Recently, I had the privilege of sharing a glimpse of my somatic movement class in a News on 6 segment. While it was exciting to bring more awareness to this practice, the interview was brief, and I couldn’t dive into all the layers of somatics and its incredible benefits. In this post, I want to share more about what somatic movement truly is, how it works, and why it’s such a powerful tool for healing and personal growth.

Did you know most of us are walking around with way more tension than we realize? We sit, stand, and move in ways that, over time, lock our bodies into stress patterns. Somatics is all about waking up your nervous system and gently re-teaching it how to let go of that tension. It's like hitting the reset button for your body – through slow, mindful movements, we can break free from those habits and feel lighter, more flexible, and more at ease. Plus, it’s surprisingly fun to notice how much more relaxed you can feel just by moving differently!

What is Somatic Movement? Somatic movement is a therapeutic practice that focuses on bringing awareness to the body through slow, mindful movement to . Unlike traditional exercise, somatics isn’t about working out or pushing the body to its limits. Instead, it’s about exploring how the body feels, tuning into subtle sensations, and releasing areas of tension and restriction. This practice helps reconnect the brain with the body, allowing for a deep sense of ease and relaxation. All of the practices are done on the floor (and could be done in a chair if getting on the floor isn't accessible for you).

How Does Somatics Help? The beauty of somatics is that it meets each person where they are. Whether you’re dealing with physical discomfort, emotional stress, or trauma, this practice invites you to gently release patterns of tension that have built up over time. By moving slowly and with intention, you can awaken the body's natural ability to heal and restore balance. Many of my students have reported reduced pain levels and feeling lighter, more aligned, and deeply relaxed after a session. Somatic movements can help to reduce pain in the low back and neck, stiffness in the shoulders and hips, and release habitual tension held in the front of the body from stress and trauma.

Somatic Movement exercises can help the following conditions:

• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Joint pain
• Limited mobility...especially in the shoulders and hips
• Tightness in the hips
• Autoimmune conditions
• Forward head posture
• Stress and trauma

Let's talk about what is causing you pain and suffering in your body to find what helps to bring you ease and relief.

Why Somatics is Different from Yoga or Pilates While yoga and Pilates are also fantastic mind-body practices, somatics differs in its approach. Yoga often involves holding postures, and Pilates focuses on building strength, while somatics is more about internal exploration. In a somatic class, you’ll be guided to listen to your body’s signals and move in ways that feel nourishing and gentle. There are no poses to perfect, just an ongoing journey of discovering what your body needs in the present moment.

My Personal Journey with Somatics I was first drawn to somatics as a way to deepen my connection with my own body. After years of teaching yoga, I noticed that some of the deeper tensions I carried couldn’t be fully released through traditional movement. Somatics offered a gentle yet profound way to address those areas, helping me and my students cultivate more ease and understanding in both body and mind.

Join Me for a Somatic Class If you’re interested in experiencing somatic movement for yourself, I’d love for you to join me on Mondays at 6pm in class or virtually via Zoom. Whether you’re new to somatics or already familiar with body-based practices, this class offers a welcoming space for exploration and healing. I also offer private somatic sessions for those who want more personalized guidance. You can find all the details and sign up on my Webb Wellness schedule.

You can watch the news segment here.

Click here for the class info page.