980s. It combines traditional yoga practices with elements of psychotherapy, mindfulness, and bodywork to promote healing and self-discovery.
2. Energy Medicine Yoga: A form of yoga that combines traditional yoga postures with techniques from energy medicine, such as tapping, breathing, and visualization. It aims to balance the body’s energy systems and promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
3. Kundalini Yoga Therapy: A form of yoga therapy that uses movement, breathwork, and meditation to awaken and balance the kundalini energy, which is believed to be a powerful source of spiritual and creative energy. It may involve specific sequences of postures and chanting to activate the energy centers in the body.
4. Yoga for Cancer: A specialized form of yoga therapy designed to help individuals with cancer manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve their quality of life. It may include gentle movement, breathwork, visualization, and other practices tailored to the individual’s needs.
5. Yoga for Depression and Anxiety: A type of yoga therapy that uses movement, breathwork, and meditation to help individuals manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. It may focus on grounding and calming practices to help individuals feel more centered and present.

If you are interested in the practice of yoga in general, I can recommend mindbodygreen’s The Complete Guide to Yoga with Tara Stiles and featuring Michael Taylor: Everything You Need To Know To Create An At-Home Yoga Practice That Sustains You, or

MindValley’s Yoga Quest:  a 21-day online program featuring fun, transformational, easy-to-follow coaching with a selection of the world’s best yoga teachers. A Handpicked Team Of The World’s Best Yoga Instructors

With this in mind, we have consciously curated somatic movement therapy training exercises,  resources, tools, and courses for you if you want to develop some powerful tools for self-healing—

Discover BioDynamic Breathwork with Giten Tonkov

Somatic Dance for Emotional Alchemy with Bernadette Pleasant

Experience the Feldenkrais Method® with Lavinia Plonka

The 5 Elements Through Belly Dance & Ceremony

Reclaiming Your Body’s Innate Guidance System

QIGONG & TAI CHI

Qigong and Tai Chi are considered somatic movement therapies. Both practices focus on cultivating a mind-body connection, and emphasize the importance of movement, breathwork, and mindfulness for improving physical and emotional well-being.

In Qigong, the emphasis is on cultivating and balancing the body’s vital energy, or Qi, through a series of gentle movements, breathwork, and visualization exercises. Qigong is often described as a moving meditation, and aims to improve overall health, increase vitality, and promote emotional balance and well-being.

Tai Chi, on the other hand, involves a series of slow, flowing movements that are coordinated with deep breathing and mindful awareness. It is often described as “meditation in motion,” and aims to promote relaxation, reduce stress, improve balance and flexibility, and enhance overall physical and emotional well-being.

Both Qigong and Tai Chi can be helpful for a wide range of physical and emotional issues, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders. They are both considered somatic movement therapies because they use movement and mindfulness to help individuals connect with their bodies, reduce tension and stress, and improve their overall physical and emotional well-being.

Discover the Power of Qi Medicine with Dr. Roger Jahnke

Qigong’s Xi Breathing with Robert Peng

Qigong to Cleanse Your Organs with Daisy Lee

YOGA

Yoga is considered a somatic movement therapy. The term “somatic” refers to the body and the felt experience of the body. Yoga is a practice that involves movement, breathwork, and meditation, all of which help individuals connect with their bodies and develop a greater awareness of their physical sensations and emotional experiences.

Through the practice of yoga, individuals can learn to release physical tension and emotional stress, improve flexibility and strength, and cultivate a sense of calm and inner peace. Yoga can be a powerful tool for reducing anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, as well as for improving overall physical and emotional well-being.

There are many different styles of yoga, each with its unique approach and focus. Some styles of yoga, such as Iyengar Yoga and Viniyoga, place a strong emphasis on proper alignment and using props to support the body. Other styles, such as Kundalini Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga, emphasize the energetic aspects of the practice, such as breathing techniques and movement sequences.

Overall, yoga is considered a somatic movement therapy because it involves mindful movement, breathwork, and meditation, all of which help individuals connect with their bodies and improve their physical and emotional well-being.

The Key to Health Happiness & Vibrant Energy with Lee Holden

Discover mindbodygreen’s Complete Guide to Yoga

BREATHWORK

Breathwork is often considered an aspect of somatic movement therapies. Breathwork is the practice of intentionally working with the breath to bring about physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It is a somatic practice because it involves working directly with the body and the felt experience of the breath.

Breathwork can be used in a variety of somatic movement therapies to support relaxation, release tension, and enhance mind-body awareness. For example, in yoga, specific breathing techniques (known as pranayama) are used to calm the mind and body, and to cultivate energy and vitality. In somatic experiencing, breathwork is used to help individuals regulate their nervous system, release stored tension, and move through trauma.

Breathwork can also be practiced on its own as a form of somatic therapy. For example, in Transformational Breathwork, a practice developed by Dr. Judith Kravitz, individuals use a specific breathing technique to release physical and emotional tension, increase oxygenation in the body, and promote overall well-being.

Overall, breathwork is an important aspect of many somatic movement therapies and can be a powerful tool for improving physical and emotional well-being.

MindValley Yoga Quest

MindValley Breathwork for Life

Checkout our most current somatic movement therapy events and offerings below.

This Six-Step Process for Radical Self Healing maybe “just what the holistic and alternative doctor ordered” no matter what modality is resonant for you right now.

Join Lissa Rankin, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Mind Over Medicine, The Fear Cure, and The Anatomy of a Calling is a physician, speaker, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, and mystic.

By enrolling in this class for preventive selfcare and self-healing, you’ll gain imperative knowledge on how to:

1.Identify the beliefs that are holding you back and overcome them.
2.Listen to your body and the root of what is keeping you from feeling your absolute best.
3.Make your body ripe for miracles and healing.

Explore More Articles on the Topic of Self-Healing from Bestselling Author Lissa Rankin, M.D.

1. 6 More Stories To Make You Believe In The Power Of Your Mind To Heal You
2. 8 Signs You’ve Lost Touch With Your Intuition
3. The Secret Root Of Your Mental & Physical Fatigue
4. Is Your Soul Trying To Guide You But You’re Just Not Listening?