Reset Your Nervous System with Hanna Somatic Exercise
Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of stress, tension, or discomfort that seems impossible to break? If so, you’re not alone. Our fast-paced lives often leave our nervous systems in overdrive, creating patterns of muscle tension, chronic pain, and emotional fatigue. But what if I told you that a simple practice combining gentle movement, mindful breath, and focused awareness could help reset your nervous system and bring your body back into balance?
This is the power of Hanna Somatic Exercise—a method designed to release habitual tension, re-educate the body, and restore ease of movement. Let’s explore how this practice works and why it’s so beneficial for your well-being.
Understanding the Stress Reflex
Our bodies are designed to adapt to stress through reflexive responses. Whether it’s bracing against a fall, sitting for long hours at a desk, or carrying emotional burdens, these experiences trigger patterns of muscular contraction. Over time, these responses become automatic, leading to what somatic practitioners call sensory motor amnesia (SMA). Essentially, the brain forgets how to relax those muscles, keeping the body locked in tension.
This tension doesn’t just affect your muscles—it impacts your entire nervous system. The autonomic nervous system, which regulates your body’s stress (sympathetic) and relaxation (parasympathetic) responses, can become stuck in overdrive. The result? Chronic pain, anxiety, fatigue, and even digestive or immune system dysfunction.
How Hanna Somatic Exercise Resets the Nervous System
Hanna Somatic Exercise is rooted in the principles of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and create new pathways. By using slow, intentional movements combined with breath and awareness, you can:
Release Tension: Gentle, repetitive movements help interrupt habitual contraction patterns, teaching your brain to relax and lengthen the muscles.
Improve Body Awareness: The focus on mindfulness and sensation strengthens the communication between your brain and body, enhancing your ability to sense and respond to your physical needs.
Recalibrate the Nervous System: The combination of movement and breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a state of relaxation and recovery.
Restore Functional Movement: As your muscles release chronic tension, you’ll find greater ease in everyday activities—whether that’s walking, running, or simply sitting comfortably.
Why This Matters
In today’s world, we’re often encouraged to push through discomfort, ignore our bodies’ signals, and prioritize productivity over well-being. But living in a state of perpetual tension and stress is unsustainable. Hanna Somatic Exercise offers a way to reclaim your body’s natural ability to heal and adapt, empowering you to live with more freedom, ease, and joy.
For example, one of my clients, a busy professional, came to me with chronic shoulder pain and feelings of constant overwhelm. Through a combination of somatic exercises, breathwork, and mindfulness practices, she not only found relief from her pain but also felt calmer and more centered in her daily life.
A Simple Exercise to Try
Here’s a quick somatic exercise to reset your nervous system:
Lie Down: Find a comfortable space to lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Pelvic Tilts: Slowly tilt your pelvis upward, pressing your lower back gently into the floor, and then tilt it downward to create a small arch in your back. Move with your breath—inhale as you tilt upward, exhale as you tilt downward.
Mindful Awareness: Notice the sensations in your lower back, hips, and pelvis. Keep the movement slow and gentle, allowing your brain to register the changes.
Rest and Reflect: After a few minutes, pause and notice how your body feels. Do you sense more ease or relaxation?
Final Thoughts
Hanna Somatic Exercise is more than a physical practice; it’s a way to reconnect with yourself, to listen deeply to your body, and to create lasting change. By resetting your nervous system, you open the door to a life where stress no longer controls you, and where you can move, breathe, and live with greater freedom.
If you’re curious to learn more or experience the benefits of somatic movement firsthand, consider joining a class or scheduling a session. Together, we can help you find your way back to balance and ease.
Your journey to a healthier nervous system begins with a single mindful breath. Why not take it now?