Somatic Yoga For Yoga Teachers: Everything You Need to Know in 10 Steps

somatic yoga for yoga teachers

Whether you’re a certified yoga therapist working in a clinic or teaching yoga at your local rec center, chances are you’ve heard the latest buzzword “somatic.” You might have even seen somatic exercises or somatic techniques on Instagram and YouTube (hopefully from me 🤭).

If you’re curious as to what this somatic approach is and want to incorporate it in your yoga teaching, take a free crash course in somatic yoga by listening to my top 10 podcasts here.

You can treat this as a master class by binge-listening to them in order (yes, I organized them special just for you).

Or take them one at a time to get a better understanding of what somatic yoga offers. But first…

What Is Somatic Yoga?

Somatic yoga is a type of yoga combining somatic movements with yoga asana.

It’s a kind of yoga therapy in which you aim to turn off the thinking mind and tune the volume up on felt sensation in order to express unwanted emotions, resolve trauma and get in tune with your own body on a deeper level.

Somatic yoga is a form of mindful movement that science has proven to not only increase body awareness but aid in relieving chronic pain, healing trauma, and improving muscle tension. Put your earbuds on as you’ll hear more about this once you start listening.

Here is your guide to understand the newest style of yoga:

Step 1 – Lay your foundation

Episode 318 – What Is Somatic Yoga?

This episode is your intro to Somatic Yoga – or what I like to call “Embodied Yoga.” This practice unlocks your body’s natural intelligence, creating a self-guided solution to healing the habitual bracing patterns you may be stuck in. Listen to learn the difference between traditional and somatic/embodied yoga in addition to:

🔹Where somatic practices started

🔹How Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA) and chronic pain can be caused by trauma

🔹Practical tips to bring this mindful approach into your practice NOW!

After you listen: Think about what common habitual bracing patterns you see in yourself? How you might connect with your body to unwind them?

Step 2 – Understand the backstory

Episode 347 – A History of Somatics: Where did Somatic Yoga Come From?

Do you know where somatic practices originated? (hint: Europe)

In this audio lesson, I explore the rich history and principles of somatic movements. Learn about the role of emotional release in your physical practice and how to increase your mind-body connection. From the theories of William Reich to Thomas Hanna who coined the word “somatic,” learn why:

🔹Processing emotions is crucial for your health.

🔹Somatic yoga’s emphasis on the current of manifestation over liberation.

🔹The healing process of somatic practices can be pleasurable and fun.

After you listen: Think about how would you explain Segmental Armoring Theory to your students?

Step 3 – See how stress is a chemical cycle

Episode 324 – The Importance of Emotional Processing and Regulation: DENT Model Trauma

Somatic yoga is not just about body awareness, but emotional processing.

Modern society is getting better about talking about emotional well being, but still isn’t great at providing time or space for it.

This episode will give you some background on why you may get hit with a trauma response seemingly out of nowhere.

Understanding that stress is a cycle you can work to complete is a GAME CHANGER. And somatic yoga is all about closing the stress cycle on these trauma responses to get you out of fight/flight/freeze mode.

Spoiler alert: there are three more “F”s that belong to that system!

Listen and learn:

🔹How your nervous system responds to trauma, stress, and anxiety, including flight, fight, freeze, fawn, flood, and fatigue.

🔹The DENT (Dynamic Experiential Narrative Theory) model of trauma, and how somatic yoga practices help emotional processing and regulation.

🔹Maintaining balance and well-being through listening to your body and self care is a crucial part of your practice.

After you listen: If someone asked you to explain the fawn response, what would you tell them?

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Step 4 – Start integrating somatic practices

Episode 345 – Somatic Shaking: What Is It? Why Does it Work?

Somatic shaking is huge part of somatic release.

Ever feel the need to shake your hands when you start to get anxious?

Shaking is a means to release stress from the body, and totally normal. Yoga teachers wanting to incorporate somatic movement into their classes should have the 411 on somatic shaking. And that is exactly what this episode is!

We’ll talk about how:

🔹Neurogenic tremors are a totally normal response and occur in both animals and humans after stressful events.

🔹Cultural conditioning teaches us to repress our natural urge to shake off stressors.

🔹A daily shaking practice manages stress and tension.

After you listen: How would you explain neurogenic tremors to your students after listening to this episode?

Step 5 – Take embodiment off the mat

Episode 311 – Embodiment, Expression & Femininity with Alexandra Roxo

I like to use the words somatic and embodied interchangeably and in this episode I got to have a TRUE embodiment expert on the show.

My friend Alexandra Roxo and I discuss everything from the repression of emotions in society to nervous system capacity to reality TV.

Listen and learn: 

🔹 How to handle the overwhelming drama happening all over the world as an empath.

🔹 The importance of feeling your feelings and living from the heart

🔹 How to transcend your yoga practice into difficult life situations

After you listen: Take a moment to journal on how you can bring more embodiment into your life.

Bonus!! Episode 284 – How to Love Your [Broken, Dark and Angry] Self with Katie Silcox

I LOVE this conversation with my friend Katie Silcox, founder of Shakti School. Katie and I talk about somatics, polarity, and tantra through the lens of everyday life using concrete examples like online dating, your dog getting bitten, or your husband’s obsession with drainage and house maintenance.

We discuss:

🔹Somatic work alone becoming a “feeling trap” and why you need more.

🔹How your shame is covering massive amounts of Shakti energy.

🔹Releasing irritation from a “yogic” perspective incorporating Buddhist and Tantric teaching.

If this episode got you curious about tantra you can learn more in this post on Tantra Yoga.

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How To Start Teaching Somatic Yoga

You don’t have to go through two years of yoga therapy training to start teaching somatic yoga. The episodes below are designed to give yoga teachers the principles to incorporate somatic movements into their teaching right away.

And if you really want to amp up your teaching skills and create full length somatic classes, check out my Somatic Yoga Certification. You get lifetime access to the material AND it is approved by Yoga Alliance for 75-hours of continuing education credit 😉.

The following audio lessons can give you inspiration for when teaching yoga, group classes or even for your own personal transformation.

Step 1 – Learn the 3 ways to move energy

Episode 357 – Your Emotions Want to Move: 3 Ways to Let Them

A big part of somatic yoga is being able to move repressed energy and emotions. In order to help your students do this you need to understand how to move energy through the body.

Time does not heal wounds, it covers them in fascia, which leads to all kinds of physical issues.

Learn how to deal with all of the feelings that arise throughout each day so that these “issues” don’t get “stuck in your tissues.”

Listen and learn:

🔹Why emotions are like tunnels—and what happens when we get stuck inside them.

🔹How small frustrations build up in the body (and turn into bigger problems).

🔹Somatic tools to release tension before it turns into burnout.

The beauty of this is you can you can incorporate all three methods in one class!

Step 2 – Play with touch and refine your alignment

Episode 280 – The Pelvis: Your Seat of Power & Embodiment with Lara Heimann

As yoga teachers we can all appreciate how important alignment is; prioritizing stability over mobility and honoring the seat of the pelvis.

Learn from Physical Therapist Lara Heimann about embodiment from a neurodevelopmental perspective. This spectacular anatomical conversation touches on all the major trends in the wellness industry and one of my favorite tools for embodiment – touch.

Listen and learn:

🔹Tips for honoring pelvic stability in your own home personal practice or in person teaching.

🔹How overstretching may actually lead to tight hips.

🔹The importance of getting feedback in your postures using physical touch to cultivate greater self awareness and get you truly embodied. 

Take Action: How might you tweak your cueing after what you learned in this episode?

Step 3 – Make traditional poses more somatic

Episode 330 – Somatic Yoga vs. Traditional Yoga: Breaking Down How 5 Poses Differ in your Yoga Practice

Making traditional yoga poses more somatic doesn’t have to be difficult. Listen to get into the nitty gritty of how traditional yoga poses can be made more somatic, with concrete examples.

Listen to learn:

🔹Somatic yoga’s emphasis on embodiment, emotional processing, and non-habitual movement vs. Traditional yoga’s focus on alignment, strength, and breath control.

🔹How to get out of autopilot with your practice and using somatics to take your “moving meditations” to a new level.

🔹How to create a deeper connection with your body and processing difficult emotions through somatic yoga.

Take Action: Now that you know how to make poses more somatic, which of your favorite poses are you going to apply these techniques to?

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Step 4 – Can you feel gratitude in your body?

Episode 353 – Are You Truly Grateful? Exploring Gratitude Through a Somatic Lens

Having a gratitude practice has a multitude of benefits, but you probably only think in terms of a gratitude journal. But it can be so much more than that. This episode provides a unique, body-oriented approach to gratitude you can take with you as you begin to teach somatics.

Listen and learn:

🔹The ancient origins of gratitude practices—from the Vedas to Buddhism

🔹Why contentment might be the missing key to your gratitude practice

🔹A guided somatic technique to help you feel gratitude instead of just writing it

Take Action: I’m curious to know your thoughts on this gratitude practice…is this something you might try in a class or with a private client? DM me! @larkinyogatv

Step 5 – Help students handle emotions

Episode 332 – 7 Ways to Release Anger & Grief Through Your Yoga Practice

Anger is a natural emotion that often gets repressed.

Imagine using your body as a tool to express anger or grief. Because, let’s face it, you’re probably more angry than you realize.

This episode contains various yoga poses and breathwork techniques that are well-suited for moving anger and grief.

Listen in to learn:

🔹How creating a ritual container for anger and grief can provide a safe space for expression.

🔹Yoga poses and breathwork techniques that help in moving anger and grief through the body.

🔹Somatic principles and intuitive movements to offer holistic approaches to working with emotions.

Take Action: My challenge for you now is to create a class around these methods!

Closing Thoughts

Although you can start incorporating somatic principles into your teaching now, I’d highly recommend taking a certified training to deepen your knowledge and give you all of the tools you need to develop the highest quality classes for your students.

Good news!

My self-paced online Somatic Yoga Certification is a great option. Or you can take it a step further and become a somatic coach with my Somatic Yoga Life Coaching training. I can’t wait to meet you!

Next Steps

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