Somatics
We spend so much time listening to our thoughts
that we forget to listen to our bodies.
We spend a lot of time listening to our minds.
We analyse, solve, plan and think our way through life, but our bodies are noticing things too.
Sometimes it's tight shoulders. Sometimes it's butterflies, a racing heart or that feeling you just need to move.
Somatics is about paying attention to those signals. Through gentle movement, you start noticing what your body has been trying to tell you all along.
Why it helps
Stress isn't just something we think.
​
We carry it.
​
Sometimes in tight shoulders. Sometimes in headaches. Sometimes in a jaw that's been clenched all day without us even noticing.
​
Most of us spend years ignoring those things because we've learnt to keep going.
​
Somatic practices slow things down just enough to notice them. Not so you can analyse every feeling, but so you can understand what's happening in your body before it gets so loud that you can't ignore it anymore.
Give these a go
Shake It Out
When stress builds up, our bodies often want to move.
Stand with your feet on the ground and gently shake your hands, arms and legs for 30–60 seconds.
Notice how your body feels before and after.
Unclench
A lot of us carry tension without realising it.
Slowly soften your jaw, drop your shoulders, unclench your hands and let your tongue rest in your mouth.
Notice what changes.
Stretch Towards What Feels Good
Instead of forcing a stretch, let your body lead.
Reach, twist or lengthen in whatever direction feels good today.
Follow sensation rather than a routine.
Notice Before You Change
Before trying to fix anything, pause and ask yourself:
​
What is my body telling me right now?
​
There's no right answer. Just notice.
Your body is part of the conversation
​
We’re used to asking ourselves what we think.
​
What do I think I should do?
Does this make sense?
Am I overreacting?
​
But there’s information in what we feel too.
​
The shoulders that tense around certain people. The breath you didn’t realise you were holding. The energy that comes back when you walk outside. The way your whole body seems to soften when something feels right.
You don’t need to analyse every sensation or make it mean something.
​
Just start noticing.
​
​
​
​
Your body has been speaking to you your whole life. Learning to listen changes everything.