Somatics describes any practice that uses the mind-body connection to help you survey your internal self and listen to signals your body ...HealthlineSubscribeABriefIntrototheWorldofSomaticsMedicallyreviewedbyCourtneySullivan,CertifiedYogaInstructor—WrittenbyCrystalRaypoleonApril17,2020OriginsExercisesSomatictherapyDoesitwork?FindingpractitionersTakeawayShareonPinterestWhatdoesthatevenmean?Ifyouhavesomefamiliaritywithalternativewellnesspractices,youmayhaveheardtheterm“somatics”withouthavingaclearideaofwhatitmeans.Somaticsdescribesanypracticethatusesthemind-bodyconnectiontohelpyousurveyyourinternalselfandlistentosignalsyourbodysendsaboutareasofpain,discomfort,orimbalance.Thesepracticesallowyoutoaccessmoreinformationaboutthewaysyouholdontoyourexperiencesinyourbody.Somaticexpertsbelievethisknowledge,combinedwithnaturalmovementandtouch,canhelpyouworktowardhealingandwellness.Wheredidtheideacomefrom?ThomasHanna,aneducatorinthefield,coinedthetermin1970todescribeanumberoftechniquesthatshareoneimportantsimilarity:Theyhelppeopleincreasebodilyawarenessthroughacombinationofmovementandrelaxation.WhilesomaticpracticeshavebecomeincreasinglypopularintheWesternworldoverthelast50years,manyofthemdrawfromancientEasternphilosophyandhealingpractices,includingtaichiandqigong.Whataresomaticexercises?Somaticexercisesinvolveperformingmovementforthesakeofmovement.Throughouttheexercise,youfocusonyourinnerexperienceasyoumoveandexpandyourinternalawareness.Manytypesofsomaticexercisesexist.Theyinclude:rolfingBody-MindCenteringAlexandertechniqueFeldenkraismethodLabanmovementanalysisOtherexercises,includingsomeyouknowanduseregularly,canalsobeconsideredsomatic,suchas:danceyogaPilatesaikidoTheseexercisescanhelpyoulearnmoreefficientandeffectivewaysofmovingandreplaceolder,lesshelpfulpatternsofmovement.Unlikewithtypicalworkouts,you’renottryingtodoasmanyexercisesaspossible.Instead,you’retryingtoperformeachexerciseinsuchawaythatitteachesyousomethingaboutyourbodyanditsmovements.Gettingmoreintouchwithyourbod