A Simple Somatic Practice to Help You Notice What Your Body Is Communicating
Valerie Vazquez, Licensed Massage Therapist, Reconnect Massage Therapy, downtown Fort Worth. .
One of the goals of massage therapy is not only to help your body relax during your session, but also to help you become more aware of what your body is holding between visits.
This month, we’re shifting slightly from regulating the nervous system to noticing it.
Because before the body can change a pattern, it first has to become aware of it.
What Is Somatic Awareness?
Somatic awareness is the practice of noticing what is happening in your body in real time — without trying to immediately fix or change it.
This might include noticing:
- Where you’re holding tension
- How your breath is moving (or not moving)
- Areas that feel tight, heavy, or numb
- Stress patterns you normally overlook
Massage therapy often brings this awareness to the surface — and practicing it between sessions can support deeper, longer-lasting change.
This Month’s Practice: Body Scan Check-In
Take 1–2 minutes to slowly bring your attention through your body:
- Head and jaw
- Neck and shoulders
- Chest and breath
- Belly
- Hips and lower back
- Legs and feet
As you move through each area, simply notice:
- Is there tension here?
- Is there ease?
- Is there nothing noticeable at all?
There is nothing to fix — just observe.
Why This Matters
Most people don’t notice tension until it becomes pain, fatigue, or discomfort.
Building awareness earlier can help you:
- Recognize stress patterns sooner
- Understand where your body tends to hold tension
- Respond to your body with more intention
- Support the work we do during massage sessions
Over time, this creates a stronger connection between your mind and body.
Try this check-in:
- At the end of your workday
- Before bed
- After long periods of sitting
- During stressful moments
- Anytime you feel “off” but aren’t sure why
A Gentle Reminder
Your body is always communicating — often quietly.
The more you learn to notice those signals, the more effectively we can work with them together during your sessions.
If you’ve been noticing recurring tension, stress patterns, or areas of discomfort, we can explore them more intentionally during your next massage session.
Consistent bodywork paired with awareness between visits often creates the most lasting change.
If you’re ready for your next session, I’d love to see you soon.
Warmly,
Valerie
To follow along
A tiny practice for when your body is holding more than you can name. No explaining required, which is the point.
Simple somatic release by Danielle Matthews, on YouTube
Common questions about this
How long should a body scan take?
One to two minutes is plenty. Longer is fine, but short and daily beats long and occasional.
What if I do not feel anything?
That counts. Noticing nothing is still noticing. Over time the quiet areas usually start to speak up.
The session this supports: Therapeutic Bodywork Session, 90 min, $180. Book · Read more about how I work with this
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