Clinical Somatics

Welcome to the ‘About Somatics’ section of our site. This is a great place to learn about the method and science of Clinical Somatics™. Start here for your basics before navigating to other sections of the site where you can learn more about scheduling somatics work for yourself, acquiring products, or pursuing professional training in Somatic Systems Institute’s professional training program.

What is Clinical Somatics?

The Clinical Somatics™ process uses hands-on guided movement as well as a series of self care exercises (lasting as little as 5 minutes a day) that lengthen muscles back to their natural, relaxed state and correct inefficient movement patterns.

When muscles become chronically contracted from misuse, physical and emotional stress, and injury and trauma, the body becomes imbalanced. Years of adjusting to these changes can lead to pain in the neck, back, hips, knees, shoulders, etc., eventually leading to sciatica, scoliosis, carpal tunnel, disc degeneration, arthritis, fatigue, and other structural and functional problems. Once the muscles are relaxed and balanced through Clinical Somatics™, posture and functioning return to normal, flexibility returns, and you often feel more energetic, since you require much less effort to do things like stand, walk, dance, and exercise.

What Makes Clinical Somatics so Effective?

Clinical Somatics™ leads you through comfortable movements that focus the brain specifically on the contracted muscles and movement patterns. Once the brain is made aware of the held contractions, it is able to release them back to a relaxed state. Other pain relief and rehabilitative methods rely on someone else to “do the work”. When you actively engage yourself in the process, the muscles follow and do what they are asked.

Clinical Somatics uses the most sophisticated techniques, based on a thorough and modern understanding of human functioning, to create long-lasting and direct changes in your movement, coordination, and efficiency.

Through Private Sessions or Group Classes, you can enhance your overall well-being and ability to function, as “mind” and “body” become more in tune and integrated to help you direct your intentions in the world more effectively.