by Suzanne E. Sky, MTOM, Life Resilience Coach
Somatic practices are one of several modalities I work with to help clients move forward in their journey toward financial wellness and life resilience, to great positive effect. They have been part of my personal and professional journey for decades.
Many people find somatic practices help them explore their emotions and life questions with clarity and compassion. These practices are so valuable that I’m featuring several in my upcoming mini-course, Clarity, Values, & Vision. But what exactly constitutes a somatic practice?
A Little Context
The word somatic comes from the Greek root soma, meaning body. The somatic approach is a departure from many mind-based approaches to healing work. In the West, decades of psychological talking therapies, intellect-based goal setting, and working on our mindset has clearly shown us the limitations of these approaches. Neuroscience explains why and teaches us that embodied self-awareness brings us into the present moment activating the higher brain centers where we have access to creative possibilities.
What are the Benefits of Somatic Practices?
Somatic practices such as those featured in my course Clarity, Values, & Vision help us connect and reconnect with our core being and stay focused on what's most important to us. When we develop somatic sensitivity – gentle, open awareness of the internal sensations in our body – this can help us tap into a sense of deeper knowing. We learn to ask and receive answers from within our own being and open to new possibilities present in each moment.
This is so helpful when doing the important work of, say, putting together a savings plan to help you realize your life’s goals and priorities, for example. In this way, we see how developing a greater ability to tune into ourselves can be an invaluable skill in the journey toward financial wellness and life resilience.
How Do These Practices Work?
Somatic practices invite our embodied self-awareness – noticing or sensing our body sensations and feelings in this moment. I often simply call these practices embodied practices because they are practices that connect us with our body's grounded instinctual knowing, our heart's natural wisdom and compassion, and our head's insightful clarity. This can be as simple as noticing areas where we are chronically tense, where we feel relaxed, noticing when we become emotionally reactive, and bringing our kind curiosity and gentle awareness inwards just like shining a flashlight in a dark room.
What are Some Examples of Somatic Practices?
There is a whole spectrum of diverse practices that include an array of components from dance and movement to simple awareness while sitting quietly. Embodied practices are grounding and help us to get out of our head and come into our body to notice what is present, here, in this moment. What is arising now? And now? Where in my body do I notice sensation? How do I describe these sensations? What arises along with the sensations? Perhaps a thought, a feeling, several feelings. Perhaps an image arises, something current or from our younger days. Perhaps an idea arises.
I will present two of these wonderful practices in an upcoming mini-course In this course, you'll be invited to explore your values, life goals, and current money practices, challenges, and vision for growing forwards through gentle inquiry, journaling, and somatic practices.To receive updates on when this course becomes available, please join my newsletter list!
From my heart to yours, Suzanne Sky - Life Resilience Coach
As a Life Resilience Coach, I offer a heart-centered approach to support purpose-driven women in transition in creating the meaningful life they love. We work together in a collaborative coaching process to identify practical steps you can take in alignment with your abilities, core values, and life vision so you can live your heart and create the impact you want. My whole person coaching integrates compassionate awareness, collaborative dialogue, gentle inquiry, and an invitation to engage in journaling and embodied awareness practices.
I offer a free 30-minute Connection Session to discuss the possibility of us working together. I'd love to meet you!