Your Body is Trying to Tell You Something: An Introduction to Somatic Coaching

Let’s begin with something you already know but perhaps haven’t put into words: You live in a body. Astonishing, isn’t it? You might even say it’s the most obvious fact of existence, right up there with gravity and the regrettable reality of taxes. Yet, oddly enough, most of us spend our days treating our bodies like slightly inconvenient flesh-suits we have to drag around while we get on with the real business of life.

This, my dear reader, is a terrible oversight.

Enter somatic coaching, a delightful and deeply human approach to personal growth that suggests (brace yourself) that

your body is not just a transport vehicle for your brain. In fact, it might just be the wisest part of you.

The word somatic comes from the Greek soma, meaning “the body as experienced from within.” And that’s exactly what this is about: listening to the signals, wisdom, and odd quirks of your very own, very real body.

What Is Somatic Coaching, and Why Should You Care?

Somatic coaching is a bit like detective work, but instead of solving a crime, you’re solving yourself. It’s based on the idea that our bodies store emotions, memories, and patterns of behavior—often without our conscious permission. The way we stand, breathe, or even clench our jaw during a tedious Zoom meeting can tell us a great deal about what’s really going on inside.

The goal is simple: greater self-awareness, a deeper sense of presence, and the ability to make choices that feel good not just in your head, but in your bones. You get there through movement, breathwork, body scanning, and other intriguing practices that, at first, might seem a little peculiar but soon make so much sense you’ll wonder why nobody taught them in school.

Your Body Knows Stuff—It’s Time to Listen

To illustrate just how much your body knows, let’s turn to our dear friend Virginia Woolf, who once observed:

"The man who is aware of himself is henceforward independent; and he is never bored, and life is only too short."

Exactly, Virginia. Awareness is liberating. And the body is a wonderful, if somewhat subtle, teacher. The trouble is, most of us have learned to ignore it. We override exhaustion with caffeine, dismiss gut feelings as irrational, and carry around old emotional baggage like it’s part of our skeletal system. (Spoiler: it kind of is.)

Somatic coaching invites you to check in with yourself in ways you may not have done since childhood. You might notice that your shoulders are perpetually braced as if expecting an attack from a rogue pigeon. Or that you’ve been breathing in a way that suggests you’re a startled Victorian heroine on the verge of fainting. These things matter, because they shape how we experience the world.

The Wisdom of Václav Havel and Your Body’s Secret Letters

Speaking of paying attention, Václav Havel—playwright, philosopher, and former president of the Czech Republic—had a thing or two to say about this in Letters to Olga. In those letters, written from prison, he reflects on the importance of tuning in to one’s inner world, noting:

"The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and human responsibility."

Your body is constantly writing you letters of its own—perhaps less poetic, but no less profound. The tightness in your chest after a difficult conversation? A note about boundaries. That flutter in your stomach before a big decision? A memo about excitement and fear being close cousins. The deep exhale when you step into nature? A beautifully handwritten reminder that you are, in fact, still alive.

How to Start Your Somatic Journey (Without Feeling Like a Hippie Who Got Lost)

So, how do you actually do somatic coaching? Luckily, it doesn’t require scented candles or chanting (unless you like that sort of thing). Here are a few simple starting points:

Centering Practice – Stand still, take a deep breath, and feel your feet planted firmly on the ground. Imagine your weight settling downward like roots into the earth. This isn’t just poetic—it’s a way to remind your nervous system that you are here, safe, and supported.

Awe Practice – The world is full of small miracles if you take the time to notice them. Look up at the sky, really look. Observe the way light filters through leaves, the sound of a bird’s song, the texture of the ground beneath your hands. Awe shifts you out of autopilot and into full-bodied presence.

Connecting with Nature – Nature is the original nervous system regulator. Walk barefoot on the grass, dip your toes in the sea, or simply take a slow stroll in the park. Your body knows how to attune to the natural world—it’s just waiting for you to give it the chance.

Body Scanning – Sit still for a moment and notice what’s happening in different parts of your body. No judgment, just observation. Are your hands cold? Is your jaw tight? Is your left eyebrow inexplicably twitching? Interesting. Just notice.

Breathwork – Experiment with different breathing techniques. Try inhaling for four counts, holding for four, exhaling for six. See how that changes your mood. Your breath is a remote control for your nervous system—use it wisely.

Movement as Inquiry – Move your body in ways that feel good. Stretch, dance, sway, roll your shoulders. Notice where you feel stuck or fluid. This isn’t exercise; it’s curiosity in motion.

Track Your Patterns – Notice recurring sensations. Do you always get a knot in your stomach before speaking up in meetings? Do your shoulders migrate toward your ears when you’re around certain people? These patterns are clues, not just quirks.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

At the heart of it, somatic coaching is about living inside your life rather than skimming across the surface of it. It’s about reclaiming the wisdom you’ve been carrying around all along. By listening to your body, you learn to move through the world with more ease, confidence, and—dare I say it—joy.

So, the next time your body whispers (or shouts) something at you, maybe—just maybe—give it a listen. You might be surprised by what you hear.