What Happens in a SomaFlow Practice Session? Body Awareness, Breathing, & Grounding

A SomaFlow practice session uses guided movement, breathing, and body awareness exercises to help you notice how your body moves and feels.

For example, you might slowly turn your head and notice whether one side feels different from the other. You may also notice your breathing, your posture, or where your body feels tense. The idea is to explore these small details instead of rushing through a movement.

At SomaFlow™ Institute, we offer opportunities to learn the SomaFlow Method through movement exploration and embodied practice. You can develop a better understanding of body awareness, breathing, grounding, and how to guide these practices.

You don’t need prior experience to get started. SomaFlow practice is an educational approach, not medical or mental health treatment.

Explore our courses and workshops to learn more about the method and its approach to body awareness.

What Is a SomaFlow Practice Session?

A SomaFlow session is essentially a guided way to study your body in motion and in stillness. Unlike the strict regimen of a workout, here you spend time observing your body and its movements.

A session can consist of the following parts:

• Guided somatic movement: Exploring simple movements at a comfortable pace.
• Body awareness: Noticing physical sensations, posture, balance, and effort.
• Breath awareness: Noticing your natural breathing and how it changes during movement.
• Movement exploration: Trying different ways of moving and observing what feels different.
• Reflection: Taking a moment to consider what you noticed during the practice.

It’s about experience, not perfection or instant improvement. So, you don’t need to learn everything perfectly at once or try to change something right away.

For instance, when you practice standing from the chair, don’t just think about the act itself and where you are going; notice how you transfer your weight, how your feet feel on the floor, and whether your shoulders or neck contract.

These small things matter when it comes to developing body awareness.

What Happens at the Beginning of a Session?

The SomaFlow practice typically starts with giving yourself a minute to center and observe your body.

Sit in a chair or stand in a comfortable position; you have many options, but you don’t have to start the practice with an intricate movement.

Initially, observe how your body feels physically.

Are your shoulders tense and lifted, or is there one foot carrying all of the weight? How does your body feel when it touches the chair or floor you are sitting on?

You can observe your breath without any attempts to change it.

This process differs from an average gym class, where most of your attention goes to following instructions or completing a certain move.

In SomaFlow practice, observation itself is important.

You don’t need to reach a specific state before moving to the next step; just start observing whatever you feel in the moment.

Exploring Body Awareness Through Movement

Movement is vital to SomaFlow. It allows you to feel how your body works rather than just imagining how it is supposed to work.

It can involve slow head turns, shoulder movements, shifting your center of gravity, or exploring spine movement while sitting.

In this process, pay attention to several basic aspects:

• Where does the movement originate?
• Which body parts are involved, along with your head?
• Is one side different from another?
• Are you putting more effort than necessary?
• How does your breathing change while moving?

You don’t have to give answers to all of them. They are just directions for your attention.

For instance, when you grab an object, you may notice that your shoulder moves first while the rest of your body stays still. On a second exploration of this movement, you may discover that your ribs, spine, or even your center of gravity participate.

This doesn’t mean there is a single right answer. The point is just to learn more about your own movements.

If you are interested in this approach, learning about somatic movement will help you use slow, attentive movement to explore body awareness.

How Is Breathing Included in SomaFlow Practice?

You don’t have to change the way you breathe during SomaFlow practice. Just pay attention to your breathing as you move.

For example, sit in a chair and notice how your chest or belly moves when you breathe. Now, slowly raise one arm and lower it. Does your breathing change? Do you find yourself holding your breath as you move?

You don’t need to take deep breaths or try to breathe a certain way. Just notice what happens.

Research published in the European Respiratory Journal found that simply paying attention to breathing can change how a person breathes.

Grounding Through Body-Based Awareness

Grounding can be as simple as paying attention to where you are and what your body feels.

If you are sitting, notice how the chair supports you and how your feet rest on the floor. If you are standing, notice how you place your weight on your feet.

You can also take a moment to look around the room and notice what you see and hear.

These are small things, but we often overlook them when we’re busy thinking about work, chores, or what we need to do next. Grounding gives you a chance to pause and pay attention to what’s happening around you.

What Does a SomaFlow Session Feel Like?

Every SomaFlow session can feel different. You may notice small things about your body that you usually don’t pay attention to.

1- You Become More Aware of Your Movements

Slowing down can help you notice how much effort you use during everyday movements. 

For example, when reaching for something on a shelf, you might notice you raise your shoulders or lean forward more than needed.

2- You Notice Differences in How Your Body Moves

Some movements may feel easier on one side than the other. 

When you turn your head left and right, one direction might feel different. This is simply something to observe, not necessarily a sign that something is wrong.

3- You Explore Without Expecting a Certain Result

You don’t need to experience a big change for a session to be useful. 

You might notice that standing feels different when you spread your weight across both feet instead of leaning more on one side.

There is no single way you are supposed to feel by the end. The focus is on exploring your own movements and sensations without expecting a particular result.

What SomaFlow Practice Is and Is Not

It’s helpful to understand what you are taking part in before starting.

SomaFlow practice is a somatic movement method centered on awareness, observation, and learning through direct experience. It gives you opportunities to explore how you move, breathe, use effort, and respond to different movements.

It is an exploratory practice. You aren’t expected to copy a perfect posture or force your body into a particular position.

At the same time, the SomaFlow approach is not a diagnosis, medical treatment, or mental health treatment. It isn’t a replacement for care from a licensed healthcare professional.

The focus is on movement exploration and embodied learning, rather than treating a health condition.

Some SomaFlow learning experiences may also involve touch or partner-based exploration. Activities vary by session, so ask the facilitator what to expect beforehand if you have questions about physical contact.

Explore the SomaFlow Method

Sometimes, understanding your body starts with noticing what you usually overlook. How you stand, where you place your weight, how you breathe while moving, and how much effort you use can all become part of that exploration.

A SomaFlow practice session gives you time to explore these details through guided movement, body awareness, breathing, and grounding.

You don’t need to know everything before you begin. Start with simple movements and learn through experience.

At SomaFlow™ Institute, our courses and workshops offer opportunities to explore embodied awareness and develop a deeper understanding of movement through guided practice.

Interested in learning more? Visit the SomaFlow Institute to explore the method and find a learning experience that fits your interests.

People Also Ask

What happens in a SomaFlow practice session?

A session may include simple movements, breathing, body awareness, and grounding exercises. You learn to notice how your body moves and feels.

What is body awareness practice?

Body awareness means paying attention to your body. For example, you might notice how you sit, stand, breathe, or move.

How is breathing used in SomaFlow?

You pay attention to your natural breathing and notice how it changes when you move. You don’t need to force your breath or follow a special pattern.

What does grounding mean in somatic practice?

Grounding means paying attention to your body and surroundings. You might notice your feet on the floor, your body resting on a chair, or the sounds around you.

Is SomaFlow a form of therapy?

SomaFlow practice focuses on movement and body awareness. It is not medical or mental health treatment and does not replace care from a qualified healthcare professional.

Can I practice the SomaFlow Method on my own?

Yes, you can try simple movements and body awareness exercises on your own. A guided session gives you instructions and help as you explore the practice.

Who can participate in SomaFlow practice?

Anyone interested in movement and body awareness may explore SomaFlow. This includes beginners, movement teachers, coaches, educators, and bodywork practitioners.

Does SomaFlow practice involve physical touch?

Some sessions may include physical touch or exercises with a partner, while others may not. Ask the facilitator what the session involves before you begin.