In today’s fast-paced world, stress and trauma are common experiences. Whether they arise from everyday challenges or deep-rooted past experiences, their effects can weigh heavily on our bodies and minds. But what if healing didn’t have to be just a mental journey? What if your body could guide you toward peace and release?
Somatic bodywork is gaining recognition as a powerful modality for addressing the roots of trauma and chronic stress. But how does it work, and can it truly heal?
In this blog, I’ll explore the science and philosophy behind somatic bodywork, how it supports trauma release, and practical ways you can incorporate it into your healing journey.
What Is Somatic Bodywork?
Somatic bodywork refers to therapeutic practices that engage the mind-body connection to release stored trauma, stress, and emotional tension. Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic approaches focus on the sensations in your body as a gateway to healing.
The word “somatic” comes from the Greek word soma, meaning “body.” This approach views the body as more than just a vessel—it’s a holder of experiences, emotions, and memories.
Examples of Somatic Bodywork Techniques:
• Breathwork: Controlled breathing techniques regulate the nervous system, deepen your connection to your body, and facilitate emotional release.
• Myofascial Release: Gentle, sustained pressure is applied to the connective tissue to release tension, improve mobility, and enhance circulation.
• Energy Healing: Practices like Reiki or Access Bars aim to balance the body’s energy fields, promoting deep relaxation, clarity, and healing.
• Trauma Release Exercises (TRE): A series of movements and stretches designed to release stored stress and trauma through gentle tremors.
• Somatic Experiencing: A body-focused therapy that encourages individuals to process trauma by paying attention to physical sensations and allowing the body to “complete” its fight-or-flight response.
• Sound Healing: Instruments such as singing bowls or didgeridoos create vibrations that resonate through the body, promoting relaxation and emotional release.
• Body-Mind Centering: This integrative practice uses movement, touch, and mindfulness to explore the body’s systems and promote healing.
• Rolfing: A type of deep tissue manipulation designed to realign the body and release emotional tension stored in the connective tissue.
Each of these practices approaches healing from a unique angle, but all focus on harnessing the body’s innate wisdom to support emotional and physical recovery.
The Link Between the Body and Trauma
When we experience trauma or prolonged stress, our bodies instinctively respond with “fight, flight, or freeze.” These responses are survival mechanisms, but when they remain unresolved, they can leave lasting imprints on the body.
Renowned trauma expert Dr. Peter Levine, the founder of Somatic Experiencing, describes trauma as “an incomplete biological response to a threat.” The energy created during the traumatic event often remains trapped in the body, manifesting as:
• Chronic stress or anxiety
• Muscle tension, pain, or stiffness
• Digestive or immune system issues
• Difficulty regulating emotions or maintaining focus
This connection between trauma and the body is also reflected in studies of the vagus nerve, a key player in the parasympathetic nervous system. By stimulating the vagus nerve through somatic practices, you can shift the body out of stress mode and into a state of rest and healing.
Somatic bodywork provides a safe space to release this trapped energy, helping to calm the nervous system, restore balance, and reconnect with the body.
How Somatic Bodywork Supports Healing
1. Releasing Stored Emotions
Trauma isn’t just “in your head”; it’s in your cells, muscles, and fascia. Somatic techniques create a safe space for these stored emotions to surface and be processed.
During a session, you might notice tightness in your chest, or a trembling sensation. These physical responses are often signals that your body is letting go of suppressed energy.
2. Regulating the Nervous System
Somatic work directly impacts the autonomic nervous system, helping you shift from a heightened stress state (sympathetic) to a calmer, rest-and-digest state (parasympathetic). This shift is crucial for long-term healing and resilience.
3. Reconnecting with Your Body
Trauma can leave you feeling disconnected from your body, as if it’s an unsafe or unfamiliar place. Somatic bodywork gently brings you back into your body, fostering a sense of safety, trust, and wholeness.
What to Expect in a Somatic Bodywork Session
Every session is unique, tailored to your specific needs and experiences. However, here’s a general idea of what you might encounter:
• Grounding Exercises: Techniques such as deep breathing or guided visualization to help you feel present and safe.
• Body Awareness Scans: Practitioners guide you to notice sensations in different parts of your body.
• Breathwork: A key component in many modalities, this helps regulate your nervous system and release emotional blocks.
• Energy Healing: Gentle, non-invasive techniques like Reiki or Access Bars work on the body’s energy field to clear stagnation and restore flow.
• Gentle Movement or Touch: Depending on the modality, this may involve hands-on techniques, stretches, or guided movements to release tension.
• Sound Healing: Instruments like singing bowls, tuning forks, or didgeridoos may be used to create healing vibrations.
• Emotional Release: It’s common to feel emotions rise and fall naturally as your body processes stored experiences.
It’s important to note that somatic bodywork isn’t about forcing a release, but allowing it to happen organically in your body’s own time.
My Experience with Somatic Bodywork
My first encounter with somatic practices came in an unexpected and memorable way: through sound healing. I was 20, backpacking, and open to life’s adventures. One day, I met a man with a truly bohemian look who carried an enormous, wooden wind instrument. Curious, I asked about it, and he explained it was a didgeridoo—a traditional Aboriginal Australian instrument made from a hollowed-out eucalyptus branch.
He invited me to try something, and of course, my personal rule at that time was say yes to everything, hehehe. So I agreed.
When he placed the didgeridoo at the center of my back and began playing, I immediately felt a calming, meditative sensation. As the deep vibrations resonated through my body, I instinctively began taking deep breaths. My mind gradually shifted into a state of profound relaxation, and before I realized it, I was in what is often described as a trance-like state.
It was transporting and beautiful—like I could feel my body vibrating in harmony with nature itself. When the sound finally stopped, and he lifted the instrument from my back, I realized tears were streaming down my cheeks. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what I was feeling or why I was crying, but a sense of deep relief and connection washed over me.
That moment sparked my curiosity about the connection between body, mind, and emotions—a connection I would later explore more deeply through energy healing, which became the cornerstone of my personal and professional journey. But that’s a story for another blog. 😉
How to Get Started
If you’re curious about exploring somatic bodywork, here are some steps to guide you:
1. Research Different Modalities: Find out which practices resonate with you, such as breathwork, Access Bars, or TRE.
2. Explore Transformational Programs: At RAEMBLA, I offer a variety of somatic practices and integrative approaches, including modern psychology, energy healing, and breathwork, tailored to support your unique healing journey.
3. Find a Qualified Practitioner: Look for someone trained in trauma-informed care to ensure a safe experience.
4. Start Small: You don’t need to dive into an intense session right away. Even practicing mindful breathing or gentle movement can be a great starting point.
Can Somatic Bodywork Heal Trauma and Stress? The Takeaway
While somatic bodywork isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s a powerful tool for addressing trauma and chronic stress. By tapping into the body’s innate wisdom, it allows for deep healing, emotional release, and greater self-awareness.
Experiencing a traumatic event can have either a transitory or an ongoing impact on psychological and physical states. Some people can easily overcome the impact of such an event, while others may find themselves deeply affected, struggling to cope with the same situation. This can reshape how they view their environment and themselves. The brain gets rewired to maladaptive physical and mental responses, and the body can get stuck in a constant stress response.
From my own experience and the hundreds of clients I’ve worked with, I’ve seen how somatic therapy can help heal trauma in a profound and gentle way. Unlike other forms of trauma therapy, somatic practices intentionally avoid directly evoking traumatic memories. They don’t focus on rehashing thoughts or emotions tied to the trauma. Instead, these therapies use the body as a gateway, allowing us to explore and release old memories gradually and indirectly. This approach promotes safer, more comfortable bodily experiences, gradually shifting the body out of its stuck patterns and into a more balanced state.
Connect with Me Through ZenPass
Are you curious about trying somatic bodywork or other healing modalities? Through my ZenPass profile, you can access transformative sessions tailored to your needs, whether you’re seeking relief from stress, emotional balance, or personal growth.
Click here to connect with me on ZenPass. Together, let’s unlock the healing potential within your body.
Blog by Adrian Rambla, founder of RAEMBLA – Transformational Therapy
