Anna Maria Richards
Alternative wellness practices have grown in popularity in a long list of major American cities over recent years. Looking for a way to combat the physical and mental maladies that accompany chaotic and urban lifestyles, millions are setting their sights on therapies beyond the confines of clinical treatment.
Tantric healing in particular has become the alternative wellness practice of choice for a whole new generation of open-minded individuals. In particular, somatics are being sought and performed on a more widespread basis than ever before – a term anyone with an interest in alternative wellness will have heard mentioned from time to time.
But what exactly does “somatics” mean, and what does it have to offer? Where did the concept come from and to what extent is it proven in its effectiveness?
Somatics Defined
The term “somatics” is used in reference to any and all practices that focus on using the connections between the mind and body to listen, learn and ultimately satisfy the requirements of both. Where somatics are effective, they can help an individual take confident control of issues with pain, discomfort and general imbalance in their everyday lives.
The concept of somatics dates back to 1970, when an educator by the name of Thomas Hanna first described a series of techniques where combinations of relaxation and movement could be used to help people achieve better bodily awareness.
While the popularity of somatics has been growing in the United States steadily for around 50 years, it is actually deeply rooted in a wide variety of ancient healing practices and far eastern philosophy.
What Are Somatic Exercises?
One thing all forms of somatic exercise have in common is the use of movement and relaxation as tools to heighten focus on the inner experience and ultimately achieve a higher state of internal awareness. Somatic exercises exist in a wide variety of forms, going by long list of names such as the following:
- rolfing
- Body-Mind Centering
- Alexander technique
- Feldenkrais method
- Laban movement analysis
However, there are various other mainstream movement exercises that technically fall within the bracket of somatics, including:
- dance
- yoga
- Pilates
- aikido
If you have experienced the potential benefits (physical and psychological) of any of these four common forms of exercise, you already have a solid understanding of what somatic exercise is all about.
Whereas a conventional workout is primarily about raising your heartrate and pushing your body to its limits, somatic exercise focuses on strengthening important connections between the mind and body. It is about getting to know your body at a deeper level and entering into a state of heightened emotional awareness, in order to take better control over a wide variety of everyday issues and obstacles.
Does Somatic Exercise Really Work?
The short answer is yes, if the first-hand accounts of the millions who practice somatics on a regular basis are anything to go by. Many professional practitioners also support and recommend somatics is a potentially effective form of alternative therapy.
Yoga and Pilates in particular have been approved forms of treatment for a long list of conditions for some time now.
In terms of specific benefits, somatics are noted for being able to help those who perform the exercises in three primary areas:
- Increased emotional awareness – somatics have the power to enable a person to take better control over unwanted emotions, which can be helpful for those looking to come to terms with a traumatic experience and move on more positively.
- Relief of pain and discomfort – evidence also suggests that many forms of somatic exercise can be used to bring physical pain and discomfort under control. Somatic exercise is routinely recommended to patients struggling with chronic pain or stiffness.
- Improved movement and flexibility – the very nature of most types of somatic exercises (like those mentioned above) is such that those who practice them typically enjoy greater flexibility and easier movement in general.
The benefits of somatics vary from one participant to the next, but typically revolve around these three main areas.
Where Can I Find a Tantric Healer?
Anyone looking to try out somatics and tantric healing for the first time, is most likely to type on a Search Engine Tantric Healer Near Me, which is totally fine, but we can help you out with this, so here it goes our recommendation, check out the online portal: NYBodyLove.com
By far, the best entry point to the remarkable world of somatics is a trained and experienced professional, who knows exactly how to get the best out of tantric healing.
Video tutorials and virtual sessions are available, but cannot replicate the hands-on benefits of being guided through the basics as somebody who knows exactly what they are doing.
