Somatic Yoga: What It Is, Exercises, and Benefits
Somatic Yoga
As the world is getting more and more inclined towards yoga, lately, a new concept has popped up, called, somatic yoga. Yoga, as most of us know, is not merely stretching or bending of body, but it means union. It is that state wherein not only our body, but our entire self becomes flexible, which allows us to let go of it. Yoga truly means, giving up our individuality and becoming one with god, and the posture part is to prepare the body for that union. Nonetheless, in this article, you will learn what is somatic yoga, some somatic yoga exercises, and somatic yoga benefits. (Read: Psychology of sigma face)
What Is Somatic Yoga?
With yoga gaining popularity, a lot of variations have come up in yoga, like, hot yoga, trauma-informed yoga, yin yoga, and so on. Regardless of what kinds of yoga come up, eventually, it is all about making the mind-body flexible. Nonetheless, let us understand what is somatic yoga?
So this yoga basically is a combination of conventional yoga with some body-awareness techniques. These techniques help promote deep relaxation, stress relief, and movement re-education. It focuses on mindful, slow movements that help release chronic muscle tension, improve posture, and enhance body awareness. The following are the key aspects of this yoga:
- Gentle & Slow Movements – This yoga is unlike other yoga. It is not fact-paced, rather it involves slow and conscious movement.
- Neuromuscular Re-Education – This yoga helps release habitual muscle tension and correct inefficient movement patterns.
- Mind-Body Awareness – It encourages practitioners to feel and explore movements consciously rather than just holding static poses.
- Pain & Stress Relief – Often used therapeutically to relieve chronic pain, tension, and stress-related conditions.
Now that we know what is somatic yoga, let us move to the next segment and cover some somatic yoga exercises. (Read: Religion and meditation)
Somatic Yoga Exercises
So far, we have understood what is somatic yoga, and how it is different from traditional yoga. Nonetheless, now we are going to introduce you to some of its exercises.
- Spinal Wave Unraveling: This is a unique, but a very highly effective exercise that is amazing for the spine, and posture. This reintroduces fluid in the spine, which improves posture and reduces stiffness. Incorporating this exercise in daily life significantly improves one’s spine health, making it strong and flexible. To do this exercise, follow these steps:
- Begin with sitting cross-legged or in a comfortable seated position.
- Now, slowly wave your spine forward and backward, starting from the tailbone and rolling up to the neck.
- Imagine your spine moving like a wave, undulating naturally.
- Continue for 2-3 minutes, syncing with deep breaths.
- Shoulder Melt And Re-Patterning: Out of the many available exercises, this one is great for reducing shoulder tension and also releasing habitual tension. As we all know, all our tension accumulates around our shoulder and neck area, making them stiff. Therefore, this exercise releases all built-up tension and relaxes the mind and body. To do this exercise, simply:
- Lie on your back with arms relaxed at your sides.
- Slowly lift one shoulder toward your ear and gently roll it back down.
- Repeat with the other shoulder.
- Gradually increase fluidity, making the motion smoother and more wave-like. (Read: How to achieve zero thought state of mind?)
- Pelvic Float & Recalibration: This is another exercise for the pelvic region. It frees up restrictions in the pelvis and improves lower back health and hip mobility. As we all know, most of us have a sitting job, wherein we sit for hours at a stretch. This eventually not only weakens our lower back and pelvis area but can also cause misalignment. Therefore, doing this exercise at least thrice a week is a good idea. Simply follow these steps:
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat.
- Inhale, gently tilt your pelvis forward (arch the lower back).
- Exhale, tilt your pelvis back (flatten your lower back to the floor).
- Make the movement as subtle and effortless as possible.
So these were some somatic yoga exercises to help you maintain physical and mental fitness. Now let us move to the next segment with somatic yoga benefits.
Somatic Yoga Benefits
So far, we have understood what is somatic yoga, and also covered some somatic yoga exercises. However, let us admit it, we do not do anything unless we know the benefits of that specific thing, isn’t it? Unless something truly helps us, we refuse to bring it into our lives. Therefore, now we will cover some somatic yoga benefits that will help you incorporate it into your life.
- Rewires the Brain for Pain-Free Movement
This might be hard to believe, but this discipline retrains the brain’s connection with muscles and helps dissolve chronic pain patterns. A lot of us do not know, but this process is known as neuromuscular re-education, where the brain learns to release unnecessary muscle tension, leading to long-term pain relief. (Read: How to meditate with eyes open?)
- Unlocks Deep Emotional Trauma Stored in Fascia
When we talk about its benefits, then this one stands out. As we all know, the body stores unsettled emotions, especially in the fascia. However, somatic yoga can help you release them by using micro-movements and breath awareness.
- Enhances Vagus Nerve Function for Instant Relaxation
Lately, the vagus nerve has caught everybody’s attention. Scientists have shown that activating the vagus nerve can take us into a relaxed mode and maintain our inner chemistry. This yoga helps to stimulate the vagus nerve, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest mode). No wonder, it lowers anxiety, improves digestion, and balances heart rate without needing external relaxation techniques.
- Expands Proprioception (Body Awareness) Beyond Yoga
It makes practitioners hyper-aware of their body’s position in space (proprioception). This heightened awareness improves coordination, and balance, and even reduces the risk of falls—making it a powerful longevity tool for aging gracefully.
- Breaks Free from Subconscious Movement “Autopilot”
Most people move with ingrained habitual movement patterns, often causing stiffness and discomfort. Somatic yoga rewires these subconscious habits, allowing freer, more natural movement. This is why practitioners often feel a new sense of lightness and ease in daily activities.
So these were all the benefits of somatic yoga.
Conclusion
Be it trauma-informed yoga, hot yoga, or any other form of yoga, eventually, any yoga prepares our body for the union with god. The fact is, most people do yoga, not for spirituality, but for physical fitness. There is no harm in doing so, however, this discipline is meant to take us to our highest potential. (Read: How to trust god during tough times?)
As it is commonly said, even if we do yoga for the wrong reasons, we do it right. Therefore, regardless of our aim, yoga will definitely help us evolve, and merge with the creator. We hope that you liked our article on the topic: what is somatic yoga, somatic yoga exercises, and somatic yoga benefits. If you liked what you read, then do share this article with your friends and family.
FAQs
What exactly is somatic yoga?
Although somatic yoga also involves specific body movements, it is different from traditional yoga. Somatic yoga basically is a combination of conventional yoga with some somatic (body-awareness) techniques. These techniques help promote deep relaxation, stress relief, and movement re-education. It focuses on mindful, slow movements that help release chronic muscle tension, improve posture, and enhance body awareness.
Do you lose weight with somatic yoga?
Yes, somatic yoga does help with weight loss. Firstly, it resets the nervous system for stress-induced weight gain and also reprograms movement for more energy and fat burn. Furthermore, it improves digestion and reduces emotional eating. So, it can be said that somatic yoga does help with weight loss in several ways.
What are the benefits of somatic yoga?
Somatic yoga comes with several benefits. Some of them are:
- Rewires the Brain for Pain-Free Movement
- Unlocks Deep Emotional Trauma Stored in Fascia
- Enhances Vagus Nerve Function for Instant Relaxation
- Expands Proprioception (Body Awareness) Beyond Yoga
- Breaks Free from Subconscious Movement “Autopilot”
