How Does Somatic Breathwork Help Release Stored Trauma?
Trauma is a deeply complex experience that impacts not only the mind but also the body. Research has shown that trauma often becomes stored in our physical tissues, manifesting as tension, pain, or dysregulation in the nervous system. While traditional therapy primarily addresses the cognitive and emotional aspects of trauma, somatic breathwork offers a unique, body-centered approach to release what words alone often cannot.
In this blog, we’ll dive into how somatic breathwork works to help release stored trauma and why it’s becoming a powerful tool for healing.
Understanding Trauma as an Embodied Experience
When we encounter a traumatic event, our bodies naturally activate a fight, flight, or freeze response to protect us. However, if the trauma isn’t fully processed, the energy and stress associated with it can remain stuck in the body. This unresolved tension often leads to physical symptoms such as chronic pain, tightness, or a dysregulated nervous system, as well as emotional challenges like anxiety or depression.
Somatic breathwork recognizes that the body holds onto these imprints of trauma and provides a safe, effective way to access and release them.
What is Somatic Breathwork?
Somatic breathwork is a therapeutic technique that combines intentional breathing patterns with body awareness to facilitate emotional and physical release. By focusing on the breath, individuals can access deeper layers of the nervous system, unlock stored emotions, and create space for healing.
Unlike traditional breathwork practices, which may prioritize mindfulness or relaxation, somatic breathwork actively engages with the body’s innate ability to heal itself. It creates a bridge between the conscious mind and subconscious patterns held within the body.
How Somatic Breathwork Releases Stored Trauma
1. Activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System
Breathwork helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, which plays a critical role in trauma recovery. By slowing down the breath and engaging diaphragmatic breathing, somatic breathwork shifts the body from a state of fight-or-flight (sympathetic) to rest-and-digest (parasympathetic). This state creates the safety and relaxation necessary for trauma release.
2. Bypasses the Thinking Brain
Trauma is often stored in the subconscious and expressed through the body rather than the conscious mind. Somatic breathwork bypasses the thinking brain (neocortex) and taps directly into the body’s felt sensations. This allows individuals to process emotions and memories that may not be accessible through traditional talk therapy.
3. Releases Suppressed Emotions
Many people unconsciously suppress emotions like anger, grief, or fear as a survival mechanism. Over time, this suppression can manifest as physical tension or emotional numbness. Somatic breathwork provides a safe container for these suppressed emotions to surface and be expressed, often leading to cathartic release.
4. Engages Somatic Memory
The body has a memory of its own, often referred to as somatic memory. Through breathwork, individuals may experience physical sensations, movements, or imagery that correlate with past traumas. By bringing awareness to these experiences, breathwork facilitates the release of stored energy and restores balance to the nervous system.
5. Enhances Body Awareness
Breathwork encourages individuals to reconnect with their bodies and become more attuned to their internal states. This heightened awareness can help identify areas of tension, disconnection, or unresolved trauma. Over time, this practice of tuning into the body fosters a deeper sense of safety and self-regulation.
What to Expect During a Somatic Breathwork Session
A typical somatic breathwork session involves:
Guided Breathing Patterns: A trained facilitator guides you through specific breathing techniques tailored to your needs.
Body Awareness Practices: You may be encouraged to focus on sensations, movements, or emotions that arise during the session.
Emotional Release: It’s common to experience tears, laughter, or physical sensations as the body releases stored trauma.
Integration: After the session, there is often a period of reflection and grounding to help integrate the experience.
The Benefits of Somatic Breathwork for Trauma Healing
Nervous System Regulation: Helps restore balance to an overactive or dysregulated nervous system.
Emotional Freedom: Provides a safe space to process and release pent-up emotions.
Physical Relief: Reduces tension, pain, and other somatic symptoms related to trauma.
Deeper Self-Connection: Encourages a sense of wholeness and safety within the body.
Start Your Healing Journey with Somatic Breathwork
If you’re ready to explore the transformative power of somatic breathwork, our Being Portal offers guided breathwork sessions and tools to support your healing journey. Designed for individuals seeking to release trauma and reconnect with their bodies, the Being Portal is your gateway to profound healing and self-discovery.
Join the Being Portal today and take the first step toward reclaiming your inner peace.
Of for a more personal approach work with one of our amazing coaches.
Love,
MJ