By Manuela Mischke-Reeds
The body is always communicating via tension, shifts in energy, and subtle sensations. As psychotherapists, coaches, and somatic practitioners, awareness of this communication supports our well-being and expands our ability to support clients toward a state of embodied resilience. Below are five common physical signs your system may be asking for somatic healing and some simple practices to help restore balance.
Sign 1: Chronic Physical Tension or Discomfort
Chronic tightness in the shoulders, jaw, or lower back; headaches that come and go; or a sensitive stomach can be signs of stress that your body is holding on to.
Practice: Mindful micro-stretch
- Gently shrug your shoulders up towards your ears, stay for three breaths and let them go.
- Slowly move your head around in small circles, noticing points of tightness.
- Complete the practice with a two-minute seated body scan, giving attention to each group of muscles, softening on your exhale.
Sign 2: Emotional Reactivity or Shutdown
Sudden anger, overwhelming anger, or numbness may represent unresolved somatic patterns that your nervous system has got stuck in, such as fight, flight, or freeze.
Practice: Regulating Breath & Grounding
- Inhale for four counts, exhale for six to engage the parasympathetic system.
- Become aware of both feet on the floor, press down gently and notice the support underneath you.
- Repeat until the emotional intensity settles.
Sign 3: Persistent Fatigue or Low Energy
When you feel tired even after resting, it can often mean you have some unprocessed emotions drawing on your energy, creating a sense of energy being trapped in your body.
Practice: Gentle Shaking & Mindful Walking.
- Stand with your feet about hip-width apart and knees bent a little. Shake your arms and legs for about a minute.
- Take a five-minute walk that feels comfortable for you, being aware of your feet, your legs and your breathing.
- See if you notice your energy lift any, and your feeling of appreciation for movement.
Sign 4: Disconnection from Sensation
Sometimes when we feel numb or “zoned out,” our system might be protecting itself by dulling awareness to the body.
Practice: A Momentary Body-Sensing Check-In
- Pause and place your hands on two different parts of your body (e.g., your belly and chest).
- Be aware of temperature, movement, or slight vibrations under your hands.
- Name each sensation (“warm,” “rising,” “pulsing”) without labeling it as positive or negative for 30 seconds.
Sign 5: Difficulty Sleeping or Restlessness
Experiencing trouble initiating and/or maintaining sleep, tossing and turning, or having a mental replay once in bed is often a signal of hyperarousal or stuck energy.
Practice: Pre-Sleep Somatic Ritual
- Lie down comfortably, with one hand on your abdomen.
- Take deep breaths into your diaphragm, counting to four, and then gently rock your torso side to side.
- Repeat until all tension has been released and your mind is settled.
Integrating Awareness
After every session, take two to five minutes to journal or self-reflect:
- What did I observe in my body?
- In what way did emotions or thoughts change?
- What might my system want or need tomorrow?
This reflective practice helps to turn every intervention into an opportunity to learn, allowing you to act as an agent of change rather than just reacting to change in your life and in your work with your clients.
Conclusion & Invitation
By identifying these daily indicators of tension, reactivity, exhaustion, numbness, and sleeping problems, invitations to early soma-up learning and self-care can be made. Small, regular somatic practices help you to be more resilient and have a stronger professional presence.
Embodywise offers community programs, live workshops and one-on-one mentoring to support your embodied practice and become a part of a caring community of somatic learners. The wisdom of your body is ready to speak to you, and the world requires your physical presence as never before.
