Guidance on Somatic Shaking Therapy and How it Works
Looking at the Details and Benefits of a Somatic Shaking Practice
Somatic shaking therapy is a body-based therapy that can help relieve emotional and physical tension. Often used for trauma recovery, somatic shaking exercises create a cathartic release. It’s a great practice to add to your toolkit, with few to no negative side effects.
Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada is a Las Vegas behavioral health center that provides trauma-informed care. Our professionals use evidence-based and supportive holistic treatments tailored to your needs.
In some cases, your treatment may involve working with a somatic therapist or using somatic therapy exercises.
First, let’s define somatic shaking therapy, how to practice it, and the nervous system’s role. Later, we’ll discuss the benefits of a somatic shaking practice and how Icarus Nevada uses somatic shaking in conjunction with other treatments.
What is Somatic Shaking Therapy?
“Somatic” means “relating to or affecting the body.” Somatic therapies emphasize the connection between your body and mind. Somatic shaking therapy is one specific somatic approach. It involves purposefully shaking part of your body (e.g., only your hands and arms) or your full body.
Think of somatic shaking as a way to “shake off” the stress, stuck emotions, tension, or trauma that lives in your body.
How to Practice Somatic Shaking
There’s more than one way to practice somatic shaking. Here’s an overview of what a somatic shaking process could look like:
- Get ready. First, choose a calm and quiet space. Make sure that you have enough room to move around. Wear comfortable clothes so you can shake freely.
- Set the mood. You want to feel relaxed. Some play music or engage in meditation to set the mood and prepare themselves. You can also use progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, or tension and trauma releasing exercises to help yourself feel ready and loosened up.
- Start with gentle movements. Simply shaking your hands or arms is a great way to start. This is a very intuitive exercise, so do what feels right; make sure that you are gentle and check in with yourself, however. If you experience discomfort, stop.
Most people shake anywhere from seconds to about five minutes. Professionals versed in somatic shaking can help you get the most out of your practice.
Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TREs)
Tension and trauma releasing exercises can help you induce natural “shakes.” For example, you might hold a wall sit (stand against the wall like you are sitting in an invisible chair) for a few minutes, lean down and stretch your hands to your feet, take deep breaths, and return to your standing position.
There are a lot of different TREs to choose from. Even if TREs do not cause natural shaking for you, they might help you relax prior to shaking.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Progressive muscle relaxation is a grounding technique. It is also considered a type of body scan. To use PMR, close your eyes and get into a comfortable position. Then, starting at your feet and moving all the way up to your head (or vice versa), tense and release each body part, one by one.
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The Nervous System and Cathartic Movement
Why does somatic shaking work? When you experience stress or anxiety, your nervous system enters fight-or-flight mode When you’re in that state, the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
If you remain in fight or flight mode on an enduring basis, it can wreak havoc on your health.
People who have been through trauma often experience stress responses–are in fight or flight mode–even when they are not in real or immediate danger. Teaching your body to feel safe can be critical for healing.
Cathartic movement helps you eliminate excess stress chemicals, wind down, and feel calmer. Since people who have been through traumatic experiences often have a dysregulated nervous system, practices like somatic shaking can be an excellent tool.
Benefits of a Somatic Shaking Practice
Integrating a somatic shaking practice can have physical and mental health benefits. These may include but are not limited to the following.
Increased Ability to Self-Regulate
When you experience intense emotions or triggers, it’s important that you have the tools you need to self-regulate. Conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can make you feel dysregulated.
Having tools like somatic shaking empowers you to release pent-up emotions, stay connected to your body, and feel more at ease.
Releasing Tension From the Physical Body
Shaking exercises can help you release muscular tension. Muscle tension can show up in nearly any part of the body, such as your neck, back, shoulders, or jaw. Treating that tension may decrease pain or tightness in areas that previously caused discomfort.
Improvements in Overall Well-Being
Unaddressed chronic stress and trauma are linked to an array of negative effects on the body and mind. By relieving stress, somatic shaking can improve your mental and physical health. Healthy stress management can lead to a reduction in depression and anxiety, improved sleep, and other advantages, like lower blood pressure.
How Icarus Nevada Uses Trauma-Releasing Exercises in Treatment
Trauma-releasing exercises like somatic shaking can be a constructive outlet. We integrate practices like somatic therapies with evidence-based treatments. For example, trauma-focused behavioral therapies.
Paired with the deeply personalized care Icarus Nevada provides, this combined approach lets you build the comprehensive set of coping skills you need to succeed. Not just while in treatment, but for the rest of your life.
Call Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada for Trauma Recovery and Support
Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada treats substance abuse, behavioral addictions, and mental health issues. Located in Las Vegas, our center is here to help you heal from trauma, unprocessed grief, or other concerns affecting your quality of life.
Inpatient and outpatient treatment options are available. Even better, we take most forms of health insurance to help persons and families cover treatment costs.
Please call Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada today to learn more about our programs, verify your insurance coverage, or get help for a loved one today. All calls to our admissions line are 100% confidential.
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FAQs Regarding Guidance on Somatic Shaking Therapy and How it Works
Who is somatic therapy for?
Somatic therapy can help people with a variety of concerns. In many cases, a person will pursue somatic therapy to help with:
- PTSD and trauma.
- Complicated grief.
- Depression.
- Anxiety disorders.
- Trust or intimacy issues.
- Low self-esteem.
People with conditions like anxiety or PTSD often feel disconnected from their bodies but experience physical symptoms and hypervigilance that affect their everyday lives. Approaches that target the mind-body connection can help.
How long should you do somatic shaking?
You can start with as little as about 30 seconds of somatic shaking per day. Some people use somatic shaking for 3-5 minutes per day or more.
What does somatic shaking look like?
Somatic shaking looks like intentional shaking movements. You might “shake” your entire body, or one body part (like your arms), gently. It should not hurt or cause pain. You should feel like your body is relaxed and limber while you shake.
What does somatic therapy do?
Somatic therapy promotes mind-body awareness. Using physical movement, the practice can help you release muscle tension, get through triggers or messy feelings that might emerge in your daily life, and feel calmer.
How does shaking release trauma?
Trauma can cause nervous system dysregulation, persistent stress, paranoid or anxious emotional states, and other outcomes that can take a toll on your health if left unchecked.
Shaking exercises let you expel excess energy and adrenaline, connect with your body, and provide an outlet for your emotions.
What is somatic shaking?
In simple terms, somatic shaking refers to intentionally shaking body parts (or your entire body) to release negative or excess energy, negative emotions, and tension.
What does a somatic release feel like?
During a somatic release, you might feel lighter, more grounded, or calmer. Some people experience shifts in emotion as the trapped energy and tension leave their bodies. Slight shaking or trembling can also occur.
What are the benefits of somatic movement?
Somatic movement can promote feelings of calm and safety, relieve physical tension in the body, and act as a coping skill for stress, anxiety, and trauma triggers.
What is an example of a somatic practice?
Somatic shaking, yoga, and tai chi are a few examples of somatic practices.
