Somatic exercise is a form of exercise that uses the mind-body connection to discover things about ourselves and release physical and emotional tension. I like to think of somatic exercise as a “work in” as opposed to a workout. Somatic exercise is movement for the sake of movement, not for an external result.

Somatic exercises are for everyone. They invite you to listen to your body, tune into its sensations, and connect with your emotions. Despite the benefits, somatic movement is often misunderstood. This article busts the most common myths about somatic exercises.Are somatic exercises only for people with injuries or chronic pain?

Somatic exercise is about getting to know your body and what you can learn from it as you get to know it better. There are many different forms of somatic movements, ranging from breathwork to Pilates. This book covers many somatic exercises and gives you a brief overview on how somatic movement can benefit you on many levels.

Calisthenics and bodyweight exercises are all you need to work out your entire body, whenever you want, wherever you want. Whether you’re an elite athlete or someone who hasn’t exercised in decades, calisthenics provide the quickest and most effective way to form your fitness foundation and build your peak physique.

Pilates (pronounced puh-lah-teez and not pie-lates) is similar to yoga but emphasizes your body’s core — the abdomen, obliques, lower back, inner and outer thigh, butt, and so on. For this reason, Pilates develops much of what exercisers need — strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, and good posture — with a much lower chance of injury than with other forms of exercise.

Self-defense can be intimidating and overwhelming to someone who’s new to the topic, and many self-defense experts make it appear even more complicated by introducing complex techniques from martial arts, such as judo, aikido, and karate. To make the topic easier and more approachable, this Cheat Sheet serves as a crash course to bring you up to speed on the basics.

Relieve back pain by posing in the Cat and Cow asanas. Two of the ten core yoga poses, these positions stretch your back and increase flexibility. Exercise your body and relax your mind with yoga. Video transcript [MUSIC PLAYING]In yoga, lots of poses are named after animals and things in nature.