SomaJoy
A gentle way to move and breathe
Sometimes we just need a little time to slow down, notice how we’re feeling and reconnect with our bodies. SomaJoy is a resource that brings together some of the work I explored with Louisa White, the founding director of Joyful Jams, alongside participants from my Steady & Strong community.
What is SomaJoy?
SomaJoy is a somatic movement approach developed by Louisa White, a developmental movement trainer and somatic movement therapist. It explores our awareness of the body and the way we move.
Rather than concentrating on what a movement looks like from the outside, the focus is on our own experience. How does the movement feel? What do we notice? How does our breathing change? What happens when we slow down and give ourselves a little more time?
We explored different aspects of the body, including the breath, bones, muscles and senses such as hearing and sight. Movement became a way of becoming more aware of ourselves rather than simply something we were doing.
The sessions were created for people over 60, with many of the participants in their 70s and 80s. They came from my Steady & Strong community, where we already work on strength, balance, coordination and physical confidence to help support everyday movement and independence.
The SomaJoy sessions gave us time to explore movement, breathing and body awareness in a gentle, unhurried way. There was no pressure to get anything “right” – just an invitation to notice how things feel, listen to our bodies and become a little more curious about the way we move.
I’ve included some reflections from the sessions, along with a short breathing meditation for you to listen to in your own time to give you a little taste of the gentle approach we explored during the SomaJoy sessions. There’s nothing you need to achieve. Simply find a comfortable position, give yourself a few quiet minutes and allow your attention to settle on your breathing and how your body feels.
The Breath and Movement Booklet
Louisa and I also created a simple Breath and Movement Booklet, which you can download and explore at your own pace. It’s a lovely resource to return to whenever you have a few quiet moments and want to spend some time noticing your breath, movement and how your body feels. You don’t need to do anything perfectly. Take what feels useful to you and leave anything that doesn’t.
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During the sessions, we moved in different ways, including standing, sitting and walking. We used the breath as an anchor, allowing us to slow down and notice what was happening in our bodies.
We also used scarves, balloons and soft balls, along with music, bringing a sense of fun, creativity and playfulness into the sessions.
Images and other visual resources helped us explore alignment and body awareness, while short readings and conversations gave us time to reflect on what we were experiencing.
What I particularly enjoyed was the opportunity to explore movement in ways that connected with everyday life. We talked about how movement travels through the body and how small changes in awareness can affect the way we carry out familiar activities.
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The participants’ reflections were an important part of the experience and reminded me just how differently we can each experience our own bodies.
People described feeling:
“Relaxed.”
“Comfortable.”
“Aware.”
“I'm not holding myself so stiffly.”
“Feeling more loose.”
“Strong and supported.”
One participant, a retired musician, was surprised to discover new ways of working with his breath beyond the techniques he had previously practised.
Another participant said that after one session she felt so relaxed that she chose to prioritise rest and self-care rather than immediately returning to her usual daily routine.
These simple observations showed how valuable it can be to stop for a moment and really notice what is happening in our bodies.
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The SomaJoy sessions gave me the opportunity to bring some new ideas and experiences into my teaching, as well as explore aspects of movement and body awareness that we don’t always have time for in a regular Steady & Strong class.
For me, the experience deepened my understanding of how closely movement, breath, awareness and our sense of wellbeing can be connected. It also gave me greater confidence in creating space for people to explore movement in their own way.
Most importantly, the sessions encouraged participants to slow down and listen to themselves.
There was no right or wrong way to experience the movement. Instead, we created space to be curious, to notice sensations and to consider what our bodies might be asking for.
I hope this resource gives you a little opportunity to do the same.
Take your time, breathe, notice and be kind to yourself.