The Somatic Therapy Workbook: Your Companion with Tools and Exercises for Self-Discovery, Trauma Recovery, and Mastering the Mind-Body Connection (2024)

FAQs

Is somatic exercise legit? ›

Somatic exercise is helpful for relieving pain because as you practise it, you pay special attention to your bodily sensations, particularly if any areas of discomfort or injury need addressing.

Recent research has pointed to somatic therapy as being effective when used as a treatment for trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Four sets of Somatic Exercises that could be useful for trauma survivors are grounding; quieting and flow; mindful breathing and progressive relaxation in the body. Each exercise focuses on moving your body mindfully, all the while observing the physical sensations and how they develop.

Some people experience significant benefits within the first few days or weeks of practicing the exercises, while for others it takes longer.

Somatic exercises are widely accessible, requiring no equipment or specific physical skills. Benefits include pain and stress relief, improved emotional awareness, and better posture and balance, making the practice beneficial for various mental health conditions and symptoms.

One of the most common types of Trauma Release Exercises is stretching, which can relieve muscle tension. These stretches might include sitting in a hip squat to release chronic stress or doing wall sits to lessen deep tension. The Spiral Technique is another common Trauma Release Exercise.

This causes physical symptoms such as muscle tension, gastrointestinal issues, increased heart rate, shallow breathing, and impaired immune functioning as well as emotional symptoms such as anxiety and irritability.

Trauma is not physically held in the muscles or bones — instead, the need to protect oneself from perceived threats is stored in the memory and emotional centers of the brain, such as the hippocampus and amygdala. This activates the body whenever a situation reminds the person of the traumatic event(s).

Does a somatic therapist touch you? ›

As with any form of therapy, it's essential to be in an emotional and mental place where you have the time and energy to process complex feelings. If you're doing somatic therapy in person, touch is often involved.

Risks of somatic therapy include misinterpretation of touch, re-traumatization, breaking down of defenses, abusive touch and inappropriate regression.

Since these movements are so gentle, they can be performed daily. In fact, the Somatic Systems Institute recommends spending five to 15 minutes doing the above moves, per day.

By engaging the body, somatic therapy aims to process and release trauma in a way that traditional talk therapies may not fully address. This approach emphasizes the importance of recognizing bodily sensations, movement, and breath to facilitate healing.

SomaShare is a free app that brings practical, easy-to-follow tools and a communal space to support people in deep healing and transformation.

Several studies have found positive outcomes for somatic therapy. For example, a systematic review published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that somatic therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Psychology practitioners often agree that traumatic events are “stored” in the body, or more accurately, symptoms of trauma can manifest physically and can also be released. Although evidence is limited, certain forms of somatic therapy seem to have a promising future as part of the treatment for trauma.

While not a replacement for professional therapy, a somatic approach is a trauma sensitive yoga and does have therapeutic benefits. It can be a gentle way to work through stored tension and emotions, including trauma.

Somatic Movement

Gentle, deliberate movements can facilitate emotional release and reduce physical tension. Somatic movement exercises, such as shaking or rocking, encourage the body to release held trauma, restoring the natural flow of energy.