Stressed Out? Recharge With A Somatic Mind-Body Workout

This past summer, I began dating an older gentleman named Daniel. Although this man was genuinely kind, affectionate, and romantic, I knew almost instantly that things would never work out between us. Why? Well what I judgily deduced, right off the bat, was the fact that we each spent our energy in completely different ways. While I’m an overthinker whose mind is constantly racing with thoughts and ideas, Danny is a physical being, who prefers actual racing as opposed to racing thoughts. 

We were polar opposites. And not in the cutesy rom-com movie way, where their opposing qualities end up complimenting each other. For us, I didn’t know how long we’d last if I was the type of person who was constantly exercising my brain, while he was the type of person who was constantly exercising his body. It was as if we spoke two completely different languages. He spoke “jock” while I spoke “bookworm.”

As darling as this trope may be in film, it simply flops on its face when it takes place in real life. We’d sit there at the dinner table and struggle with all our might to have a solid conversation, despite the fact that we had nothing — literally nothing — in common. 

“But at least he makes an effort when it comes to your interests,” my cousin said when I was off-loading on her about my dating woes. “At least he reads your favorite books and watches your favorite boring indie films in order to gain deeper insight into your world.” 

I knew she was right. And in that moment, I knew that I was being unfair. If he was gonna take the time to try and get a taste of my world, then it was only fair of me to return the favor. So for our next date, I put on my best pair of running shoes and told him to meet me in Central Park. Stretching as much as possible, I decided that today was the day I’d step into his world.  

When we finally met up, I told Daniel that I wanted to spend our date participating in his favorite exercise. Whether that was going on a run, jog, or grabbing a pair of city bikes, I was game for anything.  

Nodding pensively, he said, “I have an idea. You said you’ve been feeling stressed out lately, yeah?”

I nodded. “Stressed out” was an understatement. 

“Well then. Why don’t we try some somatic workouts?”

I looked at him like he was speaking French. “Somatic what?”  

“Somatic workouts.” He laughed. “It’s any form of exercise that helps you let go of the stressors of everyday life. Instead, all your focus is reserved specifically for your physical body. It’s a great way of shutting your mind off, so that you can be fully present in the moment.”

Holding my hand up, I said, “You had me shutting your mind off. Say no more.” 

Because I’d been so anxious that summer — my mind was constantly trickling with OCD-related thoughts — I was totally desperate for any change, even if I had my doubts at first. 

Daniel suggested we start out simple. “Something as easy as mindful walking can do the trick.”

Just What Is The Mindful Walking Exercise?

As a practice, mindful walking encourages you to fully be present in the moment. Rather than letting your well of anxieties and stressful thoughts overwhelm you, put your attention on your body’s needs, concentrating on its movements and feelings. Shift all your focus to each step, each breath you take, and any tension you might be holding onto. Be sure to unclench your jaw, shoulder muscles, and anything else that might be overly tense. 

By the end of my mind walking experience, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in a genuine state of serenity and peace.

What Is A Self Hug? 

Daniel then suggested we move to the next somatic workout, which he calls “self-hugging.” Uhhh, kinda ewww even. What now? At first, the idea of “self-hugging” as a form of exercise made me burst out laughing. It felt so strange participating in a form of literal self love, since I’d never really given myself a hug before. Yet for Daniel, I was willing to try anything. 

While hugging myself, he instructed me to hold myself as tight as possible so that I can release all my built up tension. I was shocked by how such a simple act made me feel like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. All at once, it seemed, the aches and pains I was storing from muscle tension had fallen away.

What Is The Body Scan Exercise? 

The body scan exercise is probably my favorite, since it requires little to no effort. For this exercise, Daniel asked me to lie down on my back and close my eyes. He encouraged me to channel all my attention to the sensory details of my physical being. What was I noticing? What, if anything, felt like it was off?

If anything needed to be put into right alignment, such as tension in my shoulders, spine, or jaw, he encouraged me to release it. Same with my tongue, which I’d realized was locked. Even my hands were tense, so after I loosened up my clenched fists, I felt a whole lot lighter. By the end of the exercise, I was amazed at how much tension I had released from my body. 

Although things didn’t end up working out with Daniel in the long run, I’m deeply grateful for his generosity and the valuable lessons he taught me. Thanks to his help, I realize that caring for your physical body is just as crucial to your well-being as nurturing your mind. Both are key to living a balanced and fulfilling life.