Fall into Somatics
Written by: Justine Allen
🕗 Short & sweet
What is Somatics?
Somatic refers to that which relates to the soma—or the body. In a therapeutic context, it speaks to body-oriented forms of therapy that explore the connection between mind and body. Today, somatics is a multidisciplinary field, supported by a growing body of research in neuroscience, trauma healing, and embodiment.
However, it's important to recognize—through a decolonizing lens—that many somatic approaches are rooted in ancestral embodiment practices that have existed across cultures for centuries and continue to live on in many traditions today.
Why the Body Matters in Therapy
Our bodies hold the story of our lived experience. Body-based approaches can offer valuable insight in therapy because they allow us to access what may not be fully available through words alone.
Somatic modalities allow us to safely process emotion and trauma through sensation, movement, and awareness. The process often reminds me of alchemy—as there’s something about the element of transmutation that resonates when I think about somatic work’s ability to shift and transform our embodied experience.
A Somatic Prompt for the Fall Season
As the external world shifts from Summer to Fall, our internal landscape often changes, too.
What do you notice in your body during this transition?
Do you feel energized by the cool air?
Does part of you shut down or turn inward as the daylight fades?
These shifts are invitations to tune in.
You might explore questions like:
What sensations or changes am I noticing in my body?
What might I need to feel more supported in this moment or season?
Maybe it's:
Sitting near a window to take in natural light
A slow, grounding movement practice
A warm, sensory-rich bath to soothe the nervous system
These small acts of noticing and responding can become foundational practices in body-based healing.
The Open Invitation of Somatics
Somatic practices offer a powerful invitation to deepen awareness and reconnect with the wisdom held in our physical experience. And, it’s not a one-time invitation—it’s a conversation that’s always unfolding. Cultivating this relationship is a practice of ongoing attunement, one that welcomes us back again and again. As we begin to honour our sensations, rhythms, and internal cues, we strengthen the mind-body connection and open the door to a more grounded, connected way of being.
This is the heart of somatic therapy—an invitation to return to yourself, one moment at a time.
With care 🍂
