HOW SOMATIC MOVEMENT + SOUND HEALING CAN BRING SERENITY INTO YOUR LIFE.

With the way life seems to move at the speed of light, it can be so challenging to find moments of stillness and peace. We often move through our days on auto-pilot, leaving us feeling ungrounded, without a sense of awareness with how our body + minds are actually feeling. This disconnection leads to us to lacking in feeling fulfilled, unable to identify the joy or heavier feelings we are experiencing; we end up at wits end in chronic pain or unable to cope with challenging emotions because we haven’t been consistently conscious of what we are experiencing on a day to day basis.

Enter in: Somatic Movement and Sound Healing. These two incredible alternative wellness modalities are impactful ways to create a better relationship with the subtle but intelligent languages of our physical and energetic self, promoting a better sense of wellness & quality of life. Let’s explore these modalities to see if they may be the practices you need to better weather the storms of life & instead float effortlessly on the changes of the tides.

What is Somatic Movement?

Somatics describes practices that use the mind-body connection to help you survey your internal self and listen to signals your body sends about areas of pain, discomfort, or imbalance. These practices allow you to access more information about the ways you hold on to your experiences in your body.

While somatic practices have become increasingly popular in the Western world over the last 50 years, many of them draw from ancient Eastern philosophy and healing practices, including Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Somatic exercises, such as Yoga, Pilates, Dancing & Stretching involve performing movement for the sake of movement. Throughout the exercise, you focus on your inner experience as you move and expand your internal awareness. [1] Somatic movement aims to mimic this same release of built-up tension in our muscles, and there’s plenty of tension to release.

“Over the years, our nervous system learns to keep certain muscles tight and move in certain ways as a result of stress, trauma, athletic training, injuries, and repetitive daily activities. [Somatic Movement] is about using that internal experience to guide the movement, instead of pushing your body to move in a certain way.”

-Sarah Warren, certified Clinical somatic educator and the owner of the Somatic Movement Center in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Somatic movement requires you to tune in to how your muscles feel in any given movement or moment. Unlike with typical workouts, you’re not trying to do as many exercises as possible. Instead, you’re trying to perform each exercise in such a way that it teaches you something about your body and its movements. Getting more in touch with your body can also have the added benefit of increasing your emotional awareness. Many people who have trouble expressing difficult emotions find it easier to convey them through movement.

Warren says in her personal experience people who do Somatic Movement regularly find that it can improve posture, flexibility, range of motion, and balance. Most importantly, The mind-body connection created through Somatic Movement can also be helpful in managing your overall health. Brenda Rea, MD, DrPH, an assistant professor of family medicine and preventive medicine at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. States "If you’re aware of how your body is feeling, that means you're able to do something about it when something doesn't feel right." [2]

What is Sound Healing?

Sound is a very powerful and effective means of changing brain state, improving mood by using the vibrations of sound to shift the mind and body into a state of regeneration. A sensory therapy, similar to massage, it is understood that low frequency sounds created through sound healing are linked to relaxing brain states, while higher frequencies encourage alertness and focus.

When sound is channeled in an intentional way, we can train the brain to behave in more effective ways to suit our needs; while encouraging positive shifts on a deep cellular level through these sound vibrations. Using various sound healing instruments and techniques, a space for insight is created for the individual to explore the parts of them that need healing on an introspective level in a deeply relaxing way.

“A person does not hear sound only through the ears; he hears sound through every pore of the body. It permeates the entire being, and according to its particular influence, either slows or quickens the rhythm of the blood circulation; it either awakens or soothes the nervous system”

― Hazrat Inayat Khan, Indian professor of musicology, singer, exponent of the Saraswati Vina, poet, philosopher, and pioneer of the transmission of Sufism to the West.

Used as a complementary therapy, sound healing is thought to help with conditions such as stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, depression and autism. Certain types of Sound therapy have also been used to treat more specific conditions such as Alzheimer’s, ADHD and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Sound Healing uses different aspects of sound to improve your emotional and physical well-being. How it works depends on the method being used. Most Sound Healing sessions are experienced one-on-one or in a group setting, also known as a Sound Bath with a specially trained practitioner.

A session may involve sitting or lying down while listening to music or sounds from a speaker or instruments, or having vibrations applied using a special tool, such as a tuning fork. Depending on the method, you may be encouraged to participate by singing, moving, or even using a musical instrument, or you may need to remain still and quiet to let the sounds take effect.

This Somatic Sound Bath is an opportunity to move, meditate and be immersed in the healing vibrations of sound.

During the first half of this experience, you’ll be lead by Somatic Movement Educator Samantha Thornton through a movement practice designed to calm the mind and nervous system and release stiffness in the body. These gentle movements can help to release stagnant or unsupportive energy to create new neural pathways and a sense of healing on a cellular level.

The Somatic Movement experience will be followed by a relaxing sound bath, guided by Karen Piekarz-Mackisoc, where you can rest comfortably and allow the vibrations of crystal bowls and other high-vibrational instruments to wash over you. Both elements of the Somatic Sound Bath will open you up to levels of awareness, insight, and healing wherever you may need it.

Bring synchronization and balance to both your physical body and energy body. Release what is no longer serving you energetically, and experience relaxation in a space where you can harmonize your body, mind and spirit. Limited spots available, reserve your space here!