Coming Back to the Body: A Simple Somatic Check-In Practice
Many of us spend long periods of time disconnected from the body, especially during stress, anxiety, or overwhelm. Somatic awareness is the practice of gently returning attention to physical experience without judgment or urgency to change it.
A simple way to begin is to pause and notice three things: sensation, breath, and contact. You might ask yourself: What do I feel in my body right now? Where is my breath moving? What am I in contact with?
There is no right answer. The practice is not to fix anything, but to rebuild a relationship with the body as a source of wisdom and support.
Over time, these small moments of noticing can strengthen your capacity to stay present with an emotion, thought, or experience rather than moving away from it.
Regina Filomeno, LCSW is a Chicago-based therapist offering trauma-informed, spiritually-integrated therapy for adults across Illinois. Her work blends somatic, holistic, and mind-body approaches with space for intuitive, nature-based, and nontraditional spiritual perspectives. She specializes in supporting sensitive, neurodivergent, and introspective individuals navigating trauma, burnout, and identity. Learn more about therapy with Regina here.
