Soma, Somatic, & Somatic Practices
The root word of somatic, soma, is largely known as having ancient Greek origins and is defined as being in relation to the physical body. Soma is the body itself. In conversation this could sound like, “I felt that reaction in my soma” or “my soma is experiencing intense sensation around this”. While orientation to the body is the primary use of the word, Soma can also be found in Hindu texts, such as the Vedas, describing vitality of the body, a ceremonial plant, and another name for the moon god, Chandra. (While I am not Hindu, do not practice Hinduism, or study this religion and/or Indian culture in depth, I believe there is great value in knowing where words originate, and how they are used.)
The term “somatic”, might be used in various contexts today when describing an experience or sensation felt in the body, especially when in contrast to the mind and spirit. One might used this word by saying “I have felt this experience somatically, even more so than mentally”. This term is also used to describe a type of care that centers its interventions around the body, utilizing a bottom up approach. Though somatic is used most widely in therapeutic spaces, it is not limited to talk therapy. Somatic practitioners range from massage therapists, movement specialists and dancers to voice coaches. Anyone who’s work focuses on the body could call their work “somatic”.
I think the distinguishing factor of someone who’s work involves the body and a somatic practitioner is the intent to hold a healing container. Education, training and resources centering a somatic approach, focus primarily on nervous system health and how trauma can affect the body in a lasting way. When it comes to studying somatic therapies, Somatic Experiencing Institute (SEI) is one of the larger schools offering training around the nervous system, sensation, and trauma informed intervention. SEI offers tools, techniques, and framework that provide practitioners with the resources to work with people based on sensation vs. trauma history. In this way, discussion of traumatic events is not necessary, rather the focus is a body’s current experience.
A somatic experiencing session can look like noticing, and naming sensation within one’s window of tolerance, among other techniques. This work can be done with or without contact from the therapist, depending on an individuals needs and boundaries. With either one of these approaches, there are many choices and opportunities to adapt if the efforts push one out of a tolerated experience. All of this work can be taken home and implemented into one’s personal practice, which can look like body based rituals, routines, noticing, and naming sensation. At the end of the day, this is just another path to process human experience in a different way. If this seems like something you’d like to learn more about for your own self care practice, reach out!