“Alana provides a great Somatics practice in her classes with the added bonus of breathing exercises each class. She is attentive to the individual needs of each of us. I leave feeling more relaxed in my mind, less tension in my body and more energy overall.”… Linda
I love reading how SomaYogis like Linda feel when they leave a Somatic Movement group class. This is why I LOVE sharing the classes!
It is always my intention to provide a class that creates a safe space for each and every participant to have this personal experience.
But how does that happen? Through engaging our sense of Interoception we explore movement that leaves us feeling relaxed and yet more energized.
We can place our attention on:
- Exteroception which is “what is going on around me?”
- Proprioception which is “where is my body in this space?” or
- Interoception which is “What do I sense and feel inside my body?”
Interoception is the focus of the Somatics Practice.
When I am doing my own personal practice, I feel like it is a meditation in itself. I am truly being present and trusting the sensations that are arising in my soma (we each have our first person experience of what we sense and feel as a “soma”) to guide me through my breath and movement practice.
What are the words that may be associated with Interoception in a Somatic Movement practice?
What are the words that may be associated with Interoception in a Somatic Movement practice?
- Allow
- Breath
- Listen
- Be curious
- Sense
- Feel
- Accept
- Awareness
- Observe
- Notice
- Observe
- Trust
- Gratitude
I am often asked when is the best time to practice. For some, it may be in bed first thing in the morning to start their day, enabling them to get out of bed. For me, it is at the end of the day. I base my practice on what I discover my soma needs during my soma scan. Was I on the go or was I sitting at the computer? Did I teach a lot of private classes or just a couple? Did I have a slip on the ice while out for a walk? Was it an emotionally stressful day? Sensations in my soma arise that guide me through my personal practice.
The past five years of learning, teaching and practicing Somatics has provided me with the tools to determine the practice that will best meet my needs on a daily basis. I am very passionate about sharing my knowledge to empower others to explore the benefits of Somatics too.
What is a soma scan? It is how I begin and end the group classes. It looks like savasana (see photo below in the group class section).
Would you like to try it?
Lay down on your back with your arms by your side and legs extended. Is that comfortable for you? Listen to your soma – if it isn’t comfortable, simply bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet to your blanket. With this practice “No Pain, All Gain” is key.
Allow for your breath to flow freely.
Simply be curious and spend a few moments exploring what you sense and feel in your body without judgment, accept what you are sensing in this present moment.
Bring awareness to how the back of your head is resting. Is it towards the crown, middle or base? More to the left or right? Or, is it balanced in all directions?
How are your shoulders resting… similar or a little different? Is one feeling lifted towards the sky or hiked towards your ear? Are your shoulder blades flat on your blanket or yoga mat, or does one feel like it is poking into the support?
Bring awareness down your spine to the arch of your lower back. Is it resting comfortably or is there a little discomfort or tightness?
Observe how your hips are resting. Does it feel like one hip is more weighted into your support than the other? Does it feel like one hip is hiked up towards the armpit or do they feel balanced?
Notice how the backs of your legs down to your heels are resting. Do they feel similar or a little different?
Your sense of interoception is continually accessed throughout the breath and movement practice that follows. This guided self awareness is key to helping you improve your movement patterns and release tension and pain.
We explore a soma scan again at the end of the class to discover the changes resulting from the practice.
To continue on your journey of improved health and wellbeing, I will email you an audio file of the group practice as well as step by step instructions for each movement we explore during group class to assist you in developing your own home practice.
Are you a little curious about Somatic Movement and want to learn more? The Essential Somatics YouTube channel provides videos you may wish to view to learn more about Somatics. Of course, there is much more that I share in a group or private class, but this will be a nice introduction for you.
I’d love to have you join the upcoming Somatic Group Classes or private Clinical Somatic Education sessions to learn more about this effective practice of Somatics.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
