Weekly Wellness Watch: Somatic Exercise, Reconnect Your Body and Mind

Send us a text

I am excited to introduce our new segment, Weekly Wellness Watch. We'll kick things off by exploring the buzz around somatic exercise, inspired by Emma-Jade Stoddart's article in Glamour, "What is Somatic Exercise and How Can it Boost Your Wellbeing? Reconnecting Your Mind and Body." Join me in discovering how these practices enhance the mind-body connection, a core pillar of holistic wellness. We'll delve into physical and mental health benefits and how somatic movements differ from traditional exercises like yoga. Whether you're new to somatics or seeking deeper understanding, this episode offers insights for your wellness journey. Tune in to inspire your path to holistic health and self-discovery.
 
 SHOW NOTES:
 Linktree: [@sheridavidson | Linktree](https://linktr.ee/sheridavidson)

Join The Wellness Inspired community:
https://www.wellnessinspiredpodcast.com/newsletter
Facebook: [The Wellness Inspired Podcast - Home](https://www.facebook.com/wellnessinspiredpodcast)
Instagram: [Sheri Davidson, L.Ac. (@wellness_inspired) • Instagram photos and videos](https://www.instagram.com/wellness_inspired/)
LinkedIn: [Sheri Davidson - Chief Wellness Officer - Element 5 OM, Acupuncture + Wellness | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-davidson/)

Element 5, Acupuncture + Wellness
www.element5om.com
Facebook: [Element 5, Acupuncture + Wellness - Home](https://www.facebook.com/element5om/?ref=pages_you_manage)
Instagram: [Sheri Davidson (@element5_acuwell) on Instagram • 145 photos and videos](https://www.instagram.com/element5_acuwell/)
LinkIn: [Sheri Davidson - Chief Wellness Officer - Element 5 OM, Acupuncture + Wellness | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-davidson/)

Listen to more episodes: https://www.wellnessinspiredpodcast.com

Wellness Riverboat Cruise
Magna On The Danube: https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/magna-on-the-danube

AmaMagna: https://youtu.be/23-5Qy3skM0
AmaMagna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM1GHLA2EF4

Flyer link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGB9S7QIww/ztr_gd0uoOpUR1WMb1agfQ/view?utm_content=DAGB9S7QIww&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

Tami Hiroka
 281.336.7374
 [e-mail]

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Hi Wellness Warriors.
Welcome back to another episodeof the Wellness Insp inspired
podcast, a place where you canfind inspiration, motivation and
empowerment in the pursuit of awellness lifestyle.
I'm your host, sherry Davidson.
I'm a wellness coach,acupuncturist, trail runner and
former interior designer inHouston, texas, and I am deeply
passionate about health andwellbeing.

(00:41):
And, as always, I'm here withmy co-host, finn.
And if you're new to thepodcast, finn is my Terrier, mix
Rescue Dog, trail runner andloyal companion.
He is also a therapy dog andgreeter at Element 5,
acupuncture and Wellness.
I don't know about all of you,but this year has been a year of
challenges and setbacks for me,more than any other year that I

(01:03):
can remember.
You know I normally have upsand downs, just like everybody
else, but collectively andindividually, this year has been
a nutcase of a year and it hasbeen big stuff.
The most recent, my mom was inthe hospital having major
surgery.
She gets out, we get her homesettled in.
I was going to take the weekend4th of July weekend to just

(01:26):
catch my breath, relax a littlebit, and then hit it hard on
Monday.
Well, guess what?
Hurricane Beryl came rollingthrough Houston, leaving two
plus million people withoutpower, me included, but
thankfully I was without powerfor about a day and a half,
where some people were withoutpower for almost two weeks.
So I feel for all of you guys.

(01:47):
It was super hot in Houston andit was really, really miserable
.
So, to everyone who experiencedit, I hope you are all with
power and recovering from thestorm and now maybe, just maybe,
I can get back on track.
But let's be really quiet aboutit.
So, staying positive, movingforward.

(02:09):
And today I want to introduceweekly wellness watch to you.
It's not weekly yet, but theidea is to grow into a weekly
episode.
So this will be fun and currentand in this segment we will
dive into the vibrant world ofholistic health and wellness.
We'll explore the latest trends, uncover transformative ideas
and get candid about what trulysupports real wellness versus

(02:32):
what's driven by clevermarketing.
Together, we'll navigate theseinsights with the blend of
playful controversy and genuineinspiration, empowering your
path to authentic well-being.
And in the first episode ofWeekly Wellness Watch, we are
going to talk about a trendingtopic that is making waves in
the wellness community somaticexercises.

(02:53):
This discussion is inspired byan insightful article from
Glamour Magazine titled what isSomatic Exercises and how Can it
Boost your Wellbeing.
What is somatic exercises andhow can it boost your wellbeing?
Reconnecting mind and body.
And it was reconnecting yourmind and body part of the title

(03:15):
that drew me into the article toread more.
So we're going to discuss howthis practice enhances mind-body
connection, a core pillar ofholistic wellness, which I need
to do an episode on.
Also, we'll dive into thephysical and mental health
benefits and how somaticmovements differ from
traditional exercises like yoga.
So join me as we navigate thisexciting topic and empower your

(03:35):
journey to authentic wellness.
But first, before we get started, I have some great news to
share with all of you.
For those avid listeners whohave tuned into the podcast over
the past year, you have likelycaught wind of the Wellness
River Cruise.
Well, friends, the moment hasarrived.
Mark your calendars for Aprilthe 20th 2025, as we set sail on

(03:58):
an unforgettable seven-nightcruise along the Danube River.
We'll traverse the picturesquelandscape of Austria, germany,
hungary and Slovakia.
Prepare for many activesightseeing adventures,
including invigorating hikes,scenic bike rides and even a few
brisk runs, maybe Alongsidethese activities, indulge in the
serenity of yoga sessions,engage in enlightening wellness

(04:20):
discussions and savor theflavors of locally sourced
cuisine.
Excitement is already brewing,as several enthusiasts have
secured their spots, and forthose intrigued, I'll put the
link in the show notes.
And if you're certain, thiswellness river cruise is calling
your name, waste no time insecuring your place on board.
Riverboat cruises tend to fillup rapidly, which is why we

(04:41):
shifted the dates to next yearinstead of this year.
So don't think about it toolong.
Seize the opportunity while youcan.
In episodes 63 and 64, aJourney of Wellness and Wonder
on the Danube with AmmoWaterways, I had the pleasure of
having Laurie, a representativefrom Ammo Waterways, and Tammy,
a seasoned travel concierge onthe podcast, to discuss the full

(05:02):
river cruise experience.
So feel free to check out thoseepisodes for more information.
And this all has to happenquickly.
I can't express that enough.
I know the cruise is a yearfrom now, but there are only 129
cabins on the boat and theysell out quickly.
So if you're interested, Irecommend putting your deposit
down quickly.
It's not a lot to hold yourspot.

(05:25):
Okay, let's dive into today'sepisode of the Wellness Inspired
Podcast.

(05:49):
What is somatic exercise and howcan it boost your wellbeing?
First, I have to admit that Ididn't know much about somatic
exercises at first.
It only started to soundfamiliar.
When I dug deeper In Orientalmedical school, I learned about
the Feldenkrais method.
It was created by MoshiFeldenkrais in the 1930s.
He developed this mind-bodyexercise therapy to overcome a
knee injury and through hisjourney of self-rehabilitation

(06:13):
he discovered that, reorganizingthe brain-body connection, this
could improve both movement andpsychological states.
Okay, so, for example, ifyou're in pain, especially
chronic pain, you create neuralpathways that basically keep you
in this pain loop, and the ideais, if you can break these

(06:35):
neural pathways, you caninterrupt the pain signals,
improving movement andpsychological states.
Pretty cool, right?
I'm actually dealing withplantar fasciitis right now and
I'm thinking maybe I came acrosssomatic exercises for a reason.
So I will be experimenting alittle bit with some somatic
exercises or the Feldenkraismethod.
But, like most trends, somaticexercises have been around for a

(06:58):
while.
I mean, this has been aroundsince the 1930s, but now making
it into a broader public eye.
So let me just summarize what asomatic exercise is.
Exercise is Somatic.
Exercise is a movement practicethat focus on the internal
perception of the body,emphasizing how it feels rather
than how it looks.

(07:19):
Unlike traditional workouts,which often focus on reps and
results, somatics is aboutexploring movement, fostering
autonomy and reconnecting thebrain to the body.
Now you're probably wonderingwhat are the benefits of somatic
exercises.
Well, according to experts likeFrancesca Melaluzzi and

(07:39):
Gabriela Espinosa, somaticexercises can improve muscular
pain, fibromyalgia and arthritis.
They also support digestion,hormones and sleep.
And on the mental health front,somatic exercises can help
relieve anxiety, depression andstress by promoting emotional
regulation and relieving chronicconditions.

(08:00):
Sounds pretty exciting, doesn'tit?
So your next question because Ican read your mind is how does
it work?
Well, during a somatic movementsession, you'll engage in small
, intentional movements, oftenperformed slowly and with eyes
closed.
This practice increasesawareness of your body's needs
and helps release tension.
So, for example, exercises likebody scan, wash, rag and arch

(08:25):
and flatten are simple yeteffective ways to start, and
some of these I think the archand flatten can be very similar
to like a cat cow in yoga, but Ithink they're all the somatic
exercises that are done on thefloor, and so you're basically
just lifting your, your, archingyour back and then flattening
it out Very similar to themovement of cat cow, but just

(08:48):
done on your back, which leadsus right into somatic.
Versus other exercises,especially like yoga, somatic
movement is often compared toyoga, but it differs, and that
its emphasis is on physicalsensations and emotional
explorations.
It's about listening to yourbody and understanding its
signals rather than striving fora specific posture or form.

(09:09):
So in yoga, you're following aninstructor and they are guiding
you through a series ofpostures.
When you do somatic exercises,you are focused internally on
your body and what you'refeeling and you're moving to
your own, the beat of your owndrum.

(09:30):
I guess I could say it likethat.
Yeah, you're just kind ofmoving to what feels good
emotionally and physically.
So there is not a routine madeout for you that you're
following and and and you know,the person next to you could be
doing something totallydifferent.
So that's the big differencebetween somatic versus yoga.

(09:52):
And let's just talk a little bitmore about the mind-body
connection.
You know, because I lovesomatic exercises for their
ability to unite the mind andbody, because that's such a
crucial pillar of our health andwellness and on your holistic
health journey, fostering thisconnection is essential.
It's essential because itallows you to nurture every

(10:12):
facet of your wellbeing.
And somatic exercises are notthe only way to do this.
You can also do this withtechniques like breathing.
I still feel like yoga is agreat place to explore this as
well.
Meditation is another one, sothat mindfulness I talk a lot
about where you're sitting inyour body and reconnecting with

(10:32):
your body.
Also, guided imagery all ofthis can awaken your body's
natural healing abilities andreduce stress.
So when your mind and body arein harmony, you become more
tuned with your needs, desiresand aspirations as well,
enhancing your overall wellbeingand life performance.
So, yes, I love that somaticexercises are out as a trend

(10:54):
right now, because it's justanother way to get people in
their bodies.
And once you get in your body,then you can start to pay
attention and listen and you'reon your path to becoming a
healthier, more vital person.
Just a few more final thoughtsas we wrap this up.
I want to talk a little bitabout my perspective on trends.

(11:15):
This won't be the first timeyou hear this, especially as we
grow the weekly wellness watch.
But new exercise trends bring asense of adventure, excitement
and community, and novelty is anexcellent motivator.
But remember, trends come andgo.
The most important thing is tokeep moving and find what works

(11:37):
for you.
There is no one size fits allsolution.
The key is consistency andenjoyment.
So my final final thought herebefore I wrap it up, I love the
idea of somatic exercises.
Anything, any practice that wecan do to strengthen our
relationship between our bodyand mind, you can only benefit

(11:59):
from it.
So I approve of somaticexercises, trend or no trend.
Whether you're new to somaticsor looking to deepen your mind
body connection, this practiceoffers a unique path to holistic
health.
So embrace the exploration andlet it guide you to a more aware
and connected self.

(12:28):
If you like what you hear,please subscribe to the podcast
and share with your family andfriends.
You can also give me a ratingand review.
Wherever you listen to yourpodcast, it helps others find me
as well.
To get updates on new episodesand wellness inspiration in your
inbox, please join the wellnessinspired community.
Go to the wellness inspiredpodcastcom to sign up.
I'll put the link to thewebsite in the show notes so you

(12:51):
can click and join.
Also, there's a Facebookcommunity at the wellness
inspired and you can follow meon Instagram at wellness
underscore inspired.
If you're in the Houston area orjust visiting and interested in
our services acupuncture,herbal medicine, cupping, zen,
shiatsu or dry needling therapycontact us.
You can find out more on ourwebsite at element5omcom.

(13:13):
That's element5, the numberfive omcom and again, I'll put
the link in the show notes.
If you're interested in healthand wellness coaching, we can
connect in the clinic or on zoom.
Reach out to us and we'll getyou on the schedule.
And, as always, I would love tohear your feedback.
I am dedicated to bringing yougreat content that is inspiring
and informative, with an artsy,fun, edgy spin.

(13:34):
Thank you so much for listening.
We'll meet here again next timeand remember, never stop
exploring, learning, loving andbeing you Bye.