Somatic shaking involves simple movements that release unnecessary stress from the body. Learn about the benefits of body shaking and how to do it!
Whether you are a working professional or a housewife, let’s agree that the challenges of daily life can be a blow to our mental health. Miscellaneous emotions can be buried deeply in our minds. And all that bottled stress puts us in a state of constant anxiety and panic. Sometimes we can move on with a strong face. But sometimes it fails. But our bodies hold the score. Whether it’s a knot in a clenched jaw or a ventral knot formed due to raw sorrow, we can all feel that unprocessed emotions and trauma are trapped in our bodies. If emotions don’t get a constructive outlet, they can become toxic. Did you know that simple things like somatic shaking can also help to raise your focus while releasing excess cortisol from your body? Luckily, our bodies can let go of that stress through the release of catharticism. Let’s talk in detail about the benefits of somatic shaking for overall well-being.
What is body shaking?
Somatic shaking is a technique or form of therapy that releases excessive stress from the body, helping to recover and regulate the nervous system. This helps to further improve your feelings of focus, determinism and relaxation. The idea is to incorporate movement into meditation. The concept of shaking your body as a form of meditation serves as a powerful tool for transformation and healing. Body shaking helps you learn the art of letting go, explains Anand Kabir, a meditation facilitator and spiritual coach.
During times of extreme sadness and stress, our bodies produce stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. If they are not checked, these chemicals can wreak havoc on our physical and mental health. Cathartic movements such as somatic shaking act as pressure valves that flush out excess stress chemicals. This helps to calm the activation of the nervous system’s combat or flight.
How to sway physically?
This stress-relieving practice involves shaking your body to stimulate muscles and joints, focusing on your breath, leaving that gentle smile on your face and rethinking. The basic movements of somatic cell shaking include twisting, bending, jumping, and shaking. All of these help you feel the flow of energy within your body, leading to a sense of relaxation and calmness.
Here is a step-by-step guide to confirm that shaking your body is effective:
- Choose a quiet and comfortable environment where you can move freely without distractions. Wear loose and comfortable clothes.
- Try warming up as you do before all your exercises! Start with gentle movements such as light stretching, walking, and shaking.
- You can choose to sit or stand when your body is shaking. If you choose to stand, extend your legs hip-width, bend your knees slightly, and relax your arms at your side. Feel the connection between your feet and the ground. Take some deep breaths, focusing on the inhalation and exhalation process of your breath.
- Start by gently shaking your hands and wrists. Gradually spread the shaking across your arms, shoulders and torso. Shake your legs to allow movement through your entire body. Do not force shaking. It must be natural and you should let go!
- Watch your breath as you shake off the stress. Continue deep breathing throughout the process. Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. This plays a supportive role in releasing tension.
- After 5-15 minutes (or when you’re ready), start slowing down the shaking. As your movements become more gentle, progress gradually.
- Once you stop shaking, give it time. You can stand or sit quietly in meditation mode for a few minutes. You may experience a calm sensation.
Click here to learn more about other stress relief techniques!
Benefits of somatic shaking for a relaxed mind
Somatic shaking is part of a wider somatic practice that helps people reunite with their bodies, promoting calm emotions while developing the ability to process highly painful emotions. Some of its benefits over the mind include:
1. Helps in mindfulness and grounding
Engaging in physical shaking helps to ground, bring your body and shake your mind in the present moment. Shaking also induces the release of endorphins, a pleasant painkiller for the body. These good hormones alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression, while promoting a sense of euphoric relief. It helps you let go of stressful thoughts and lets you experience the benefits of physical movements.
The effect of body shaking is beyond meditation. It adds experts as if shaking allows people to shake off mental and emotional messiness, creating spaces for mindfulness, clarity, peace.
2. Helps you deal with unprocessed emotions
Somatic therapy with shaking works on the principle that unprocessed emotions, trauma, or stress are trapped in our bodies. Using a combination of breathing tasks, body recognition and movements can help you recover from injuries and emotional healing. Simply put, shaking helps to shake up the choked emotions inside the body and helps restore neurochemical balance.
Somatic shaking is not only important for physical fitness, but also helps to heal emotional wounds and improve overall well-being. Shaking gives you emotional resilience to handle trauma and strengthen safety and evidence through strict and spontaneous movements, promoting a more relaxed and balanced state.
3. Helps you slip into meditation easily
People struggle with meditation due to the idea of lace and challenge meditation. However, after shaking, it will be much easier for people to slip into a state of tranquility and inner calm. Energy that once felt stuck begins to flow freely, leaving people feeling revitalized and central, experts explain.
