At The Well Yoga Dubuque, we often say: healing is a journey—one you don’t have to take alone. Whether you’re stepping onto your mat for the first time, or you’ve been practicing for years, there’s one truth we want you to know:

It’s okay to feel.

In fact, feeling is a critical part of healing. You may not always know how or why something hurts—but your body does. That’s where somatics comes in.

What Is Somatics?

Somatics is the study and practice of experiencing your body from the inside out. It emphasizes internal awareness, body-based movement, and sensory connection to promote healing. It’s about noticing, listening, and responding to what’s happening within you—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

When you engage in somatic practices, you're not just moving your body—you’re tuning into it. You're discovering how emotional pain or trauma might show up as tight shoulders, jaw clenching, chronic pain, or a racing heart. You're reconnecting with the idea that your body holds wisdom, and that your healing begins by listening to it.

Somatic Healing: How the Body Stores—and Releases—Emotions

Somatic healing is a process of healing from within. It helps us understand that trauma, stress, and emotional pain can be stored in the body as physical tension—what some refer to as a kind of "armor" that restricts the flow of energy.

Many of us are familiar with how chronic stress manifests physically:

• Headaches
• Digestive issues
• Tense muscles
• Rapid heartbeat
• Insomnia

These are more than just symptoms—they're signals. Somatic therapy helps us respond to these signals with compassion, not resistance.

Somatic Therapy & Practices You Can Try

Somatic therapy uses mindfulness-based tools to help ground us in the present moment, release what no longer serves us, and reconnect with spirit. Here are a few common and effective somatic practices:

• Gratitude Practices – Reflecting on what you’re thankful for grounds you in abundance.
• Sensory Engagement – Notice what you can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste.
• Mindful Movement – Yoga, stretching, dance, tai chi—anything that gets you in touch with sensation.
• Breathwork – Focused breathing calms the nervous system and invites safety into the body.
• Body Scans – Gently scanning your body to notice tension, discomfort, or ease without judgment.
• Nature Connection – Walks in nature or grounding outdoors can regulate your nervous system.
• Daily Check-ins – Simply pause a few times a day and feel. No need to fix—just notice.
  

These can be integrated into your life from morning to night—and especially during times of stress, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm.

Yoga Is a Somatic Practice

Yoga and mindful stretching are powerful somatic tools. When practiced intentionally, yoga allows the body to speak, process, and even release trauma. Some poses are more grounding, making them useful for anxiety or overstimulation, while others are more uplifting—helpful for depression or disconnection.

At The Well, we use somatic yoga to help you build body awareness, regulate your nervous system, and heal at a pace that feels safe and supported.

My Story: When I Finally Started Listening

I used to believe my worth was based on how much I could accomplish. I spent years thinking, planning, analyzing, and pushing through—even after I became a yoga teacher. I didn’t know how to stop.

But my body did.

Chronic neck pain, hot flashes, panic attacks, sleepless nights—my body was screaming at me, and I wasn’t listening.

It wasn’t until I surrendered fully to God—through prayer, faith, and showing up at church—that I realized: I don’t have to carry this all alone. I began to trust again. I stopped over-functioning and started allowing space for rest, breath, and stillness. I stopped doing and started feeling.

And yes, I cried. I cried in church, and I cried during yoga. I cried because for the first time, I was letting go. Letting God in. Letting myself be human.

If You Cry in Yoga… That’s Okay

During a yoga class—especially one rooted in somatics—you might feel emotional. You might feel nothing. You might cry. You might not know why.

That’s okay.

Crying in class isn’t weakness—it’s release. It’s a sign that your body is trusting you to feel again.

At The Well, we hold space for all of it—your healing, your discomfort, your letting go.

So when you show up to your mat, know this:
You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to hold it all together.
You just have to be willing to feel.