Using Somatic Therapy To Explore Joy in the Body: Somatic Therapy San Francisco

How often do we find that we take time to celebrate when we feel good in our bodies? As a society, we often focus on what isn’t going well in our body. . .things that hurt, injuries, or how the body is not working how it should. It can be so tempting to dwell on the ways that we feel disappointed in our respective bodies rather than how our bodies are beautiful, resilient, and strong.

Alternately, we think that we need to make our bodies submit, so they can look a certain way, have a particular shape, or embody the latest aesthetic. There is little room to consider the body’s wants or needs but instead all the energy is focused on how the body looks. The body’s wisdom gets lost when we focus only the outside. . .and it can create a really fraught relationship with the only perceived value being the appearance of our respective bodies.

In order for us to reconnect to the joy and wisdom of the body, it may be beneficial to rethink our relationship to our body. What is it that we can gain from connecting to joy? To feeling good? Are we willing to give up our focus on all that is going wrong and our outward focus on the body? As a somatic therapist in San Francisco, specializing in dance therapy, I think it is possible to reconfigure our relationship to our bodies. Here are a couple of ways to start.

Four Ways To Find More Joy in Your Body According To A Somatic Therapist in

San Francisco

1) Take time to connect to your body each day.

For instance, right this minute, how is your body feeling? What are you doing? Put whatever you are doing aside and scan your body. Notice all feelings and physical sensations, etc. and do not judge them or try to fix them. Now, every day take a few minutes to scan your body and simply notice what it is present for you (Set an alarm if you have trouble remembering). If you are thirsty, hungry, need rest, etc., attend to your body’s needs with loving care as a way to honor your body.

2) When you connect with your body each day, scan for parts of your body that feel good or ok.

We always work on what feels bad and can overly focus on the negative. It’s ok to let go of that habit and look for positive things that are happening in your body. If this is a hard thing to do, don’t despair. Simply focus on parts that feel ok or neutral until you can start to notice if there are places in your body that feel good.

3) Find things that feel good to do in your body and do them!

It could be something small, like stretching, or putting on a song and dancing for 3 minutes, or something that takes more time, like participating in a sport or working out. Whatever helps you feel good in your body, you owe it to yourself to do that!

4) Book an appointment with a somatic therapist to get some guidance.

I get it. . .sometimes we get so cut-off from how we feel that trying to connect to our body seems like an impossible riddle to solve. If you find yourself in this position, don’t worry. A good somatic therapist (or dance therapist if that is someone you feel comfortable with) can help you find your way to exploring you reclaim you connection to your body by serving as a guide.

If you have questions about somatic therapy in San Francisco, or how to feel more at ease and comfortable in your body, please feel free to contact me at lisa@lisamanca.com. We can schedule a complementary 15 minute consultation to find out how I might help you.