What does somatic mean in dance?

In dance, somatic refers to a holistic approach to movement that integrates the body and mind. Somatic practices in dance work on developing a deep awareness of bodily sensations. These practices include elements of body awareness and mindfulness.

What are somatic art activities?

Somatic art activities use movement, mindfulness, and art-making to help a person heal. They can include drawing, painting, claywork, and collage.

Where is trauma stored in the body?

Trauma isn’t stuck in your muscles or bones in a physical sense. It is an emotional response to experiencing a traumatic event and is stored as memories in your brain’s emotional areas, such as the hippocampus and amygdala. When something reminds you of this traumatic event, your body reacts as if there’s danger, like a built-in alarm system.

Does somatics really work?

If you do somatic movements regularly, you may notice that your body becomes better at standing up straight, becomes more flexible, moves further, and stays steady. Somatic stretching exercises can also make your brain and body work together better, helping you take care of your health in general.