What is Somatic Coaching and why your business needs it.

You wake up already thinking about your bursting inbox. The day ahead is packed with back-to-back Teams calls, looming deadlines, plus the mental load of home life waiting in the background - school runs, relationship dramas, global news, and the constant pressure to keep everything together. By the time evening arrives, your mind is wired, your body is tired, and yet rest feels impossible.

It’s a lot.

And it’s a relatable story for many. In a world that asks us to do more and be more, stress has become woven into the fabric of daily life - especially at work. Even the most capable, passionate people can find themselves running on empty, disconnected from joy or purpose.

Most wellbeing strategies focus on mindset and productivity - encouraging us to think differently, manage better, or stay positive. But what if the key to sustainable wellbeing doesn’t start in the mind, but in the body?

That’s where somatic coaching comes in.

What Is Somatic Coaching?

A question I often get asked! The word somatic comes from the Ancient Greek sōma, meaning “body.” Somatic coaching is essentially a body-first approach to personal and professional growth, one that brings the mind, body and nervous system into alignment.

Our bodies hold incredible intelligence and wisdom. They carry our emotions, stress responses, and memories - often long before the mind catches up. Through gentle, guided awareness and body-based practices, somatic coaching helps us reconnect to this wisdom.

In a corporate setting, that means learning to notice the subtle cues of stress, tension, and overwhelm before they turn into debilitating burnout, and using that awareness to respond, rather than react. Our bodies are always speaking to us and sending us signals, but in our overstimulating world, we have become very good at ignoring its language.

The Science Behind Somatic Coaching

Somatic coaching is grounded in evidence-based research from neuroscience and trauma studies. The Polyvagal Theory (Stephen Porges) shows how our nervous system constantly scans for cues of safety or threat, shaping how we think, communicate, and perform.

Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing® demonstrates that unprocessed stress and tension can remain stored in the body, influencing our behaviour and energy levels long after an event has passed.

By working with the body, rather than against it, somatic coaching helps restore regulation, expand emotional capacity, and create lasting behavioural change.

The Human Ripple Effect

When leaders and teams feel safe and resourced in their own bodies, that sense of stability spreads. Meetings become calmer. Communication improves. Psychological safety grows. Creativity flows more freely. People feel more connected - to themselves, to each other and to the purpose behind their work.

This is how wellbeing becomes culture, not a policy or a perk, but the natural outcome of people who feel grounded and alive.

In Summary

Somatic coaching offers a new way forward for people-centred businesses: one that recognises that humans aren’t just minds doing work - we’re bodies experiencing life!

When organisations invest in helping their people reconnect with their inner wisdom, they unlock more than productivity. They nurture creativity, resilience, and a genuine sense of fulfilment at work.

Ready to bring this work to your organisation?

If your business values depth, humanity, and sustainable wellbeing, I’d love a conversation!