Somatics
Understanding Somatics:
The Body, Mind, and Heart Connection
In a world that often emphasises quick fixes and compartmentalised treatments, somatic medicine offers a different path—one that honours the full spectrum of our human experience. Rather than isolating the mind, body, or emotions, somatic practices explore the intricate web of connections that shape how we live, feel, and heal. This integrative approach invites us to delve into our bodily sensations, movements, and awareness, revealing the profound wisdom held within. By reconnecting with the soma—the living body—we can uncover latent energies, cultivate deeper self-awareness, and embrace a holistic way of being that is aligned with our core selves. This article explores the depths of somatic medicine, weaving together insights from leading thinkers and practitioners to illuminate the path to embodied healing and wholeness.
What is Somatic Medicine
Somatic medicine is a holistic approach to healing that recognises the inherent connection between the body (soma), mind, heart, and soul. It is based on the understanding that our experiences are not solely mental or emotional—they are felt and embodied. Somatic medicine encourages the exploration of sensations, movements, and physical presence as pathways to deeper self-awareness and healing.
The term "somatic" originates from the Greek word soma, meaning "body." However, within this practice, the body is not seen as separate from the mind or spirit; it is considered the vessel through which all experiences—joy, grief, fear, and love—are expressed and held. By tuning into the body’s sensations, movements, and patterns, we are given insight into our inner world and how it connects to the outer experience of life.
Integrating Awareness Through the Body
Practitioners like Eugene Tovio Gendlin focus on the "felt sense"—the body's way of processing emotions and thoughts. As Gendlin explains, "The felt sense is a bodily awareness that holds emotional significance." This perspective opens a space for bodily sensations to be explored as messengers of deeper truths and as guides toward wholeness. Rather than treating the mind and body as separate entities, somatic medicine weaves them together as interconnected facets of our lived experience.
In somatic practices, the body becomes a site for experiencing and expressing life. Through gentle awareness of physical sensations, such as tension, warmth, or movement, we can access deeper layers of understanding. This is why somatic medicine is often described as an embodied practice; it is about being present with the body and allowing it to lead us to greater insights into our mental and emotional states.
The Wisdom of the Body
Robert Schleip’s work with fascia and connective tissues underscores the importance of understanding how our bodies hold and process information. He states, “The fascial system acts as a major player in the body's memory.” Through somatic practices, we engage this system, learning to sense, move, and listen to our body’s unique language. This allows for a more profound and complete approach to health, where the body’s wisdom is honoured and integrated into healing.
Finding Balance and Embodiment
Robert Gilbert’s teachings encourage a profound connection with the body’s energy and centre. He emphasises the importance of touching the "Divine plane in the absolute Center," stating:
"When we touch the Divine plane in the absolute Center just through constant dynamic movement into the center of the center of the center then once we touch that Divine plane in the absolute center, it's like we flick a switch internally, we activated something that was latent. And when we activate that by touching it with our own awareness and attention through having gone into the absolute Center of that energy structure in the body, then it reverses direction, it activates the light that is present in that energy center, and it then moves outward from the center to become a surrounding sphere. We're recreating this process in our own energy body."
Gilbert’s perspective suggests that somatic medicine is not merely about healing what is broken but about activating latent energies within, aligning with our centre, and allowing this light to radiate outward. This view encourages us to move beyond seeking external healing and, instead, to learn to embody our fullest selves by bringing awareness to our internal dynamics.
The practice integrates ancient wisdom with modern understanding, creating a path that fosters a deeper awareness of how we inhabit our physical forms. This awareness allows us to align our actions, thoughts, and emotional experiences, guiding us toward a state of embodied presence and wholeness.
The Nature of Trauma
Trauma has a profound effect on how we experience and perceive the world. Unlike fleeting discomforts, trauma is often an imprint that shapes our physical and emotional responses long after the initial experience. When a traumatic event occurs, the body bypasses rational thought, initiating a deeply instinctual response aimed at survival. The nervous system engages, preparing for fight, flight, or freeze, creating a reflexive action that operates below our conscious awareness.
Bessel van der Kolk, a leading expert on trauma and author of The Body Keeps the Score, describes how “the body keeps the score; it remembers” (Van der Kolk, 2014). This idea conveys the reality that trauma is not only a mental or emotional disturbance but a physiological one, held within the tissues, muscles, and cells. The body stores these memories, and without awareness and release, they can manifest as patterns of tension, pain, and reactive behaviour that seem disconnected from the original event.
Van der Kolk also emphasises that trauma becomes significantly more impactful when experienced in isolation. He notes that “it is possible to survive just about anything, as long as the people who are important to you are on your side.” A sense of being taken care of, believed, and supported by those around you is vital in buffering against trauma's long-term effects. The presence of community and supportive relationships can provide an essential sense of safety, helping to regulate and calm the survival brain during overwhelming experiences(The On Being Project).
Understanding that human beings are inherently social, van der Kolk explains that the synchronicity between individuals is core to resilience through trauma. Our “essential primate nature” thrives on connection, which can be disrupted in the face of trauma, leaving us more vulnerable to overwhelm. This highlights how trauma can feel amplified when one feels alone, unseen, or abandoned, and underscores the importance of community and relationships in the healing process.
When we think of trauma, we often picture extreme events, yet trauma can take many forms, from acute moments of shock to the subtle, repetitive stressors that shape our beliefs and behaviours over time. The body doesn’t distinguish between types of trauma; it simply responds to perceived threat, laying down a neural pathway that influences future responses. This is why understanding trauma through a somatic lens is essential—it reveals how our past shapes our present and how the body carries our unprocessed experiences.
In somatic medicine, we learn to tune into our bodies to listen to these held stories without judgment. It is through this awareness that we can begin to release and integrate what has been stored, finding new ways of being that reflect our true selves, not just our traumatic imprints. By inviting the body into the process of healing, we bridge the gap between mind and body, allowing for a more holistic approach to wellbeing.
The Role of Ritual and Connection
Rituals have always played an important role in healing by providing a sense of structure, belonging, and connection. Whether through communal ceremonies, movement practices, or quiet reflection, rituals help us reconnect with our bodies, communities, and the natural world. These practices allow us to bridge the gap between our inner experiences and the outside world, fostering a sense of continuity and shared meaning.
In somatic medicine, rituals are more than symbolic gestures; they are embodied practices. They allow us to be present with our feelings, sensations, and movements, helping us become more aware of our physical and emotional states. Simple acts like lighting a candle, chanting, dancing, or practicing mindful movement can integrate the mind and body, giving us a way to express and process our experiences.
Connection and Healing Through Community
Bessel van der Kolk highlights how vital social support is for healing from trauma. He suggests that having people who "believe you and take care of you" helps us navigate and recover from distressing experiences(The On Being Project). This kind of connection is deeply aligned with somatic practices, where being part of a community and participating in shared activities fosters a sense of safety and belonging.
Group rituals, such as singing, dancing, or chanting, create a shared rhythm that aligns our internal states. These experiences allow us to feel held and supported, reinforcing our natural human need for community and physical connection. Van der Kolk’s insights remind us that we are social beings who thrive when we “do stuff together,” and that this connection is essential for healing.
Understanding the Felt Sense
PahPah’s teachings on the "felt sense" offer a unique perspective on how our bodies hold experiences. The felt sense is our internal awareness—an ability to tune into our body’s sensations, energies, and states. Rituals can help us connect with this felt sense by encouraging full presence in our bodies. Through these practices, we can notice sensations that are often hidden from our everyday awareness, allowing us to release emotions and find deeper connection.
Eugene Tovio Gendlin’s work also highlights the importance of the felt sense in healing. When we engage in sensory experiences, such as movement or touch, we connect more deeply to our bodily sensations. Rituals, therefore, provide space for these experiences to surface, be witnessed, and released. By participating in such communal activities, we counter the isolation that trauma can bring, inviting compassion and connection with ourselves and others.
The Wisdom of Movement
Robert Schleip’s research on fascia (the connective tissues in our bodies) reinforces the idea that movement is crucial for healing. Through activities like yoga, stretching, or dance, we can activate the fascia and release held energy and tension. This movement-based approach aligns with the somatic view that physical practices are pathways to emotional and bodily healing, benefiting both the individual and the group.
Pathways to Embodiment
Rituals serve as a bridge to connect us to ourselves, each other, and the larger world. They transcend individual healing by offering shared experiences that remind us of our interconnectedness. In somatic medicine, rituals are not just comforting—they are ways to bring us back to our bodies, our communities, and the natural rhythm of life. Practicing these rituals within a community amplifies their healing power, helping us return to our authentic selves with compassion, love, and openness.
Mind-Body Connection
The mind-body connection is foundational in somatic medicine. Our thoughts and beliefs profoundly affect our physical well-being. For instance, when we suppress emotions or experiences, our bodies often manifest this tension in physical symptoms. Eugene Tovio Gendlin, known for his work on focusing and the felt sense, emphasises this connection: “The felt sense is a bodily awareness that holds emotional significance” (Gendlin, 1981). By becoming aware of this connection, we can learn to listen to our bodies and respond to their needs with compassion.
As we explore our experiences, we may discover that our perceptions of pain and discomfort can shift. Instead of viewing them as obstacles, we can learn to embrace them as part of the healing journey. This acceptance allows us to expand our capacity for resilience and growth, nurturing a sense of safety within ourselves.
Surrendering to the Process
Surrendering to the healing process is a powerful aspect of somatic medicine. By letting go of resistance, we can access deeper states of being and connect with the essence of who we are. This journey requires patience and self-compassion as we navigate the complexities of our emotions and experiences.
Robert Schleip's research highlights the role of fascia and connective tissues in body awareness and somatic practices, stating, “The fascial system acts as a major player in the body's memory of trauma” (Schleip, 2003). By engaging with the fascial system, we can unlock deeper layers of healing, allowing for a more integrated understanding of our physical and emotional experiences.
Through mindful breathing and grounding practices, we can cultivate a sense of inner peace and connection with the Earth. As we slow down and create space for our feelings, we open ourselves to a more profound sense of freedom and lightness. This process invites us to illuminate our inner selves and foster a deeper understanding of our true nature.
Learning to Embody and Be at the Centre
Robert Gilbert's perspective shifts the conversation on healing. He posits that “we have healing already and there is no need to heal anymore; we have to learn to embody and be at the centre.” This profound statement encourages a move away from seeking healing as an external process and toward recognising the inherent wholeness within ourselves. The focus becomes learning to embody our true nature and finding balance and alignment at our core, rather than viewing healing as something we are always chasing.
By embodying this belief, we begin to understand that healing is less about “fixing” and more about coming into balance, awareness, and presence with who we are. It reinforces the idea that when we centre ourselves, we become aligned with the natural flow of life, allowing us to navigate challenges with greater ease and authenticity.
The Power of Choice and Intent
Ultimately, somatic medicine empowers us to reclaim our agency and navigate our healing journey with intention. By understanding our trauma and how it shapes our lives, we can make conscious choices that align with our true selves. This process is not about erasing our past; rather, it is about integrating our experiences into a more expansive understanding of who we are.
As we embrace the interconnectedness of all beings, we can cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. Recognising that we are part of a larger web of life fosters empathy and understanding, allowing us to support one another in our healing journeys.
Somatic medicine offers a profound approach to healing, focusing on the interconnectedness of body, mind, and heart. By tuning into our felt sense and embracing rituals, movement, and mindfulness, we can access the deeper layers of our experiences, allowing for genuine transformation. This journey is not about fixing or erasing parts of ourselves but about learning to embody our true nature, finding balance, and living in alignment with the flow of life. As we explore somatic practices, we are invited to develop a compassionate relationship with ourselves, connect meaningfully with others, and cultivate wholeness in every aspect of our being. Ultimately, somatic medicine empowers us to live more authentically, integrating the wisdom of the body into our everyday lives and fostering a deeper sense of connection to all that is.
