Somatic Stretching involves a variety of gentle movements used to help promote the access our body’s neurogenic tremor state.

What is that?

Think about if you have ever seen a big dog assert dominance over a little dog- the little dog will often start to shake!

Here is a video showing another example of the tremor mechanism and its importance! This video shows a polar bear after being hit with a tranquilizer dart. He goes into a tremor and then breathes easily and deeply as that flight/fight is discharged from his system. It might look unpleasant- but it is a lot like an internal body massage!

We, as little beings, had this natural impulse too! Can you think of a time when you were feeling afraid or excited and you started shaking? Anytime I look back and think on this, I always think “hunh, yeah I did when I was little… whatever happened to that?”

What happened is that as we have aged we have suppressed that intelligent mechanism, usually due to fear of judgment, looking vulnerable, etc! While suppression of the tremor is an understandable desire, it works against us by keeping all of that flight/fight/freeze/shut down energy trapped in our nervous system leading to chronic dysregulation. T Swift was right- we need to shake it off!

What happens when we don’t shake it off?

Well, this leads to chronic pain, stress, and illness stored in the body, as they say, the body keeps the score! Some traumas can’t be recalled, or remembered, so talk therapy isn’t always an effective bet. Using somatic stretching provides a safe, structured, gentle environment where you can begin to tap into that energy and let it out!

During these sessions, you will be safely guided and supported not only in allowing that energy to release but also in learning how to recalibrate and regulate your nervous system which will have profound impacts on your day-to-day life.

Somatic stretching allows also the tension and trauma caused by injury, surgery, or illness to be released. It really is for every body!