Photo credit: Anthony Tran, Unsplash
Our yoga practice, viewed through the lens of body-oriented psychotherapy can reveal layers of somatic intelligence deep within our tissues. Each asana or movement, each flow of our limbs can be just that-a physical movement. But each movement of our body can also be read as a dialogue with our deepest patterns of being.
The body speaks in a sophisticated language of sensation, tension, and release. Drawing from Somatic Experiencing’s understanding of nervous system regulation (Levine, 2010), we might observe how our practice can naturally swing between activation and settling. In our day, we might wake up rested, only to tense up on the ride to work. We might be in flow listening to a podcast on our walk, only to feel jolted out of our skins when someone cuts through our path. We might be trying to enjoy the after-glow of a massage, only to see 30 notifications from an ex. In our yoga practice, a Warrior II might show us patterns of unnecessary tension in our shoulders, or a rest of activated mobilization in our legs, while a Restorative forward fold with bolsters and blankets offers the nervous system an opportunity to integrate and reset.
The Hakomi Method’s principle of mindfulness (Kurtz, 1990) invites us to approach our yoga practice as an open experiment into self-discovery. As we move with present-moment awareness, we may notice how certain poses evoke emotional responses or unlock somatic memories. A Tadasana (Mountain) pose might reveal both metaphoric and literal beliefs about groundedness and stability, while chest/heart-opening poses like Ustrasana (Camel) could illuminate patterns of vulnerability or emotional armoring that Reich (1933) first identified in his character analysis work.
By gently weaving this intention, or style of awareness in our day-to-day moments, as well as more consciously in our yoga practice or in the therapy room, we have unlimited material to be explored for psychological integration and healing. This could also be considered a deep listening practice as we turn deeper inwards into our body’s experience of the moment.
For those considering taking up somatic counselling with us, your yoga practice can serve as an important tool in our therapeutic work. The skills you might not even notice you’ve picked up – mindful attention, self-regulation, tolerance for sensation – directly support the process of psychological integration that Siegel (2007) describes as essential for emotional well-being. Note that this doesn’t mean you need a yoga practice to develop these skills. Tai-chi, swimming, dancing, even mindfully eating are all great opportunities for attuning inwards.
Now, back to my ever faithful friend, my yoga mat.
Check out our online or in-person classes at this lovely studio @ Even Flow LifeStyle Medicine, Mt Lawley WA
References:
- Kurtz, R. (1990). Body-Centered Psychotherapy: The Hakomi Method
- Levine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness
- Ogden, P. (2015). Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment
- Reich, W. (1933). Character Analysis
- Schore, A. (2003). Affect Regulation and the Repair of the Self
- Siegel, D. (2007). The Mindful Brain
- van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score