the Somatics blog
Exploring somatic health, how the brain controls posture and movement, why we experience
muscle and joint pain, and how we can live our lives to the fullest.
7 Reasons Why Every Athlete Should Do Clinical Somatics
The benefits of Clinical Somatics exercises are so life-changing that every athlete needs to be doing them in order to improve their performance, prevent injuries, and extend their athletic career. […]
When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection
Dr. Gabor Maté’s phenomenal book When the Body Says No explores psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology—the science of how our psyche, nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system interact and affect our health. […]
How Your Sleeping Position Affects Your Posture, Proprioception, and Pain
If you suffer from any type of musculoskeletal pain or tension, especially in your neck, shoulders, back, or hips, consider how your sleeping position might be contributing.[…]
Recovering From 19 Years of Chronic Pain by Chris Werts
Recovering From 19 Years of Chronic Pain by Chris Werts I’ve been an athlete all of my life, not at the elite level but perhaps some would say right below that. Growing up, very little emphasis was put on strengthening modalities, and all kids are invincible as you know. Baseball was my jam, but [...]
The Diverse Ways in Which SMC® CEI instructors Use Clinical Somatics to Help People
The Diverse Ways in Which SMC® CEI Instructors Use Clinical Somatics to Help People The Somatic Movement Center® Certified Exercise Instructor (SMC® CEI) program was born out of a desire to make Clinical Somatic Education accessible worldwide. With the three in-person training schools all located in the United States, bringing the training online has made [...]
New Video: Why Stretching Doesn’t Work
In this video, I explain the two reasons why static stretching isn't effective for releasing muscle tension and relieving pain: Because static stretching activates your stretch reflex (myotatic reflex), and because it doesn't change the learned messages that your nervous system is sending to your muscles to stay tight. You can learn more in these [...]
Why You Can’t Release Your Tight Psoas Muscle With Stretching
Why You Can't Release Your Tight Psoas Muscle With Stretching Your physical therapist, chiropractor, or yoga teacher might have told you that you have a tight psoas muscle, and they may have taught you stretching exercises to release it. While they're probably right—having a tight psoas is a very common problem—static stretching has little to [...]
Guest spot on the Running Rogue podcast, hosted by Chris McClung
This week I got to be a guest on the Running Rogue podcast, hosted by competitive runner and coach Chris McClung. We chatted about how Chris healed an injury using Clinical Somatics exercises, how the exercises work, how athletes can benefit from them, and lots of other fun stuff. Thanks so much for having me [...]
The Role of Somatic Movement in Breast Cancer Recovery by Kelly Beach
The Role of Somatic Movement in Breast Cancer Recovery by Kelly Beach I really do not know how to talk about my breast cancer and rather post mucky recovery, except straightforward how it all occurred, and the HUGE role Somatic Movement had in managing and eliminating my symptoms, remaining hands down the most effective tool [...]
Meditation Series
Over the next few months I'll be offering a series of guided meditations for beginners on YouTube. Some of them are true somatic meditations—exploring breath sensations, internal bodily sensations, and noticing and releasing tension throughout the body. Others will explore ideas such as attention and awareness, energy, and love. Click the titles or the [...]
How to Make Meditation Part of Your Daily Life
How to Make Meditation Part of Your Daily Life Meditation may seem like the latest trend, but it's been around for thousands of years. Wall art in the Indus Valley, dating from approximately 5,000 to 3,500 BCE, depicts people sitting with crossed legs, hands resting on their knees, and eyes narrowed. Meditation techniques are [...]
12 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Meditation
12 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Meditation To say that it's been a stressful year would be an understatement. If you don't meditate, you may have considered starting as a way to calm your mind, stop worrying, and get better sleep. But starting a meditation practice can be daunting. How can you fit it into [...]
The Benefits of Exploring Micromovements
The Benefits of Exploring Micromovements If you practice Clinical Somatics exercises, you know how slow and gentle they are. But if you're in a lot of pain to start with, your nervous system is highly sensitized, or you're dealing with joint inflammation or a structural issue, even the slow, gentle exercises might exacerbate your pain. [...]
