Somatic Healing for Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is establishing a sense of kindness, softness, patience and understanding for yourself. Self-compassion is not something to be earned based off of how much you “do” but rather is a daily practice to continue to come back to. While you can practice thinking positive and kind thoughts as a form of self-compassion, it is often an experience felt in the body. That is why somatic healing is a beautiful tool to support you in the continued practice of finding self-compassion.
Why Somatic Healing For Self-Compassion?
Somatic Healing is a mindfulness-based practice that supports you in connecting further with your body and it’s sensations using movement, breath and sound. In using Somatic Healing, we are able to find a sense of curiosity in the physical sensations and patterns in which our body holds on to stories, trauma and emotions. You can learn more about some key terms in somatic healing here.
Since self-compassion is an experience felt in the body, Somatic Healing can support self-compassion by:
rebuilding a sense of trust with yourself
grounding and connecting you with your body and it’s sensations
reducing nervous system reactivity
increasing awareness of your inner experience
Three Somatic Healing Practices For Self-Compassion
Here are some tools you can practice on your own to increase self-compassion:
Self-Touch: start simple by holding one hand with the other as you play with pressure - squeezing more firmly and then letting you - allowing yourself to find a sense of curiosity for what feels best in your body. Once you have played around with it, you can choose to do the same on another part of your body - perhaps one that is in need of more love or compassion (for ex: heart, belly, shoulders, etc.)
Compassion Bubble: finding a safe and supportive space, close your eyes as you start to ground your body into your seat. As you feel safe, start to imagine a color that you associate with the experience of self compassion. Then, start to imagine; as if it were a bubble surrounding you, of this color. Notice how your body responds and feels - does it soften? does your breath shift?
Humming: if you would like to use a song for this exercise you can, I would suggest trying this or this one. Either seating or laying down in a comfortable space, give yourself some time to ground your body and notice your breath. When you are ready, you will inhale through the nose and with your exhale you will hum out (lips sealed as you create the sound). Notice where in your body you feel the humming sensation, is it in your throat? your belly? Humming activates the vagus nerve and allows for your body to come into a more relaxed and restorative state.
You can practice these tools on their own or combine them.
Self-compassion is not something you have to force or achieve perfectly. It develops through small moments of presence — listening to your body, responding to your needs, and allowing your experience to exist without judgment.
Somatic healing offers a pathway back to yourself through sensation, movement, and awareness. Over time, the body learns that it is safe to soften, and self-compassion becomes less of a concept and more of a lived experience.
If you are in Miami and want to explore Somatic Healing for yourself, join me on Thursdays at 7:45 PM at Daily Flows Movement Studio for my group class or find out ways to experience Somatic Healing by working with me individually by clicking here.
