Somatic Movement & Mindful Yoga Practise
- By Yoga Studio Calgary
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- 29 Oct, 2018
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Experience the Self from Within – Stacey Madden
Your body absorbs and translates everything you experience into muscular tension which can either be released into action, or stored unconsciously (sensory motor amnesia) as tension. Our nervous system records our reaction to certain life events, and our muscles can continue to tell that story over, and over again. With repetition, reaction to stress, and lingering trauma, this reflexive physical tension can continue into chronic muscular tension which can lead to chronic pain, bodily imbalance and associated emotional dysregulation. When you feel terrible in your body how do you interact with people in your life? How do you feel about yourself?
The various Indian wisdom traditions of Yoga have been practiced for thousands of years and heavily researched here in the west for decades. Data suggests that regular Yoga practice, which includes: asana (postures/physical movement), pranayama (breath and energy regulation), and contemplative practices like meditation can lead us into greater overall health and wellbeing. Yoga practice leads us into a deeper, more expansive relationship with ourselves and others, including our community and environment.
Somatic Movement is a method which specifically address 3 major involuntary reflex patterns our bodies hold and how they reflect in the rest of our lives. These mindful movements re-educate the body to brain connection via the nervous system relieving pain and creating peaceful range of motion (sensory motor awareness). You teach yourself, from the inside out, how to relieve chronic pain, and unhelpful patterns your body might be holding with gentle, exploratory, self-directed movement.
You can’t change your body without the brain, and the brain learns through movement and … rest. Which is why Savasana (corpse pose) is fundamental to every Yoga practice. When the body and mind rest, the brain can process and store what changes may have occurred as a result of your Yoga practice giving you greater recall and muscle memory. This creates and improves overall neuroplasticity.
Somatic Movement & Mindful Yoga Practice creates greater awareness of the overall Self in a gentle, compassionate way. Move without pain, breath with greater freedom and live with awareness.
