Our bodies cannot differentiate between emotional and physical stress. Both forms of stress can result in involuntary muscle contractions. If habituated over time these stress response reflexes can become involuntary bracing patterns causing stiffness, tension or even pain.
An Essential Somatics Movement class activates the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for rest and recovery. It is sometimes compared to meditation with movement because this movement practice requires your full attention. You are being taught to move in ways that are different from stretching and exercising, demanding your concentration. There is a significant emphasis on releasing your muscles and letting go, doing less. Somatics is an effective way to get out of “fight or flight” mode and calms your nervous system. This is one reason why a Somatics Movement practice can benefit a dysregulated nervous system associated with for example fibromyalgia or anxiety.
Your posture can influence your mood, and your mood is reflected in your posture as depicted in the cartoon attached. Therefore, it is beneficial to address the muscle response patterns stored in your body as you work with a mental health therapist on the underlying emotions.
The feelings often associated with the Red-Light muscle response pattern are depression, a sense of being overwhelmed or anxiety.
The Green-Light muscle response pattern can be connected to hyperactivity, perfectionism or repressed anger.
If you have been practicing Somatics consistently over several months and are starting to plateau it might be worth exploring the repressed emotions with a trained mental health professional. This movement practice works hand in hand with emotional wellbeing, but an Essential Somatics Movement Teacher is not qualified to treat mental health concerns.
Комментарии