Our bodies hold onto experiences far longer than our minds do. The tension in your shoulders, the tightness in your stomach, the fatigue that lingers despite rest—these aren’t just physical symptoms. They are messages from your body, signaling unresolved emotions, stress, or past experiences that have yet to be processed.Somatic Release Therapy is a body-centered healing approach that focuses on helping individuals tune into their body’s signals, understand where they’re holding tension, and gently release stored emotions and stress. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which engages the rational mind, somatic therapy works with the body to access deeper layers of emotional and physical well-being.
In this blog, we’ll explore:
✅ How somatic release therapy works
✅ Why the body stores trauma and tension
✅ Signs that your body is holding onto stress
✅ Simple somatic release techniques for everyday healing
If you’ve been experiencing chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, or a sense of disconnection from your body, this guide will introduce you to the transformative power of somatic release therapy.
What Is Somatic Release Therapy?
Somatic Release Therapy is a holistic approach to healing that focuses on the connection between body and mind. It is based on the understanding that emotions and trauma are not just stored in the mind but also within the body’s tissues, muscles, and nervous system.
When we experience stress, anxiety, or emotional distress, our body reacts instinctively. If we don’t fully process these emotions at the moment they occur, they can become trapped in the body, leading to physical and emotional imbalances.
Somatic therapy works by helping individuals reconnect with their body’s sensations and create space for release through breathwork, movement, and mindful awareness.
This practice is especially beneficial for those who:
✔️ Feel emotionally “stuck” despite traditional therapy
✔️ Experience unexplained physical pain or chronic tension
✔️ Struggle with anxiety, panic, or nervous system dysregulation
✔️ Find it difficult to relax, rest, or feel safe in their body
By engaging with the body’s wisdom, somatic release therapy helps bring balance, offering a deeper level of healing than mindset shifts alone can achieve.
Why Does the Body Store Stress & Trauma?
Our nervous system is designed to respond to stress and danger instinctively. When faced with a stressful or traumatic situation, the body enters a fight, flight, or freeze state—a survival response that protects us from harm.
But when the stressor isn’t fully processed, the body remains in a heightened state of alertness, even long after the experience has passed. Over time, this can manifest as:
❌ Chronic muscle tension (tight shoulders, jaw clenching, stiffness in the back or neck)
❌ Digestive issues, low energy, or fatigue
❌ Anxiety, emotional numbness, or difficulty relaxing
❌ Feeling disconnected from the body or struggling with body awareness
Somatic release helps complete these incomplete stress cycles, allowing the body to finally let go of what it has been holding onto.
How Somatic Therapy Supports Nervous System Regulation
Somatic release therapy works by engaging the nervous system and allowing it to reset. The nervous system is responsible for regulating stress, relaxation, and emotional balance. When it remains dysregulated for long periods, the body stays in a constant state of hyper-alertness or shutdown, making it difficult to relax or feel safe.
Through breathwork, movement, and body awareness exercises, somatic therapy helps shift the nervous system into a state of safety and relaxation, allowing the body to:
🌿 Let go of stored stress and trauma
🌿 Regain a sense of inner calm and balance
🌿 Restore energy flow and emotional clarity
🌿 Enhance self-awareness and emotional resilience
This approach is especially beneficial for those struggling with chronic stress, PTSD, burnout, or emotional exhaustion.
Signs That Your Body Needs Somatic Release
You might not always be aware that your body is holding onto stress or emotions, but some common signs include:
🔹 Persistent muscle tension (especially in the neck, shoulders, or jaw)
🔹 Feeling emotionally overwhelmed or easily triggered
🔹 Frequent fatigue or low energy levels
🔹 Restlessness, fidgeting, or difficulty sitting still
🔹 Struggling to feel “at home” in your body
If you relate to any of these, somatic release techniques may be helpful in bringing more ease, comfort, and balance into your life.
Somatic Release Techniques to Try at Home
If you’re curious about how to begin releasing stored tension, here are a few simple yet effective techniques:
1. Body Awareness & Grounding
✅ Find a quiet place to sit or lie down.
✅ Bring awareness to the sensations in your body—any tension, warmth, coolness, or numbness.
✅ Breathe deeply and simply observe what you feel without trying to change anything.
Why it works: Awareness is the first step to release. When you listen to your body without judgment, it naturally begins to let go of stored tension.
2. Somatic Breathwork for Stress Release
✅ Inhale deeply through the nose, expanding your belly.
✅ Exhale slowly through the mouth, releasing tension.
✅ Repeat this process for a few minutes, allowing your breath to naturally deepen and soften.
Why it works: Breathwork helps reset the nervous system and promotes a natural release of stored stress and emotions.
3. Shaking Therapy to Release Stored Tension
✅ Stand up and begin to shake your arms, legs, and body for 1-2 minutes.
✅ Let the movements be loose and spontaneous.
✅ Notice how your body feels afterward—lighter, more at ease.
Why it works: Animals instinctively shake off stress after a traumatic experience. This simple practice helps the body discharge stored energy.
4. Self-Holding for Emotional Safety
✅ Place one hand on your heart and the other on your stomach.
✅ Take deep breaths, feeling the warmth of your hands.
✅ Repeat to yourself: “I am safe. I allow my body to release.”
Why it works: Gentle touch signals safety to the nervous system, allowing tension to melt away.
Start Your Somatic Healing Journey Today
If you’ve been feeling stuck, tense, or disconnected from your body, somatic release therapy can provide the relief you’ve been looking for. By working with your body’s wisdom, you can experience a deeper level of healing, emotional balance, and nervous system regulation.
1-to-1 Somatic Release Therapy Available
I offer Somatic Release Therapy in Dublin, Naas, and Newbridge, as well as online sessions for clients across Ireland and globally. If you’re looking for a safe space to explore somatic healing, nervous system regulation, and emotional release, I’d love to guide you on this journey.
🌿 Learn more or book a session:
- Blissful Evolution: https://www.blissfulevolution.com
- Somatic Therapy Ireland: https://www.somatictherapyireland.com
Your body holds wisdom. When you listen, you heal. 💫
