The Power of Being Present in your Body: 5 Reasons for Somatic Awareness
- Lisa S. Larsen, PsyD
- May 23
- 4 min read
Trauma survivors and mourners often have difficulty being present in their bodies. Whenever we feel physical or emotional discomfort, we don't want to endure it longer than we have to. This can also be true for people with chronic illness, sufferers of anxiety, or those who have mood disorders like chronic depression. It is tempting to disconnect from our bodies, but the costs are high. You might have difficulty being present in your body if you have been shamed for how you look, or bullied for being too feminine or too masculine for the gender you were assigned at birth. There are many since you may leave our body and become disconnected, but there are also compelling reasons to reconnect be present somatically. This blog post discusses some of the strongest reasons to come home to your body and be present in your physical body again.
Somatic awareness can improve how you think.
Have you ever noticed when you feel spaced out because you're tired or hungry, it's harder to concentrate or get things done? Alternatively, have you ever had a hard time deciding something because you can't tell how you feel (maybe because you're depressed or anxious)? When you are in touch with your body, you have access to the body's intelligence and all of your sensory perception and sensation. This can lead to improved mental clarity and focus. Being present in your body means you're more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. This increased awareness can help you stay focused and mentally clear.
Reduce stress and anxiety with somatic awareness.
Do you ever find yourself with a sore jaw because you're clenching your teeth? Do you get sore muscles in your neck and shoulders from bracing yourself? Do you feel consistently numb and blah? Finding it hard to enjoy things that other people enjoy? Whether you realize it or not, your body is responding to your thoughts and emotions, and there is a reciprocal relationship between your body and mind.
Wouldn't it be nice to be aware of that and have more control over this connection? Being present in your body can help calm your nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety. It is possible to regulate your nervous system so that you are not in fight-or-flight mode all the time. It is also important to activate your body awareness so you can enjoy new experiences. By focusing on your physical sensations, you can being more mentally focused on the present and let go of worries about the past or future.
Enhance your creativity and inspiration with somatic awareness.
When you're present in your body, you're more open to new experiences and sensations. You notice more internally and externally through your five senses. You are also more receptive to spiritual experiences and a sense of wonder and awe. This can help stimulate your creativity and inspire new ideas, which increases your enjoyment of life and makes it more interesting.
Improve your physical health with somatic awareness.
If your nervous system is constantly under stress, your immune system, cardiovascular system, hormones, and overall health suffer. Constant stress also erodes your memory and makes your brain unhealthier. However, you can't fix what you're not aware of. Therefore, it's important to be in touch with how you feel physically and emotionally on a regular basis.
Being present in your body can help you tune into your physical needs, such as hunger, thirst, and fatigue. You can also prevent injuries by being aware of your movements as you move through space. Your digestion can improve, which is especially helpful for people with autoimmune conditions like Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome. You can be more aware of what you're eating and how, which can improve your weight. All of this is essential for better physical well-being.
Get closer to others by being aware of your somatic experience.
It may seem counterintuitive that being in touch with yourself would positively influence your relationships. After all, aren't you supposed to be attuned to the other person? However, there are several ways that somatic awareness can improve your relationships. For one, you can notice when you're getting angry and do things to self-regulate your emotions before you say the wrong thing or do regrettable actions.
If you are attuned to your own needs and wants, you can communicate them more effectively and tactfully to the other person. You also pick up on what is happening in the present, rather than your fantasy about what the other person really means. All these reasons, when you're present in your body, you're more able to connect with others on a deeper level. You're more aware of your emotions, body language, and nonverbal cues. This can help you build stronger, more meaningful relationships.
How do you improve your somatic awareness?
There are several ways to improve somatic awareness, including:
Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing;
Physical activity, such as yoga, qigong, Tai Chi, martial arts, or walking;
Sensory exploration, such as paying attention to your senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell);
Receiving massage or energetic practices like Reiki;
Scanning your body for tension and also areas of pleasant sensation;
And Somatic Stress Release, which helps you not only notice your body, but release unwanted stress that may have accumulated over years of negative experiences.
I have seen people improve greatly in how they enjoy their lives when they are more attuned to their bodies and more in charge of how they handle physical and emotional stress. Are you ready to become more somatically aware? Please give me a call or click the button below to learn more.
