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Plenty of us have felt the tight sensation in our neck or shoulders after a stressful day. If these pains are creeping up more often than not or you’re someone who notices they hold stress and tension in the body, somatic exercises may be a welcome addition to your routine. The practice focuses on exercises that improve your mental health and relieve physical tension by tapping into the mind-body connection.
What is a somatic workout?
Somatic exercises are movements that tap into your mind-body connection to relieve pent up tension and promote overall physical and mental wellbeing.
The definition of “somatic” is “of, related to, or affecting the body.” Somatic exercises involve consciously listening to your body and focusing on the internal sensations and experiences during physical movements.
While the term may be trendy, the concept is far from new. Yoga, tai chi and qigong are all examples of ancient practices which incorporate somatic elements and mind-body movements, Dr. Mary Jurisson, a physiatrist, internist and rheumatologist at the Mayo Clinic, tells TODAY.com.
Somatic exercises for anxiety, stress and pain
“Somatic exercises are used to increase awareness from the inside out … (and) they can help someone process and move stuck tension, memories and emotions,” Dr. Scott Lyons, psychologist and body-based trauma expert, tells TODAY.com. “Additionally, somatic practices can help someone become more efficient in their movement, thus stronger and relieving pain.”
While the benefits reaped will vary with each person, somatic exercises “can help relieve pain and stress, improve emotional awareness, and other trauma or mental health-related concerns,” says Lyons.
Additionally, research shows that somatic practices may help increase self-esteem, focus, boundaries and decision-making, says Lyons.
“Many of these…
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