Somatic Stress Relief
Somatic Stress Relief looks at how we can manage both our physical and mental health as one entity.
If you would like to understand the science behind somatics please click below.
What does Somatics mean?
The word comes from Ancient Greek σωματικός (sōmatikós, “bodily”), σῶμα (sôma, “body”)
Today the meaning of Somatic is of, relating to, or affecting the body.
The Mind Body Connection
We cannot separate the mental and the physical. Exercise has been shown to improve depression, breathing helps anxiety and when we’re stressed we become physically tense.
Our courses are designed to improve mental heath through physical movement and help physical heath by managing the bodies responce to stress.
Some Of The Techniques
Pandiculation
Pandiculation is technique that involves a series of muscular contractions and relaxations. It improves your physical and mental wellbeing by relieving muscle tension and stress, increasing range of motion, and improving posture. It can be done anywhere and at any time, making it an easy and accessible form of self-care.
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Below is a 20 minute Introduction Pod-class that explains what somatics is, and talks you through a physical meditation and your first conscious pandiculation.
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For your first body scan, we’ll get you sitting or laying somewhere comfortable. Try and find somewhere quiet and calm so you can really focus on the internal experience.
Sometimes called a body scan this is a technique that will get you feeling all of the glorious sensory information your body is constantly sending you.
In our courses these are often performed whilst walking or moving to really engage with the bodies responces.
Physical Meditation
Joyful Movement
It doesn’t matter how good an exercise is for the body. If there’s no pleasure in performing the movement, then it becomes a chore, a punishment we put ourselves through to try and be healthy or look a certain way.
When we enjoy exercise we’re far more likely to engage in it frequently, giving our body and mind the stimulation and energy they love and need.
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Here we’ll give the body a brilliant burst of cardio by dancing.
This will mobilise all the key joints and get the lungs and heart pumping.
Vagal Nerve Stimulation
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The Vagus Nerve is a part of the parasympathetic nervous system, it helps to regulate the body’s internal balance and moods by controlling the release of certain hormones
When the Vagus Nerve is working properly, it can help to reduce stress, improve mood, and even reduce inflammation.
The vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords and the muscles at the back of your throat. Singing, humming, chanting and gargling can activate these muscles and stimulate your vagus nerve.
Here we’ll be practising a humming breathing technique
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Here is a quick and easy havening technique to help when your body is signalling scared or overwhelmed.
When the body is stuck in fight, flight, freeze or fawn mode, it's flooding you with chemicals that trigger the feelings of stress and anxiety.
Some simple techniques can help to ground you and signal to the body that danger has passed and that it's time to relax again.
You can explore each of the senses discovering what regulates you in times of stress.