Somatic Practices

Written By Katy McGhie

  • Somatic practices use the body to help regulate the nervous system, release stored tension, and process emotions without needing to “talk it out.” These can include gentle movement, breathwork, touch, sound, and grounding exercises. Examples include Somatic Experiencing, Feldenkrais, Qigong, TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises), yoga therapy, and more.

    • Somatic practices focus on the connection between the mind and body, using movement, awareness, and sensory experience to release stored tension and emotions.

    • Many approaches are used, including Somatic Experiencing, body scans, breathwork, gentle movement, trauma release exercises (TRE), and mindful touch.

    • The aim is to help regulate the nervous system, process “trapped” survival responses, and bring the body out of fight-or-flight or freeze states.

    • Especially helpful for people who may struggle to access or express emotions verbally - the body becomes the primary entry point for healing.

    • Can be practised with a trained somatic therapist or learned through guided audio, video, or classes.

    • Chronic fatigue, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, trauma, anxiety, freeze states, dissociation, nervous system dysregulation, emotional shutdown, pain.

  • Somatic work can be especially helpful for people who struggle to access or express emotions cognitively - it lets the body lead. It’s often used in mind-body recovery approaches to help release “trapped” or unprocessed emotional stress stored in the body. Many practices are gentle, low-cost, and can be done at home.

    Somatic practices aren’t a quick fix and can feel subtle at first, but they’re powerful for helping the body shift out of survival mode.

    • UK: £50–£90 per session with a qualified somatic therapist. Group classes may be £15–£30.

    • Europe: €60–€120 per session, depending on country and practitioner experience. Some areas (e.g., Eastern Europe) may be as low as €30–€50.

    • Australia & New Zealand: AUD $90–$160 / NZD $95–$150 per session.

    • USA & Canada: USD $80–$150 / CAD $90–$170 per session.

    • Asia (e.g., Singapore, India): SGD $90–$140 / ₹2,500–₹5,000 per session in urban areas.

    • Online sessions: Often cheaper and more accessible internationally - from £40/€45/AUD $75 per hour.

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    • Many free guided somatic exercises on YouTube (trauma release exercises, body scans, breathwork)

    • Apps like Insight Timer and Calm offer free or freemium body-based meditations

    • Community healing groups often run by donation or free for those on benefits

    • Some online courses allow pay-what-you-can entry for those with ME/CFS, fibro, POTS, or chronic pain

    • Illness-related discounts sometimes available - worth asking directly, especially if you’re on disability benefits or unable to work due to illness

  • Payton Foeller

    Jayne Plant

Katy McGhie
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