Embodied Healing: How Yoga and Movement Deepen Somatic Therapy
Embodied Healing: How Yoga and Movement Deepen Somatic Therapy
Experiencing symptoms of trauma or nervous system dysregulation? Discover how integrating yoga and movement into somatic therapy can support emotional regulation, embodiment, and healing at the root level.
When Talk Therapy Isn’t Enough
Have you ever felt like you’ve intellectually processed your trauma, but your body still carries it? Do you find yourself easily overwhelmed, shutting down in conflict, or chronically exhausted despite doing "the work"?
That’s because trauma isn’t just a memory—it’s a physiological imprint. The nervous system remembers. And true healing often requires more than talking.
At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we help clients address trauma, addiction, intimacy issues, and nervous system dysregulation through an integrative, body-based lens. One of our most powerful tools? Incorporating yoga and movement into somatic therapy.
Why the Body Needs to Move to Heal
Unresolved trauma disrupts the body’s natural regulation system. It can keep the nervous system stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. This results in:
– Chronic anxiety or emotional reactivity
– Numbness or disconnection from the body
– Digestive and immune system issues
– Difficulty feeling safe in relationships
Research in neuroscience and somatics shows that movement helps process and release trauma stored in the body’s tissues and nervous system.
Movement creates new patterns. It teaches the body that safety, presence, and connection are possible.
The Role of Yoga in Somatic Therapy
Yoga is more than stretching or mindfulness. When offered in a trauma-informed way, it becomes a gateway to embodied awareness and emotional regulation.
Trauma-Informed Yoga Supports:
– Interoception (awareness of internal body sensations)
– Vagal tone (the strength of the vagus nerve, which regulates stress)
– Self-regulation through breath, posture, and presence
– Safe exploration of boundaries and agency
Yoga postures help release stored tension, while breathwork and mindful attention calm the limbic system and increase activity in the prefrontal cortex—the brain’s center for regulation and decision-making (Van der Kolk, 2014).
Types of Movement That Support Somatic Healing
At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we use multiple movement-based modalities to support nervous system health:
1. Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
– Focuses on choice, invitational language, and body autonomy
– Encourages slow, grounding movements to restore safety and presence
2. Somatic Movement
– Gentle, intentional movements that help discharge stored trauma responses
– Used to support stuck patterns in the body or soothe hyperarousal
3. Dance and Free Movement
– Helps express and release emotions nonverbally
– Facilitates access to joy, vitality, and empowerment
4. Breath-Informed Movement
– Syncing breath with movement activates the parasympathetic nervous system
– Reduces anxiety, lowers heart rate, and deepens body-mind connection
Common Questions We Hear:
“Why do I feel like crying after yoga?”
Movement accesses parts of the nervous system that words often can’t reach. As tension releases, emotions that were held in the body may surface.
“Is this just another fitness trend?”
No. Trauma-informed yoga and somatic movement are clinically backed, neuroscience-informed practices used in therapeutic settings worldwide (Porges, 2011).
“What if I feel numb or disconnected from my body?”
That’s exactly where somatic movement can help—by gently rebuilding the bridge between sensation and self.
What Healing Through Movement Can Look Like
– Feeling safer in your own skin
– Responding to triggers with curiosity instead of reactivity
– Reclaiming access to pleasure, play, and full expression
– Regaining trust in your body’s cues
– Cultivating resilience from the inside out
Healing doesn’t just happen in your head. It happens in your breath. Your posture. The way you move through space.
When the body is invited into therapy, the whole system begins to shift.
Why We Integrate Movement at Embodied Wellness and Recovery
We believe the body is not just the site of trauma; it’s also the site of healing. Our team combines somatic therapy, EMDR, yoga therapy, and psychoeducation to support our clients in:
– Regulating their nervous systems
– Releasing stored trauma
– Restoring connection to self and others
– Rebuilding intimacy from a place of safety
Whether you’re working through trauma, intimacy issues, anxiety, or addiction, movement can be a profound ally on the path to healing.
You Deserve to Feel at Home in Your Body
Your symptoms are not signs of weakness. They are messages from a body that has been trying to keep you safe. With gentle movement, breath, and support, your system can learn something new.
At Embodied Wellness and Recovery, we’re here to support you on your path to recovery—one breath, one movement, one moment of awareness at a time. Reach out today to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with our team of top-rated somatic practitioners, trauma specialists, recovery coaches, or relationship experts.
📞 Call us at (310) 651-8458
📱 Text us at (310) 210-7934
📩 Email us at admin@embodiedwellnessandrecovery.com
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References:
Emerson, D., & Hopper, E. (2011). Overcoming Trauma through Yoga: Reclaiming Your Body. North Atlantic Books.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.