What is Somatic Movement Therapy?

I was recently invited to contribute to an online article about somatic movement therapy and through answering those questions I was able to reflect on how often this work sits quietly in the background of what we do.

Somatics is a buzz word these days in the movement world, but it is not always clearly understood. So I thought I’d take the opportunity to share a little more about what somatic movement therapy is at Movementality, how we organically thread it into our Pilates teachings and why it can be such a powerful foundation for how we relate to our bodies.

What Is Somatic Movement Therapy?

The word somatic comes from the Greek word soma, meaning the living body as experienced from within. It refers to the body not just as something we look at or try to fix, but something we can sense, feel, and learn from.

Formulated western somatic approaches emerged through the work of pioneers such as Thomas Hanna and Moshe Feldenkrais, who explored how perception, awareness and nervous system mapping influence the way we move. In fact, the term “somatic movement” was coined by Hanna in the 1970’s. However, the idea of moving somatically stems from ancient Asian traditions that prioritised the internal experience of the body. Yoga is considered the oldest and most widely practised, somatic discipline, with its origins in India dating back over 5,000 years to the Vedic period (before 500 BCE).

At Movementality, both Rob and I often teach Pilates through a somatic lens or pepper somatic practices into our sessions because of our various trainings. Separately, I also offer both 1:1 and group Somatic Movement Therapy sessions, which are heavily influenced by my training and work as a qualified Dance Movement Therapist. Regardless of which modality you are engaging with, many of the principles of somatics and Pilates interconnect.

The nervous system sits at the centre

One of the phrases I often share with clients is: “the issue is not in the tissue.”

When people experience chronic tightness, tension, or persistent pain, the instinct is to assume the problem lies within the muscle, fascia or connective tissue in that area of the body. Sometimes treating the area helps, but not always. It’s important to remember that the tissues are responding to instructions from the nervous system, and the nervous system, for whatever reason, is in protection mode.

If the nervous system perceives instability, threat, or a need for protection, it may keep certain muscles activated. Over time, that can feel like persistent tightness or stiffness, even when the original reason for that protection has long passed.

Somatic movement approaches the body from a slightly different angle. Instead of trying to override the tension, it invites us to notice it.

By slowing down and bringing awareness to movement as it’s happening, the brain has the opportunity to recognise these chronic tension patterns and reorganise or release them, in real time.

Why stretching doesn’t always change tightness

Many people come to movement practices saying something like, “I stretch all the time, but I’m still tight.”

That experience makes sense when you look at the role of the nervous system. If the brain senses that a joint or area of the body doesn’t feel stable or well controlled, it may limit how much range the muscles are allowed to access. In that context, passive stretching can temporarily change sensation, but it doesn’t necessarily change the underlying organisation of movement.

Everyday factors can contribute to this protective patterning - repetitive postures, long hours sitting, past injuries, stress, breathing habits, even the way we focus our eyes or distribute weight through our feet.

Somatic movement works by introducing new sensory information. As we explore slow, attentive movement, the brain gathers a clearer picture of what’s happening in the body. That improved awareness can help shift movement patterns towards something more efficient and less effortful.

Perception can create meaningful change

Somatic exercises are sometimes misunderstood as being too gentle to be effective. We tend to associate effectiveness with intensity (but that’s a whole different blog about capitalism and hyper productivity, which I won’t jump on my soapbox for today!)

The reality is, change in the nervous system happens slowly, subtlely and through consistent small exposures (titrations). When we are aware of something, we can start to work towards shifting it, but we first need to be comfortable with actually being with ourselves and our bodies, in the space. And not rushing through movements to get to the end, but staying with them moment to moment, and practising being present.

Moving slowly allows the mind to stay present with sensation rather than drifting away from it. Sustained attention supports learning and adaptation in the brain. Over time, this can influence coordination, body awareness, and even how pain is perceived.

This doesn’t mean somatic work replaces other forms of exercise. In fact, I see it as something that can sit alongside Pilates, strength training, walking, and any other activities you engage with. In many cases, it’s less about the specific exercise and more about how we are experiencing the movement as we do it - we can practice anything somatically.

Building a relationship with your body

Perhaps the most important part of somatic practice is the relationship it cultivates between you and your body.

In a culture that often encourages us to override discomfort, push through fatigue, or disconnect from sensation to achieve a goal, somatics offers a different approach. It invites curiosity. It asks us to pay attention.

Over time, this can create a deeper sense of trust in the body.

And that relationship becomes incredibly valuable when life presents challenges - whether that’s injury, pain, stress, loss, or simply the physical changes that come with ageing. When you have developed the ability to sense what your body is telling you, respond with awareness, and adapt your movement accordingly, you carry a kind of internal stability with you.

It’s grounding.

In many ways, that capacity for self-awareness becomes a foundation for resilience.

A tool within a bigger picture

Somatic movement therapy is one tool within the broader landscape of movement and health. It can be incredibly supportive, particularly for people experiencing persistent pain or long-standing movement habits, but it isn’t always the only piece of the puzzle.

There are also situations, particularly when trauma is involved, where it’s important to explore this work with the guidance of trained professionals. Knowing when to refer to medical or clinical practitioners is an important part of responsible movement practice.

But when used appropriately, somatic work can offer something quite profound: the opportunity to reconnect with your own internal experience.

And from there, movement becomes not just something we do to the body, but something we do with it.

I’ll be sharing more about somatic movement in the coming months, as well as launching an online group somatic movement class for anyone curious and wanting to engage with this part of my work more and as always, I am around to answer any questions you may have about how somatics might be able to help you.