Not all somatic practices are created equal.

And before I elaborate on that, let's take a pause and begin with a question: What is somatics?

You may have an idea, an inkling, a knowing, but it's hard to put into words. Or you simply don't know, but you are curious, and that is enough.

I have been immersed in the world of somatics for years now, and to be completely honest with you, the answer to that question is one that continuously changes and transforms. What I know for sure is that somatics is living. And living today versus living tomorrow versus living yesterday never looks the same.

So here is my answer today.

Let's start with some very simple etymology. Soma comes from Greek and it means the body.

The body in somatics means the living organism in its wholeness. Meaning, the body is not just flesh and bones. It is also our sensations. Our emotions. Our internal stories. Our lived experiences. How we relate to ourselves, to others, to the environment. The actions that we take. And the actions we don't take.

And somatics is the field in which we work with the body.

Still with me? Ok. One more layer before I go back to the beginning.

Somatic coaching is a holistic and organic process to help you reconnect with yourself. Your body holds information that your mind alone can't access, and somatic coaching helps you listen to that wisdom, so that you can move towards the things and people that make you feel alive. So that you can answer to your heart's longing.

I take my role as a somatic coach with utmost responsibility, care, and respect. And part of that responsibility is being trauma-informed and embodying the work is a non-negotiable.

Embodying the work.

That is where the difference lies.

Somatics has become a viral word in the social media space. And like anything that goes viral, not all of it is created equal.

Because embodying the work means that somatics is not something I do. It is something I live.

Between client sessions, you might find me rolling around on the floor. Not as a performance. Not as a demonstration. But because my body asked for it and I listened. I take pauses throughout my day to check in with myself. I move intuitively. I practice centering and reconnecting to what I am committed to, daily.

I have my own mentors. My own coach. Somatic peers I talk to weekly.

Staying in practice is not optional for me. It is part of my commitment to this work and to the people I work with.

I have my own human experience. My own struggles, my own patterns, my own moments of being far from centred. Embodying the work does not mean I have it all figured out. It means I keep showing up to the practice, especially when it's hard.

Every practice I bring into a session is one I have met myself first. I do not offer you something I have not sat with, moved through, or breathed into on my own.

That matters to me deeply.

Somatics is having a moment. And I am genuinely glad more people are discovering this work. But with that visibility comes something worth naming.

Offering somatic practices without real training, without ongoing embodiment, without a trauma-informed foundation, is not somatics. It is borrowing the language of somatics. And for someone who is sensitive, who is carrying real pain, who is finally reaching out for support, that distinction matters enormously.

This is not about gatekeeping. It is about care. The body is not a trend. The nervous system is not a content topic. And the people who come to this work are often in a tender place. They deserve someone who is genuinely in relationship with their own body, not just fluent in the vocabulary.

When I say embodying the work is non-negotiable, this is what I mean. Not perfection. Not having it all figured out. But a real, lived, daily commitment to the practice. Because you cannot guide someone somewhere you have never been.

Your body already knows how to sense the difference. Trust that.

Warmly,

Tami

P.S. My friend Kristal Godin, is one of those practitioners that not only talks the talk, but also embodies her work as a women’s wellness and hormone coach. I am excited to be joining her Happy Hormone Collective members sometime early summer. So stay tuned for more details on that in the near future.

P.P.S. I'm researching what moves sensitive, heart-led individuals to finally seek out nervous system and somatic support, and what gets in the way. If you've ever worked with a somatic coach, or something similar, or have been quietly curious about it, I'd love to hear from you. Just hit reply and let me know.