What is Somatic Awareness?

In our increasingly digital and distracted world, many of us have become disconnected from one of our most valuable resources – our bodies. The practice of somatic awareness – consciously attending to bodily sensations, movements, and internal states – offers a way back to embodied wisdom that research shows can transform our health, emotional well-being and quality of life. In this post, I am going to share –

• What Does Sometic Mean?
• What is Awareness?
• Discovering Somatic Awareness, and
• Some of the Research Behind Somatic Awareness.

Let’s get started…

What Does “Somatic” Mean?

The term “somatic” is derived from the Greek word “soma,” meaning “body.” In scientific and therapeutic contexts, somatic refers to relating to or affecting the body as distinguished from the mind or psyche. It pertains to the physical body and bodily sensations, including: –

• Five senses – touch, sight, hearing, taste and sound
• Interoception – perception of internal bodily sensations like hunger, temperature or pain,
• Kinaesthetic sense – awareness of movement and movement patterns,
• Physical sensations related to emotional states,
• Proprioception – awareness of body position in space, and
• Muscular tension patterns and physical responses to stress.

In somatic psychology, somatic coaching and somatic movement and somatic practice, “somatic” acknowledges that the mind and body are not separate entities but interconnected aspects of the whole person, recognising that psychological experiences have physical manifestations and vice versa (Hanna, 1988; Levine, 2010).

What is Awareness?

Awareness refers to the state of conscious perception and recognition of something (i.e. a human being). It involves:

• Conscious attention to and recognition of internal or external stimuli,
• Being cognizant of one’s surroundings, thoughts, feelings, or sensations,
• The quality of being alert and conscious of events, objects, or patterns,
• The capacity to observe phenomena without immediate judgment or reaction, and
• A state of conscious noticing that can range from diffuse attention to focused concentration.

A couple of definitions of awareness include –

• Cognitive science defines awareness as “the state or ability to perceive, feel, or be conscious of events, objects, or sensory patterns” (Dehaene et al., 2014),
• In psychological terms, awareness is often distinguished from simple sensation by including the element of conscious recognition (Brown & Ryan, 2003), and
• In mindfulness traditions, awareness is often characterised by qualities of openness, curiosity, and non-judgment toward whatever arises in one’s field of consciousness (Kabat-Zinn, 2003).

Is there anything else you would add? If so, feel free to share below!

Discovering Somatic Awareness

In essence, somatic awareness is combining the two words somatic and awareness together. Three definitions of somatic awareness from the research include –

• Mehling et al. (2012) define somatic awareness as “the ability to perceive, interpret, and act on the basis of internal bodily sensations.” They emphasise it as a multidimensional construct involving attentional focus to bodily sensations, capacity for mindful awareness, and ability to regulate attention to bodily sensations,
• Payne et al. (2015) characterise somatic awareness as “the conscious perception of sensorimotor signals arising from within the body,” noting that it “forms a foundation for embodied self-regulation and interoceptive accuracy.”  and
• Price & Hooven (2018) describe somatic awareness as “the ability to notice, identify and respond to internal signals and sensations,” highlighting that “this type of awareness is an often overlooked yet critical aspect of emotion regulation.”

Unlike the passive experience of having a body, somatic awareness is an active practice of tuning in to your physical self with curiosity and presence. It’s about becoming fluent in your body’s language and learning to trust its intelligence.

Some of the Research Behind Somatic Awareness

The research and scientific foundation supporting somatic awareness has grown significantly in recent decades. In this post, I am going to refer to some of the links somatic awareness has to neuroscience, trauma research and health outcomes.

Neuroscience Perspectives –

Research in neuroscience has demonstrated that interoception – our perception of internal bodily signals – plays a crucial role in emotional processing. A 2018 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that individuals with greater interoceptive awareness showed enhanced emotional regulation capabilities and reduced anxiety symptoms.

The work of neuroscientist Antonio Damasio has been particularly influential through his “somatic marker hypothesis,” which proposes that bodily feelings significantly influence decision-making processes. According to this research, the body provides essential feedback that guides our choices, often before conscious awareness.

Trauma Research –

Perhaps some of the most compelling evidence for somatic awareness comes from trauma research. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s landmark book, “The Body Keeps the Score,” synthesises decades of research showing how trauma is stored physically in the body, not just cognitively in the mind.

Studies demonstrate that trauma-informed somatic practices can help regulate the autonomic nervous system, reducing symptoms of PTSD and chronic stress. A 2017 meta-analysis in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that body-centered interventions produced significant improvements in trauma symptoms compared to control conditions.

Health Outcomes –

Some of the research connecting somatic awareness to physical health outcomes includes –

• A longitudinal study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that higher levels of somatic awareness were associated with earlier detection of health problems and more prompt medical attention:
• Research in psychoneuroimmunology has demonstrated connections between body awareness practices and improved immune function: and
• Multiple studies on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), which includes body scan meditation and other somatic components, show reduced inflammation markers and improved pain management.

Over to You…

I hope this post has given you some insight in to what somatic awareness is and some of the research that relates to it. If you have any questions, or comments, please leave them below. 

If you are ready to take yourself on the adventure of getting to know yourself (your true Self), why not join the Newsletter? A place where I share tools, inspiration and ideas to live a courageous and openhearted life.

References –

Bechara, A., Damasio, H., Tranel, D., & Damasio, A. R. (1997). Deciding advantageously before knowing the advantageous strategy. Science, 275(5304), 1293-1295.

Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822-848.

Craig, A. D. (2003). Interoception: The sense of the physiological condition of the body. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 13(4), 500-505.

Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes’ error: Emotion, reason, and the human brain. G.P. Putnam.

Dehaene, S., Charles, L., King, J. R., & Marti, S. (2014). Toward a computational theory of conscious processing. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 25, 76-84.

Farb, N., Daubenmier, J., Price, C. J., Gard, T., Kerr, C., Dunn, B. D., Klein, A. C., Paulus, M. P., & Mehling, W. E. (2018). Interoception, contemplative practice, and health. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 763.

Hanna, T. (1988). Somatics: Reawakening the mind’s control of movement, flexibility, and health. Addison-Wesley.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144-156.

Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness. North Atlantic Books.

Mehling, W. E., Price, C., Daubenmier, J. J., Acree, M., Bartmess, E., & Stewart, A. (2012). The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). PLOS ONE, 7(11), e48230.

Mehling, W. E., Chesney, M. A., Metzler, T. J., Goldstein, L. A., Maguen, S., Geronimo, C., Agcaoili, G., Barnes, D. E., Hlavin, J. A., & Neylan, T. C. (2018). A 12-week integrative exercise program improves self-reported mindfulness and interoceptive awareness in war veterans with posttraumatic stress symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(1), 26-37.

Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 93.

Price, C. J., & Hooven, C. (2018). Interoceptive awareness skills for emotion regulation: Theory and approach of Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT). Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 798.

van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.