How Somatic Practices Help Me Move Through Stress (and Why I Chose to Learn More)
There was a time in my life when stress used to live in my body in ways I didn’t fully understand until I started to learn more about holistic health and wellness (this was around the time of my candida overgrowth journey more than 5 years ago!)
Even when things looked fine on the outside, I could feel that some things just didn’t sit right in my body: the tightness in my chest, the tension in my shoulders, how hunched my posture was, and the way I couldn’t really rest. I knew I wanted to feel better for the long-term, especially since I knew that chronic stress contributed to so many health issues.
That’s how I slowly found my way into somatic practices. It was a long, windy road that got me here. And now, I use somatic practices regularly in my day to day life to manage stress.
If you’re curious about somatics - what it is, how it helps, or whether it’s something worth exploring, then this post is for you. I’ll share a few simple tools I love and why I decided to go deeper by studying this work more formally through a program.
What Is Somatic Healing?
Somatic healing is being thrown around a lot these days. In simple terms, somatic healing is body-based healing. It’s not about thinking your way through stress (how I used to think about and manage stress) or trying to control your emotions. It’s about tuning into and listening to the subtle noise of your body - to your breath, your sensations, the way your body holds so much. (If this sounds strange, I totally understand and felt this way when I first learned about it).
Somatic tools help calm the nervous system, build self-trust, and create space between what’s happening and how we respond. This is major! They're also gentle, yet powerful.
A Few Somatic Practices That Help Me
You don’t need to overhaul your life to start. Here are a few somatic tools that I return to often:
Body scan
Close your eyes (if that feels okay) and notice what’s happening inside. Start at your head and move slowly downward. Where’s the tension? Where’s the ease? Just noticing can shift something.
Breath with movement
Inhale and gently lift your shoulders. Exhale and let them fall. Move slowly. Link your breath with your gestures. Let it be imperfect and slow.
Grounding through the feet
Feel your feet on the floor. Press down gently. Rock a little side to side. Come back to this moment. Savor your surroundings. (This is one of my favorite somatic tools!)
None of these need to “fix” anything, per se. They’re invitations to reconnect and slow down just a bit.
Why I Decided to Study This More Deeply
Over time, I realized I didn’t just want to use these practices personally (even though they are deeply supportive!) - I wanted to understand them more fully, and maybe even share them with others because the benefits I felt were so powerful and I knew most people didn’t understand how stress impacts the body.
Like a true Virgo, I looked at a few different somatic programs before choosing the one I felt most aligned with my needs: Integrative Wellness Academy (IWA)’s Integrative Somatic Practitioner program.
What I appreciated about IWA was how robust and comprehensive it was, while still being flexible. The approach is trauma-informed, practical, and respectful of each person’s schedule and commitments. You don’t need to be a coach or therapist to take it - just someone who feels called to the work and wants to learn more.
I initially enrolled to deepen my understanding and share with others, but it’s become so much more than that. I’ve integrated the tools and lessons and resources into my own life, as well as integrating into my business, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made.
If you’ve been feeling drawn to somatic work, and you’re curious about what it could look like to study it more formally, IWA might be a good place to explore.
I have a personal referral code you can use when enrolling - [just input lisa in the discount code] - and I’m also HAPPY to answer any questions if this path resonates with you too.
There is definitely no rush to figure it all out right now. Sit on it for awhile.
But if you’re feeling stuck, anxious, or just tired of carrying stress the same way, somatic tools can offer something different. Try it out and see how you feel. I hope this post was eye-opening, and that you were able to breathe a bit deeper and relax just a bit more.