One of my favorite small group offerings is a Somatic Stroll. Recently, as a community offering for Mental Health Awareness Month, I facilitated another Somatic Stroll in my neighborhood.
What is a Somatic Stroll?
My Somatic Stroll offering is an opportunity to center, practice together, and allow space to share what comes up for each of us as we walk together. My intention with this offering is community building and connection. It is also a chance to get outside and connect with nature as we gently stroll together.
For my community Somatic Stroll offering, we gathered and walked around a nearby lake. We began by choosing an individual intention for the Stroll and stating a “word in” (state of being). We took a minute to reflect on our protective patterns and noticed which safety-seeking reactions we often go to in stressful situations. At each of the openings around the lake, we paused and I offered a somatic practice that also aligns with a centering skill – nurturing myself, letting go, finding gratitude, etc. As we walked, I invited curiosity about our protective patterns and offered the opportunity to share and process together. I offered the reminder to notice ourselves and behaviors without judgement and lots of compassion, seeking openings for release and growth. When we returned to our starting place, we reflected back on our individual intentions and shared our “word out” and any small shifts we experienced.
Seeking Openings
Seeking openings is a core tenant in somatic practice. When we pause and notice ourselves and our protective patterns, we build awareness and create space for curiosity:
- What is serving me and what is no longer serving me?
- What information is my body telling me?
- Where do I feel out of balance or alignment?
- Where is there constriction or tightness in my body?
- Am I working from the top down or bottom up? Am I staying with my feet?
- How can I bring compassion and support for those tight places in my body to help nurture ease and release?
- How is my body leading me to move through feelings and sensations that I need to process so that I can let go of that which is no longer serving me?
As we find these openings with intentional pauses and practices, we are better equipped to nurture ourselves and show up as our best self.
May we all gently stroll on our journey, knowing that we have the tools we need when life gets tense.
If you and your team are seeking a centering and community-building offering like the Somatic Stroll, please reach out!
