Why We Feel Disconnected from Our Bodies - and How Somatic Coaching Can Help

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to live in your head? Constantly thinking, planning, overanalysing - all while forgetting to check in with how your body actually feels?

You’re not alone. Many of us move through life feeling somewhat disconnected from ourselves. We push through exhaustion, ignore stress signals, and don’t even realise how much tension we’re holding until we finally get a massage or hit burnout.

So how did we get here? And more importantly, how do we begin to reconnect?

Why We Lose Touch with Our Bodies

1. We’re Taught to Value Thinking Over Feeling

From a young age, most of us are encouraged to be “rational” and “in control.” Emotions and body sensations are often seen as distractions - something to override or ignore. Over time, we learn to tune out what we’re feeling and rely only on our minds to make sense of the world.

2. Stress and Trauma Pull Us Out of Ourselves

When life feels overwhelming, whether from trauma or everyday stress, disconnecting from the body can actually feel safer. Numbing becomes a coping mechanism. The trouble is, it sticks around long after we need it.

3. We’re Constantly Plugged In

As helpful as they are, our devices demand constant attention. We’re scrolling, answering messages, and checking notifications from morning to night. This constant outward focus makes it harder to pause, breathe, and check in with what’s happening inside.

4. We’re Always on the Go

In a culture that glorifies busyness, slowing down feels like a luxury. But without time to pause and reflect, we miss the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signals our bodies are sending us - signals that can help us make better decisions, stay healthy, and feel more grounded.

What Happens When We’re Disconnected?

When we’re out of touch with our bodies, we often:

✓ Struggle with stress or anxiety

✓ Burn out more easily

✓ Ignore our limits (until they shout at us)

✓ Lose clarity about what we really need or want

✓ Feel numb, stuck, or disconnected from joy

Basically, we miss out on a whole layer of wisdom and well-being that our body holds.

So, What Is Somatic Coaching?

Somatic coaching is a body-based approach to personal growth and healing. “Somatic” simply means “of the body.” This type of coaching helps you reconnect with your body’s cues, emotions, and inner signals so you can feel more present, resilient, and aligned in your life.

Here’s how it works:

1. You Build Awareness

Somatic coaching gently guides you to notice what’s happening in your body - tension, emotion, breath, posture - without judgment. This builds a deeper sense of presence and helps you understand what your body’s been trying to tell you.

2. You Release Old Patterns

Our bodies hold onto stress and emotion. Maybe your shoulders always tense up when you’re overwhelmed, or your stomach clenches in certain situations. Somatic work helps you recognise and shift these patterns over time.

3. You Build Emotional Resilience

As you learn to stay present with your body (even when things feel uncomfortable), you strengthen your ability to move through stress and emotion in a healthy, grounded way.

4. You Take More Aligned Action

When you’re more in tune with yourself, you make decisions that actually feel right - not just ones that “make sense” on paper. You’re better at setting boundaries, honouring your needs, and showing up with more authenticity.

Coming Back to Yourself

In a fast-moving world that encourages us to stay busy and “power through,” choosing to slow down and listen to your body is a radical act of self-care. Somatic coaching offers a gentle, powerful way to come back home to yourself - not just mentally, but physically and emotionally too.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or just out of sync with yourself, know that you’re not broken - you’re just out of practice. And your body is ready whenever you are.

Curious about somatic coaching?

Whether you’re navigating midlife stress, recovering from burnout, or simply craving more presence in your life, somatic coaching can help you reconnect in a meaningful, lasting way.

Your body’s been here the whole time - let me help you listen to it.