What is Somatic Movement?

Today began my series of free introductory Nia classes which I’m offering through to next Tuesday. I often discuss how Nia is a somatic movement practice and thought it would be a good time to clarify what that means and why it’s important, whether you’ve been attending Nia for years or are wanting to attend your first class.

Somatic movement is moving with awareness and focusing on your subjective experience. For example, many fitness forms show you what to do and ask that you copy what you see until you get it.  A somatic movement teacher, on the other hand, will show you a movement and ask you to express a similar movement originating from within you. In other words, it’s not about looking like the teacher or copying with exactitude. Instead it’s observing and then sensing through your own body. This creates a far more relaxed nervous system since the individual is sourcing from his or herself, not externally. When we do that, we bring our own selves into the picture. This allow us to be clear about what we are doing, feeling, sensing rather than moving blindly as someone following.  When we source externally, we leave our own experience and aim to become something other than ourselves. In such a situation, you are sure to feel something being lost in the process, most likely ‘you’!

In an educational setting, it is natural to look towards the teacher to provide guidance, expertise, and even inspiration. With somatic movement, the teacher asks you to also bring awareness back to yourself. It’s a constant dance of looking out and being within. It takes practice, and initially may require more effort until it becomes a natural response. The rewards are many though. This looking out and being within engages your heart and soul, not just your mind. In the wired world we now live in, this is a critical benefit. With your heart, mind, and soul engaged, you act with conscious integration. In other words, you feel whole rather than isolated, overwhelmed, or fragmented. You make decisions based on the complete information that is available to you, not only through your mind but also through your physical awareness and intuition. The process is whole.

Many somatic movement practices are slow (Feldenkrais, Pilates, Alexander Technique) allowing you much time to be with each movement and sensation. Those who are needing healing after an injury/trauma/illness find these invaluable for reprogramming their bodies back to health.  Somatic movement is also a part of Nia even though it is a cardio practice. This is another reason Nia is unique in the fitness world. It offers cardio benefits and combines them with the healing experience of somatic movement. The most common phrase students mention at the end of a class in how energized and relaxed they feel.  This is a gift of the somatic movement process.

Check out the free Nia classes happening this Sat/Sun/Tue. Classes led by Jasjit, Nia Black Belt Teacher, celebrating over 10 years of teaching Nia in Vancouver. Certified by the founders of Nia through each of her belt levels, Jasjit is known to bring depth, playfulness, spirit, wisdom and clarity to her classes.