How I Found Somatic Healing
By Sara McKelvey
The first time I ever experienced an emotion in my body was one day in a yin yoga class, in pigeon pose. I felt these sensations bubbling up from deep within my hips, rising to the surface when I had historically fought so hard to push them down throughout my usual day-to-day life.
While in pigeon pose, I noticed this sensation grow from my hips, into my belly, through my solar plexus, through my chest and neck, and into my face, cheeks burning, and suddenly, I was blinking back tears. I had no idea where this emotion was coming from or why it was showing itself to me at that exact moment.
Not knowing any better at the time, I shoved these sensations back into a box that I locked deep inside of myself, away from the light of day, doing my very best to pretend I did not have intense uncomfortable feelings at all. I had no idea that my body was a portal to healing, that my body could be my most trusted source. I had no idea that my body was begging me to FEEL all of the things I kept tucked away. I soon learned the connection to my body as the most important and longest relationship I will ever have. Yoga helped me to unlock emotions that were stuck living in my body.
Ten years, thousands of hours of therapy, certifications, and education later, I can reflect on this experience and see that yoga was my entryway into somatic healing. Somatic practices, fundamentally, are the integration of the mind-body connection. Somatic healing allows for us to perceive what is happening in our bodies at any given time.
Forming a connection to our bodies, learning its language and how it speaks to us, is different for every single person. It’s different because each person has a different response to stress or triggers. A huge part of becoming more connected to the body is tracking sensation through the body, even when it feels scary. Tracking sensation in the body is a key practice to incorporate when stepping into somatic practices. When we are able to pause and notice what is happening in the body, the brain receives more information about what is happening in the body, and in turn, the brain allocates a great degree of higher-brain neurological resources to regulate the body. Conscious tracking of body sensations can be extremely effective in regulating oneself.
Trying a new healing modality can feel daunting for many individuals, especially if they have tried other techniques and didn’t see results. Many people tend to live above the neck, in the space between their ears, attempting to think through a problem or trigger. However, just the act of thinking through the trigger is an avoidance of feeling what’s coming up, moment to moment.
Somatic practices were my entryway into deep healing, and yoga was my entry into somatic healing. It was the first time I was able to connect with my body without judgment and learn to feel what my body needed. Yoga was my entryway into a deeper way of being. It was the first time I connected the breath, movement, and mindfulness and I began to notice the movement and connection my body was craving.
Although I am sharing about my experience with yoga and how it helped me drop into connection with myself, I want to offer a gentle reminder that yoga might not be what works for everyone. For some, they feel more connected to cold plunging, exercise, qi gong, or massage. More importantly, a person might need different practices on different days. The most important detail to keep in mind is having a deep knowledge and familiarity with one’s body, the way it speaks, and what it is asking for at any given moment. Somatic healing allows us to feel every little ping of information or stimuli that the body is receiving from the environment. When we are able to understand and recognize our bodies’ unique interpretation of stimuli, we can know what we need to help ourselves feel safe and supported.
Are you new to somatic healing techniques? If your interest is piqued and you want to try integrating some somatic practices into your life, here’s one of my favorite (and potent) practices: Thymus Thumps! The thymus is a gland located right behind the breastbone in the sternum. It is a vital part of our immune system, and helps to convert the food we consume into usable energy. Thymus thumps can help boost immunity, increase vitality, and stimulate energy.
Here’s how you do it:
You may be seated, standing, or laying down, ensuring you are slowly inhaling and exhaling throughout the practice.
Beginning with a hand in a loose fist, begin to gently tap on the center of your chest, midway between your heart and sternum.
Feel the taps on your chest cause a slight vibration, adjusting the pace of your thumps to a speed that feels right for you.
Follow this practice for about thirty seconds before dropping the hand away from the chest.
Check in with yourself. How do you feel? Has an energy shifted? Noticing, without any judgment.
Being curious about the body and its response to somatic techniques is a powerful step in moving into your alignment.
About Sara McKelvey
Sara McKelvey is a Certified Trauma Informed Life Coach, specializing in Somatic Practices and Nervous System Regulation. Sara helps each of her clients learn to reconnect with their body and return to the home within themselves. Sara is passionate about somatic healing because she has seen the transformations her clients have made, and have also experienced its benefits within herself. Outside of her work hours, Sara enjoys spending time outside with her dog, gardening, and surfing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Meet Sara and learn more about somatic healing on The Embody Lab’s Therapist Directory.
If you’re interested in understanding more about how somatic practices can help you, consider working with a Somatic Therapist or Practitioner. The Embody Lab’s Somatic Therapist and Practitioner Directory can help you find the right practitioner to support your journey towards more self-compassion, connection, and authenticity. Explore our directory and find the support you need.
