“Somatic” refers to being ’embodied’ or ‘of the body.’ Thomas Hanna, influenced by the approaches of Moshe Feldenkrais and others, pioneered the field of Somatics. In the 1970s, he and Eleanor Criswell Hanna established the Novato Institute for Somatic Research and Training. Here, he practised extensively about Somatics Yoga!
Hanna noticed that specific bodywork techniques helped individuals with postural issues. These procedures helped them regain control over the muscles responsible for their restrictive patterns. He termed these procedures Hanna Somatic Education. Somatics represents an exceedingly nuanced yet efficient approach to engaging with the body. Somatic yoga classes incorporate somatic influences, and individuals can integrate somatic exercises into their yoga practices.
Supine twist, cat-cow pose, wide leg fold, moving bridge, and slow spinal flex are among the poses integrated into this style of yoga. Here, the key is learning and understanding from these poses while attentively tuning into your body (physical self) and trusting your instincts.
Add Somatic Yoga In Your Wellness Routine
Engaging in Somatic Yoga consistently can offer numerous health advantages. Here are some essential somatic yoga benefits that you should be aware of:
Enhances Flexibility
Somatic yoga involves incorporating gentle and flowing movements. It contributes to improved flexibility by releasing muscle tension and enhancing overall mobility. The practice emphasizes mindful movements that work towards increasing flexibility.
Alleviates Stress
While stress is inevitable in daily life, somatic yoga can mitigate its symptoms. The practice incorporates gentle and mindful movements, which play a pivotal role in relaxing the mind and reducing stress. Integrating somatic yoga into your daily routine can effectively contribute to mental relaxation, helping eliminate stress and tension over time.
Cultivates Mind-Body Connection
Somatic yoga fosters a profound connection to physical sensations. This connection is nurtured by primarily focusing on practicing awareness of the body’s movements, sensations, and breath during the practice. The heightened awareness contributes to a more integrated and harmonious relationship between physical sensations and mental well-being.
Enhances Posture
The yoga-type frequently integrates a focus on posture and body alignment awareness. Thus leading to improvements in overall posture! By emphasizing awareness of the body’s natural alignment, individuals practicing somatic yoga develop a heightened sense of maintaining proper posture. This increased awareness can extend beyond the yoga session, influencing daily activities and reducing the likelihood of injury and chronic pain. The practice encourages individuals to incorporate improved posture into everyday movements and positions.
Alleviates Pain
As part of Somatic yoga, you practice mindful movements and release muscular holding patterns. Thus, offers relief from chronic pain, particularly in areas impacted by tension and stress. Muscles can undergo tightness or restriction due to developmental reasons, habitual patterns, emotional stress, injuries, or trauma. In this context, Somatic Yoga involves small, slow, and gentle movements to re-educate the brain, enabling it to facilitate relaxation and more functional movement in these muscles.
Increases Stamina And Endurance
The flowing movements in somatic flow yoga contribute to stamina development. The incorporation of mindful breathing techniques aids in sustaining endurance during physical activities. Consistent practice can increase energy levels and enhance prolonged activity engagement capacity. This represents a gradual yet impactful method for enhancing endurance and stamina.
Active Meditation
Somatic flow serves as a tranquil, moving meditation, where the practice involves a deliberate focus on both the body and the breath. As individuals move through the flow, there is a heightened awareness and attentiveness to the present moment. That is similar to the mindfulness cultivated in stationary meditation. This experience of engaging in meditation while in motion offers a unique and integrated approach to mindfulness, blending the benefits of physical activity with the mental clarity and centering aspects of traditional meditation practices.
In summary, somatic yoga is a comprehensive and transformative approach, offering many advantages for the body and mind. Its focus on gentle, mindful movements enhances flexibility, alleviates stress, and fosters a deep connection between the body and mind. By addressing muscular holding patterns influenced by diverse factors, the yoga improves posture and relief from chronic pain. Additionally, the active meditation aspect of somatic flow yoga provides a distinctive experience, supporting endurance and stamina. Incorporating this yoga into a routine can create enduring positive impacts, fostering overall well-being and a harmonious fusion of physical and mental health.
