The Wisdom of the Body

By: Margot Walsh

Somatic breathwork. Somatic sexology. Somatic manifestation. Somatic psychotherapy. The word is hot right now. It seems like it’s everywhere. It’s definitely having a moment in Western psychology, but it’s actually really ancient work. Now, if you don’t totally get what it is, you’re not alone. So here it is simply: soma means body. Somatic work is to reconnect with the body. 

I’ll share a bit about how I disconnected from my body, what happened because of it, how I re-established a connection and why I’ll never let it go. There’s a deep history here for me, dating back to childhood when I started disconnecting, but I’ll save that for our May 19th conversation. In adulthood I disconnected from my body out of survival. I didn’t have time to let myself feel what was going on. I was too scared that feeling it all  would hurt too much. So I distracted myself with technology, alcohol, telling myself to just be grateful, saying that I was being dramatic (a theme from childhood). So I numbed. I shut down my body and lead with my mind to push forward and be productive. Because productivity is what matters most, right? On the outside I was getting shit done! On the inside I was dying. Miserable. Constantly anxious. No creative energy. Not much energy at all. 

Until my body staged an intervention. Everything I was suppressing started coming up. First in cynicism, then in rage, then in so much sadness. I cried every night and I literally didn’t even know what I was crying about. I couldn’t function and I quit my job. No plan. Just babies at home who I was having an incredibly tough time being present with, even though all I wanted was to be present with them.

Things didn’t REALLY start getting better until I started working with a coach who had me close my eyes and connect with my breath. I gave myself time and space to cry, to feel, to listen. Because the body doesn’t speak in words or sentences, the body speaks through feelings and inner knowings that sometimes don’t make sense at first. But I learned how to trust those feelings and knowings. I learned that the fact that I feel deeply and am super sensitive is my superpower. I learned how to notice my emotions and see them as messengers for what needed to change, grow, evolve and re-align in my life. It’s the tool I use all the time to help me make decisions, find the next step and keep moving forward. Above all, it’s what helped me feel lit up, confident, comfortable and full in life (even when things don’t go my way).   

I now know this. Our body is the wisest and most ancient part of us. Our bodies are divinely and perfectly created and they will never steer us wrong. Our bodies are psychic, they know and understand things before we are consciously aware of them. Our emotions and intuition are the messengers from that body that we are meant to listen to. And it is through the connection with the body that we feel whole again.

Margot is the Co-founder of Femnest and serves as the Director of Growth & Connection. She is a life coach and the creator of Beyond: Discover Who You Are Beyond the Stress, a group coaching program that helps women move past overwhelm and into clarity, calm, and confidence. To learn more about working with her or to join the next round of Beyond, send her a message!