Why I’m Adding Somatic Work to My Healing Practice
Updated: Oct 4
As my work has evolved, I’ve felt increasingly drawn to somatic work and its body-centered approach to personal growth. Adding somatics to my practice in Bend, Oregon feels like a natural extension of the work I already offer: creating space to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and listen more deeply to the body.
Through years of practicing and sharing Reiki, yoga, meditation, and other embodied practices, I’ve experienced how powerful it can be to step out of the constant activity of the mind and bring our awareness to what is happening within us.
I became curious about what might be possible when we not only create space for the body to rest, but also learn to listen to what it may be communicating.
That curiosity eventually led me to somatic coaching.
What Is Somatics?
Somatics is a body-centered approach to personal growth and self-awareness.
Rather than focusing only on our thoughts or the story of what is happening, somatic work invites us to notice what is happening in the body: sensations, emotions, tension, breath, impulses, patterns, and subtle shifts.
A session might involve slowing down and noticing a sensation, exploring how your body responds to a particular situation, working with breath or gentle movement, or simply becoming curious about what your body is communicating.
It isn’t about forcing something to change. It’s about developing a deeper relationship with yourself and learning to listen to the information your body may already be giving you.
Why Might Someone Explore Somatic work?
So many of us spend a lot of time in our heads. We analyze, problem-solve, replay conversations, anticipate what might happen next, and sometimes lose connection with what we're actually experiencing in the present moment.
Somatic work creates space to slow that process down.
People may be drawn to somatic work when they want to:
feel more connected to their body and emotions
recognize patterns and automatic responses
explore stress or overwhelm through a body-centered lens
develop greater awareness of their needs and boundaries
feel more grounded and present
cultivate a deeper sense of connection with themselves
Somatic sessions are not psychotherapy or medical treatment. They are a collaborative, body-centered practice focused on awareness, curiosity, and personal growth.
Why Does Somatic Work Fit Alongside Reiki?
To me, the connection feels very natural.
Reiki and somatics are different practices, but both invite us to slow down, turn our awareness inward, and reconnect with ourselves.
Reiki offers a space to receive, rest, and allow.
Somatic work offers a space to notice, explore, and actively engage with your inner experience.
Sometimes we need deep rest. Sometimes we need exploration. And sometimes the two can beautifully complement one another.
Adding somatic work allows me to offer another pathway for supporting the whole person while staying rooted in the intention that has always guided my work.
Our Bodies Carry Wisdom
One of the things I’ve come to believe deeply through Reiki, yoga, and somatic work is that our bodies are constantly communicating with us.
But many of us have become accustomed to moving quickly, thinking our way through everything, or overriding what we feel. We don't always have the space to notice those quieter messages.
Somatic work gives us an opportunity to slow down enough to listen.
Our bodies carry wisdom. Sometimes we just need enough space to hear it.
I'm excited to begin sharing somatic work alongside Reiki and the other practices I offer through Light, Love, and Reiki. It feels like a natural evolution of my work and another way to help people reconnect with themselves in a deeper, more embodied way.
Curious About A Somatic Session?
If you'd like to learn more about somatic work or experience a session for yourself, you can explore my Somatic Sessions offering and book an online 45-minute session.
Learn More + Book A Somatic Session
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