What are some common somatic interventions?

“The human body is not an instrument to be used, but a realm of one’s being to be experienced, explored, enriched and, thereby, educated.”
-Thomas Hanna

Somatic interventions offer a variety of tools for tuning into and working with the body to achieve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. From the gentle and accessible practice of mindful movement to more esoteric practices such as energy healing, somatic interventions work by inviting awareness, relaxation, and healing within the body. In this blog post, we will explore some common somatic interventions: mindful movement, breathwork, energy healing, and focusing.

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Mindful Movement is a somatic intervention that encourages us to cultivate an awareness of our body's sensations. This practice can be done through yoga or tai chi but can also be practiced through gentle stretching, walking, or dancing. Mindful movement is an effective way of being present in our bodies, learning to relax into any discomfort or pain without judgment or resistance in order to create a sense of calm within ourselves.

Breathwork is another form of somatic intervention that utilizes conscious breath to bring awareness and regulation to the nervous system. By focusing on the breath we are able to lighten any tightness in the body while increasing oxygen levels in the bloodstream which helps promote relaxation. Techniques such as 4-7-8 breathing (inhaling for 4 seconds, holding your breath for 7 seconds then exhaling for 8 seconds) can be particularly effective when practiced on a regular basis.

Energy Healing is another form of somatic intervention that involves utilizing energy from the environment around us in order to heal physical and emotional imbalances in our bodies. Energy healers use their hands along with specific techniques that create vibrations which are thought to have both physical healing effects as well as aligning one’s chakras – our energetic centers – helping restore balance throughout the entire chakra system.

Focusing is a methodology developed by Dr. Eugene Gendlin which aims at facilitating deep inner listening and understanding of your bodily sensations so you become more attuned with yourself as well as uncover insight into underlying issues affecting your well-being. The main focus points involve being aware of your felt sense before allowing it to come up with words through simple noticing instead of judgemental thinking or labeling what arises during this process – thereby creating space for potential shifts within oneself towards healing.

Somatic interventions offer many tools for connecting deeply with ourselves far beyond what we think about ourselves or even how we feel - offering access into our deeper self - discovering how we move through life in a new way! Through curious exploration and mindfulness practices such as mindful movement, breathwork, energy healing, and focusing we can gain greater insight into how our individual bodies work helping us shift deeper into ease and wellbeing overall.

Photo credit: Darius Bashar @Unsplash