SOMATIC YOGA THERAPY
What Does Somatic Mean?
Healing through movement, awareness & connection
The word somatic comes from the Greek word "soma", meaning the living body as it is experienced from within - through sensation, feeling, and awareness.
Somatic movement turns attention inward. Through slow, conscious movement, you begin noticing how your brain, muscles, breath, and nervous system work together.
With patience and practice, the nervous system can explore new movement choices, gradually soften long-held patterns of muscular tension, and create new possibilities for moving with greater comfort and ease.
In Somatic Yoga, the focus is not on how a posture looks from the outside. It is on what you sense from within: where there is ease, effort, holding, or a need for something different today.
Your body helps guide the practice
Awareness comes before performance.
Find The Practice That Meets You
Choose private support, community offerings, or a personalized experience for your group
Private somatic yoga
Personalized, one-on-one sessions shaped around your body, comfort, needs, and goals.
Sessions may include somatic movement, yoga, breath, meditation, and supportive adaptations using the floor, a chair, or a table.
Available in my space or yours.
public classes & events
Join Yoga Michelle for somatic yoga experiences offered at locations throughout the community.
Explore public classes , progressive series, stand-alone workshops, and Sanctuary Yoga experiences at Unity Spiritual Center
Groups, retreats, & organizations
Bring a personalized yoga experience to your workpiace. organization, retreat, recovery community, or another suitable location.
Offerings can be adapted for the people. purpose, and space.
Not sure which yoga experience is right for you?
I’m happy to help you explore the options
Somatic Yoga: Awareness Beyond the Pose
Movement, awareness, breath & spiritual connection
Somatic Yoga Therapy begins with slow, carefully explored movements that help you develop a more conscious relationship with your body. Rather than pushing or performing, you begin noticing patterns shaped by daily life, stress, and experience—and gently explore new movement choices.
Each sensation becomes information. With curiosity, kindness, and compassion, you are invited to listen without judging yourself or asking your body to be different.
From there, we bring that same awareness into yoga. Instead of automatically placing your body into a prescribed shape, you may begin asking:
What am I noticing right now?
Where is there ease, effort, or holding?
Would more movement support me - or less?
What variation serves my body today?
Yoga has always been more than physical postures. The Yoga Sutras describe an eight-limbed path that includes how we relate to ourselves and others, conscious breathing, inward attention, concentration, and meditation.
Somatic Yoga invites you to experience this wider meaning through the whole of you—body, breath, mind, heart, and spirit. Movement becomes a doorway into presence rather than a shape to achieve.
Your practice may include conscious movement, stillness, breath, meditation, mantra, mudra, reflection, or prayer. You are always invited to choose what feels supportive and meaningful for you.
Your practice does not need to look like anyone else's.
The posture is adapted to support your body—your body is never forced to serve the posture.
What Clients Are Saying:
Ready to Connect?
Choose the path that feels right for you.
Classes, Groups, & Retreats
Questions about public classes, Sanctuary Yoga, Recovery Yoga, Retreats, Workshops, or Group offerings?
private sessions
Considering Private Integrative Massage & Healing Therapy or Somatic Yoga?