How Somatic Movement Awakens Your Body’s Natural Intelligence

In my Freeze to Flow Workshop, we explore how somatic movement and Yin-inspired poses can gently guide the body back to balance, helping us reconnect with our innate intelligence and rediscover the rhythm of flow that’s always been within us.

It’s a deeply grounding experience designed to meet you where you are, helping you reawaken the fundamental needs of body, mind, and spirit that often get overlooked in the rush of everyday life.

The Challenge of Self-Care

We’ve all said it:

“I’ll start exercising tomorrow.”“I’ll eat better next week.”“I’ll take some time for myself soon.”

And then life happens. Work piles up, relationships demand our energy, and before we know it, our own well-being slips quietly down the list.

There’s no shame in it; it’s part of being human. I’ve been there too, putting off the very things that help me feel grounded and whole. That’s why this practice, and this workshop, exist: to bring us gently back to ourselves through mindful awareness, movement, and compassion.

Understanding Our Human Needs

Before we can move from freeze to flow, we need to understand what the body and mind truly need. Here’s how those layers of need unfold, and how our yoga and somatic practices help nurture them.

1. Physiological Needs, The Physical Basics

These are the essentials: nourishment, hydration, and rest. Drinking water when you’re thirsty, eating balanced meals, sleeping well, and maintaining steady breath and movement.

When these needs are met, our body feels safe enough to begin softening out of survival mode. Through Yin and somatic movement, we start to listen to the subtle messages of the body again, where it’s tight, where it’s holding on, and where it longs to release.

2. Safety and Security, Feeling Grounded

Once the body’s basic needs are met, the next step is safety. As adults, we still have an instinctive need to feel secure, physically, emotionally, and energetically.

For many years, I didn’t feel safe in myself or in my surroundings, and my body reflected that through tension and disconnection. Our Freeze to Flow practice works to re-establish that inner safety by slowing down, grounding through the breath, and creating a calm space where the nervous system can finally exhale.

3. Love and Belonging, Reconnecting to Others and Self

Connection is vital. We all long to belong, to feel seen, and to love and be loved. But when we’re stuck in “freeze,” we often withdraw, even from ourselves.

In our workshop, the group setting becomes part of the healing. Through shared breath, intention, and stillness, we rebuild that sense of belonging, not only to each other, but to our own hearts.

4. Self-Esteem: Remembering Your Worth

Feeling good about who you are, that’s where healing truly begins . Self-esteem isn’t built from doing more; it grows when we pause, listen, and care for ourselves with kindness.

Somatic practices help remind you that you are capable, resilient, and whole, even when life feels messy.

5. Self-Actualisation, Becoming Your True Self

This is where your inner light shines brightest. Once your essential needs are met and your body feels safe, you naturally move toward becoming the most authentic version of yourself.

The Freeze to Flow Workshop supports this process, guiding you from stagnation into movement, from holding on into letting go, and from survival into thriving.

Moving from Freeze to Flow

When we’re caught in “freeze mode,” it’s not just emotional, it’s physiological. Our nervous system gets stuck in a pattern of protection, and we stop meeting our needs.

Through gentle somatic movement, Yin postures, and mindfulness, we begin to thaw that frozen energy. We re-learn how to listen to the body’s signals, to honour its pace, and to create space for healing.

Each breath, each subtle movement, becomes a way to tell the body:

“It’s safe to soften now.”

And slowly, the body listens.

Closing Thoughts from Lisa

Moving from freeze to flow isn’t about forcing change; it’s about remembering your body’s natural intelligence. When you create space to meet your essential needs and listen deeply, transformation unfolds gently, one breath at a time.

“This isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.It’s about rediscovering your flow and learning to trust your body again.”- Lisa, Happy Mat Yoga

I can’t wait to explore this journey with you at our next Freeze to Flow Workshop.