What is SomaYoga?
SomaYoga is a therapeutic style of yoga focusing on slow, gentle, focused movements with the goal to create a greater sense of ease, stability and mobility throughout the body. The SomaYoga methods can be blended into classic yoga flows, everyday activities and athletic training allowing the client to be more fully engaged and enjoying life.
Soma is the Greek word for body. SomaYoga is a blend of Somatics with yoga practices. Thomas Hanna developed Somatics which recognizes that habitual stress responses create muscle tension patterns limiting our ability to engage in life with effort and ease.
Practicing SomaYoga improves an individual's internal awareness which is called interoception. Think of it as internal proprioception or inner sense. When the Soma is settled, moving through slow, subtle movements retrains the sensory motor loop improving interoception which may allow for deep muscle releases and retraining to occur.
SomaYoga can be thought of as the small yoga before big yoga poses. Subtle work across the body layers: physical, breath, mind and connection to others and spirit may integrate the soma. When we feel good and grounded in our soma, we may be able to more fully engage in our activities and also find restorative rest.
Who can benefit from SomaYoga?
Honestly, any person who desires to age well and feel settled, present, in their body may benefit.
SomaYoga is complementary to physical therapy services allowing the client to be more present and fine-tuned to their body’s needs.
Here are examples of conditions SomaYoga may help with symptom management:
persons that have a dysregulated nervous system: hyperarousal, hypoarousal
persistent, painful conditions: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, neuropathy
neurological conditions: post-stroke, MS, Parkinson’s and TBI
mental health conditions: anxiety, depression, trauma, insomnia
What could a person expect during or after a SomaYoga session?
The practice should feel good in your body, like a massage.
The practice is slow and may feel aggravating in the beginning because we are used to moving fast.
The practice affects the nervous system and may change your energy level.
The practice should help you gain insights allowing you to more fully engage in your activities.
After practice, you may feel soreness. If needed, use your go-to strategies to help with soreness.