Definition of Somatics and Embodiment
I saw a great post in one of the yoga teachers groups asking about the definition of ‘somatic’ and how it is different from other/previous styles of teaching.
I thought it was a great question! And something that needs to be explored. If we are going to use these words it’s good to understand them.
What is “Somatic” and “Embodiment”?
The word ‘somatic’ is being used more and more, and in so many different contexts. There are so many courses popping up all over the internet using the word ‘somatic’ in the title: Somatic Coaching, Somatic Breathwork, Somatic Yoga, Somatic Dreamwork… It’s important that we understand what these words mean.
So here are some of my reflections on the subject:
We think the way we use a language and words is universal - but it’s not.
That’s the challenge with the language - we think we are talking about the same thing but in reality we define and understand it differently. Hence so many misunderstandings.
And also the richness of our language and the many theories and concepts we use.
From my experience people interchange these two words: somatic and embodied. Especially in the context of practicing movement and yoga. But they are not the same.
The term 'soma' means the body in Greek. But it goes beyond the mechanical body as understood by our western medical model.
In our training we define 'soma' as a conscious and aware organism that has its own innate wisdom and inner knowing through its felt experience.
Somatics is a term used to describe a field of body-focused practices and research developed primarily outside of mainstream academia and medicine during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries in Europe and America.
In 1976 Thomas Hanna, a practitioner and philosopher, who was a student of Moshe Feldenkrais, named the field Somatics, identifying a collection of body-focused disciplines that use an approach focusing on sensory awareness.
The focus of Somatic practices is to come back into an integration of a person's whole experience - their bodymind. This is an aspect of somatic practices I love the most - this movement towards integration and wholeness.
Yes, Yoga is a somatic practice - because it’s a body-focused practice. But the way it is practiced doesn’t always lead to more embodiment or embodied experience.
This is a huge difference. I’ve had the privilege of practicing Yoga and Mindfulness for 30 years and I’ve practiced with many teachers. Some of the practices left me feeling frazzled, disconnected and numbed out. Other practices helped me reconnect within, settle my nervous system and physiology, and left me feeling stable and more fully present and embodied.
These days I love practicing somatic movement and meditation, yoga and breathwork on my own because I can connect much deeper within my inner felt experience, than when I’m trying to follow somebody else’s instructions. After many years of working in a trauma-informed way I struggle with how some teachers use language and guide their sessions. Especially when the focus is on moving your practice forward and being able to do more ‘advanced’ poses and practices without meeting yourself and your needs in the moment.
What is a ‘felt-sense”?
As a Focusing (Embodied Listening) practitioner I know the word ‘felt-sense’, which was coined by Eugene Gendlin in the 1950's, means a different thing than the way many people use it today. Word ‘felt-sense’ has been integrated by many practitioners within their work and methodology. For example Peter Levine uses it as part of his Somatic Experiencing training and practice.
But I’ve heard this word being used by other people like a popular podcast host who very clearly didn’t use it in the same meaning. Considering that this person is being followed by millions of people I can only guess that this confusion and alternative meaning will spread even more.
Another example that comes to mind - there is a big difference between Mindfulness and embodiment. Again, I noticed that in the current popular language the two are merging more and more - even well known and respected teachers like Tara Brach now talk about Embodied Mindfulness.
I find our use of language fascinating. Maybe because English is not my first language that it’s easier for me to notice all the inconsistencies.
I’d like to invite you to reflect for yourself. What’s your experience and understanding?
Want to learn more?
In our Trauma-informed Somatic Teacher and Coach for Women training certification we explore the field of Somatics, its history and applications in depth. We learn how to teach intuitive Somatic Movement and Somatic/Embodied Meditation.
If you’d like to learn more check out all the information about our accredited training certification and book your free call with me. I look forward to connecting with you soon.