4 Things You Need to Know About Somatic Dance Movement
Have you ever heard of Somatic Dance Movement? Chances are you probably haven’t. What you might have heard about recently is the relationship between our bodies and our emotions – especially related to stress, anxiety, or trauma. For a long time, psychologists and doctors thought just talking through our emotions and past experiences could help us heal and move forward. Sometimes this works, but often it doesn’t. The body keeps score.
Tension and trauma get stored in our bodies and often do not fully release until we engage our bodies. Yoga, mindfulness, meditation, dance – all of these, when approached intentionally, allow us to reconnect with our bodies, tune into our internal experiences, and learn to regulate our tensions and stress without avoidance. When we can start approaching our bodies with curiosity rather than with fear, everything shifts.
Here are three things we think you need to know about Somatic Dance Movement and how it can benefit you:
1. What does somatic even mean?
Somatic means anything related to the experience of living in your body. Internal sensations include how your breath speeds up or your stomach clenches when you remember something difficult or how you smile or feel a sense of relief when you remember a pleasant memory or loved one. In somatic movement, you learn to notice what’s happening in your body in the moment, without getting stuck or checking out.
2. What is the Somatic Dance Movement part? Do I have to be an expert dancer?
Somatic Dance Movement is for anyone who can move in basic ways (sit, stand, walk, lay on the floor) who is wanting to not only reconnect with their bodies, but also to develop more trust and confidence in their whole selves. It’s is about the felt experience of the mover – the focus is what you feel, not what you look like! Or how well you can dance.
3. How can Somatic Dance Movement help me? What’s the point?
Through Somatic Dance Movement you will learn how to get in touch with your internal self and cultivate coping skills to intervene when intense emotions, stressors, or trauma surface. Somatic Movement helps you creatively engage with emotional, physical and cognitive processes through dance and movement. It allows you to safely explore and express what you may not be able to fully put into words. It guides you in creating a felt sense of safety within your own body – befriending your body with self-compassion rather than distancing from it with self-criticism. Your body can be your greatest teacher when you take the time and space to learn.
4. Now that I’m beginning to understand this thing, where can I find resources for Somatic Dance Movement Therapy?
We’re so glad you asked! Rooted Counseling is offering a 4-Week Somatic Dance Movement therapy workshop, running 9/8-9/29. Classes will be held on Sundays, 1-2pm.
Space is limited so register through our website today! You don’t have to be a Rooted client to participate. www.rootedcounselingmi.com/movement
If you’re not part of the Rooted community or near the area here are some other resources to connect you to Somatic Dance Movement Therapy:
Somatic Movement Center’s website has level one and level two somatic exercise courses that you can take online: https://somaticmovementcenter.com/learn-somatics-exercises/
You can also use the Somatic Movement Center’s online tool to find a certified Somatic Exercise Instructor near you: https://somaticmovementcenter.com/certified-clinical-somatics-instructors/
The International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA) provides some really great videos, information, workshops, and seminars on their website https://ismeta.org/
