Are you curious about Somatic Yoga?
You’ve come to the right place.
Many guests at Samma Karuna wonder if Somatic Yoga is a different style of yoga or if it is the same as traditional yoga.
In recent years, yoga has grown to include many styles and practices, each with its own focus and benefits.
Somatic Yoga is one of these styles.
Some people describe it as ‘yoga from the inside.’
But what is Somatic Yoga? Keep reading to find out.
What Is Somatic Yoga?
Somatic Yoga blends traditional yoga with body awareness techniques.
The term “somatic” comes from the Greek word “soma,” which means “body.”
The main goal of Somatic Yoga is to help you listen to your body and connect with yourself more deeply.
Unlike traditional yoga, which focuses on getting specific poses right, Somatic Yoga puts emphasis on the feelings you have during movement.
Some people compare Somatic Yoga to Tantra or Neotantra, but they are quite different.
Somatic Yoga is really about tuning into your body and discovering how it feels.
It’s a great way to build a kinder, more understanding connection with yourself and your body.
Somatic Yoga Origins
Somatic practices come from different fields, including dance therapy and psychology.
In the 20th century, Thomas Hanna developed the idea of somatics to explore the connection between the mind and body.
Hanna believed that our bodies react to stress and trauma with specific muscle responses that cause involuntary habits. These habits can lead to stiffness and pain.
He highlighted the importance of being aware of our movements and created techniques that influenced many somatic practices, including Somatic Yoga.
Therefore, Somatic Yoga blends traditional yoga with somatic movement and yoga philosophy.
It helps people reconnect with their bodies, which they often neglect in busy modern life.
Key Principles of Somatic Yoga
Somatic Yoga is based on different principles:
1. Awareness: First, practitioners pay attention to their internal sensations and movements.
2. Mindfulness: You need to be aware of the present moment, which helps you to feel calm and clear (just like meditation).
3. Gentleness: Movements are not rushed; you have to be slow and careful, allowing exploration without any strain or discomfort. The idea is not to be uncomfortable, but the contrary.
4. Individual Experience: Everyone’s experience is different, and practitioners are encouraged to listen to their bodies and adjust movements to fit their needs.
5. Integration: You practice Somatic Yoga to connect the body and mind.
Traditional Yoga vs Somatic Yoga
If you get this far, you are probably not just wondering what the difference is with Traditional Yoga.
Traditional Yoga tends to focus on the external appearance of the body. In contrast, Somatic Yoga encourages you to connect with and heal your body from within.
For sure, that’s not the complete picture—there are definitely some bigger differences.
Lets break it down for you.
As you know, traditional styles like Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga primarily work to strengthen and stretch the body. (Most Yoga Teachers explain this when you’re a beginner)
They also promote mental concentration to achieve a profound state of enlightenment known as samadhi. (Which is great)
Somatic Yoga has a different goal because it aims to quiet the thinking mind, allowing you to tap into your inherent healing abilities.
The idea behind this approach is to help you overcome past tensions or traumas, recognizing the body as an essential tool in the healing process.
For this same reason, while Traditional Yoga relies on standardized poses (asanas) and specific alignment rules often practiced in set sequences, Somatic Yoga invites a more fluid experience.
To achieve this, Somatics incorporates natural movements such as circles, shaking, and waves, embracing unpredictability in the practice.
Why You Should Try Somatic Yoga?
At Samma Karuna, we encourage our guests at the yoga retreat to try different styles of yoga, especially if they want to become yoga teachers in our course.
Here’s why you should try Somatic Yoga:
- When you let your body guide your movements instead of focusing only on poses, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you feel complete and relaxed.
- Small movements can calm your mind and bring you into the present moment, similar to meditation but easier and without feeling tense.
- If you experience chronic pain or tension, this type of yoga can help manage that pain.
- Through Somatic Yoga, you gain a mind-body connection that is priceless. By becoming aware of your physical sensations and emotions, you can better understand yourself.
How to Practice It
If you want to practice this kind of yoga on your own, here we share some tips from our teachers:
1. Learn the basics from someone. It’s better if that someone is a certified yoga instructor who knows about Somatic Yoga.
2. Create a quiet and comfortable space for your practice at home. Use yoga mats, cushions, or blankets.
3. Make sure the space is free of distractions, so you can focus on your body and breath.
4. Start by paying attention to your breath. Take a moment to notice how you breathe and any areas where you feel tension or discomfort.
5. Let your breath flow naturally and use it as a guide throughout your practice.
6. Movements are usually small, slower, and often done with the eyes closed.
7. Listen to your body and move intuitively (It might be hard at first, but focus on the sensations you feel while moving)
8. Pay attention to your breath, body sensations, and any thoughts or feelings that come up.
9. Be present in the moment without judging yourself. (We know it is hard at the beginning, but with time, the thoughts will go away)
10. After your practice, think about how your body feels.
In Summary
Somatic Yoga is a practice that helps you become more aware of your body, relax, and heal emotionally.
It combines traditional yoga with somatic movements, so you can connect better with yourself.
Are you ready to try it?
With the guide we left you behind, you should feel comfortable to start on your own.
Extra tip before you go: journaling can be a helpful way to process your thoughts and feelings after doing your first practice.
