The Body Remembers: How Somatic Practices Support Lasting Change
- Cathy Collins
- Jun 14
- 2 min read
In the hustle of everyday life, it’s easy to live from the neck up—stuck in our heads, disconnected from our bodies, and overwhelmed by the swirl of to-do lists and expectations. But true transformation doesn’t happen through thinking alone. It happens when we return to the body.
As a Somatic Life Coach and Breathwork Facilitator, I often remind clients: the body isn’t just where we carry stress; it’s also where we carry wisdom, resilience, and the capacity to heal.
What Are Somatic Practices? Somatic simply means "of the body." Somatic coaching and practices help you become aware of how emotions, experiences, and patterns live in your physical body. This awareness creates a bridge between your mind and body, allowing for lasting change.
What Is Breathwork? Breathwork is a conscious, intentional way of using your breath to regulate your nervous system, clear emotional blocks, and return to a grounded sense of presence. It’s one of the most accessible and powerful tools we have—and it’s always with us.
Here are a few ways breathwork and somatics can help you reconnect, regulate, and realign:
Nervous System Regulation When life feels chaotic or uncertain, your nervous system responds by shifting into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Breathwork practices like deep belly breathing or alternate nostril breathing signal safety to your body, helping you return to calm.
Emotional Release Ever felt like you’ve cried during yoga or suddenly felt tightness in your chest during stress? That’s your body processing emotions. Gentle somatic movement and breathwork can support emotional release without needing to "figure it out" cognitively.
Body-Based Decision-Making When you're unsure about a next step—whether it's in love, career, or health—tuning into your body's sensations can guide you. The body often knows before the mind does.
Healing Trauma and Building Resilience For many of us, past experiences have taught our bodies to stay in high alert. Through consistent somatic and breathwork practices, we rewire those patterns, creating more space for safety, presence, and possibility.
Try This Simple Grounding Practice:
Sit or lie down comfortably.
Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly.
Inhale through your nose for 4 counts.
Hold for 2 counts.
Exhale slowly through your mouth for 6–8 counts.
Repeat for 3–5 minutes, noticing any shifts in your body.
This is your invitation to slow down, to listen, and to reconnect to your body—the home that has carried you through everything.
In future posts in this category, I’ll share:
Somatic tools for anxiety and overwhelm
Breathwork flows tailored to each Enneagram type
Creative ways to bring body-based practices into your relationships and routines
You don’t have to do this alone. If you're curious about working together or want to explore more, visit me at www.innernature.live or reach out directly.
With love and breath,
Cathy
Inner Nature - Begin Within