What is Somatic Yoga? Definition For Somatic Yoga

Somatic Yoga is some gentle yoga poses which have been practised since the start of civilisation, but a slow pace gives them a different name. We can say that it is a modern version of yoga because the term was coined in the 1970s. Thomas Hanna started it and expanded it further by Moshe Feldenkrais.

There are diverse needs of the mind and body, which can be soothing and practising gentle poses to absorb the peace of posture alignment. This is a proper healing technique which is evolved after years of practising and studying yoga.

Origin of Somatic Yoga- History of Somatic Yoga Exercise

Somatic yoga poses were discovered as a need to calm the nervous system. When you enter any workout class or gym, what do you probably notice? A loud music with triggering points for workout plans. Traditional yoga practices like Hatha yoga and Yin yoga practices focus on breath coordination with the movement of the body. They are very similar to the somatic yoga poses practice.

The student of Moshe was a patient with chronic pain and needed soothing practices. In association with other practitioners, an associated class begins. The other names of the 1970s involved in the practice of somatic yoga are John Dewey, Rudolf Steiner, Gerad Alexander, Ida Rolf, and Friedrich Matthias. The Greek word ‘soma’ means ‘tiny body’; it makes a whole word, somatic yoga and originated in Western culture.

How To Practice the Somatic Yoga Sequence?

There are no specific poses in the somatic yoga practice. Every pose can be practised at a slow pace, if there is no kind of injury. Some poses may be problematic for the injured person. Here are some common practices of the somatic yoga sequence:

1. Joint Rotation

Do this practice when you don’t have any injury or chronic pain in your limbs. Start wth ankle rotation, do knee rotation and then pelvic rotation at a slow pace. Again, in the upper limbs: do shoulder rotation and elbow exercise after, palm rotation. This is the finishing line of the joint rotation, and performing it at a very slow pace will remove stiffness from the joints.

2. Pelvic Tilts

Hips are the organ prone to emotional storage; the pose for their gentle movement is also known as Setu Bandhasana, or the bridge pose. By lying on your back and bended knees, you can move your hips forward and backwards your hips.

3. Spinal Wave

Starting from the tailbone, you can do a spinal wave. It is moving spine like a wave, with complete connection with the floor.

4. Mini Stretches

They are gentle moves that give a slight stretch to the whole body. They are not only about moving the body, it is releasing a kind of storage. They are special for thighs, abdomen, and shoulders.

5. Variations of the Cat- Cow

Cat-cow pose is very beneficial for pregnant women, for menstrual pain relief and many other such problems. It is performed with breath coordination; there are different variations of the cat-cow poses.

Benefits of Somatic Yoga Programs

The Somatic Yoga routine is followed in such a way that it provides light stretches to every part of the body. This is about the feeling of tissues rather than a dry performance with a lot of muscle training. They are performed mindfully, and natural practices of the movements can be restored from this practice. Here are some proven benefits of the somatic yoga poses:

• It helps in releasing chronic pain in the tissues or muscles of the body.
• It increases the flexibility of the whole spine, thus providing a remedy for back pain and posture alignment.
• Helps in making a connection with the body and mind, thus evoking awareness in the body.
• It activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces the stress of the mind.
• It has no contraindicatory effects on the body.
• Accepted by many people at present because it is considered a part of healing remedies.

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The Ending Note

Somatic yoga poses are the best methods for mindfulness practice, as they allow slow movement. They were developed later in the 1970s, were not a part of the classical texts. The main poses of the limbs, stretching and spinal wave are included in the somatic yoga poses. They are recommended for pregnant females, people and those with chronic pain conditions. At Pratham Yoga, we have separate classes and courses for such practices. You can contact us for more information.