somatics
|so-mat-ics|
/səˈmætɪks/
body-focused practice / bodily aspect
Etymology
'somatics' ultimately derives from Greek 'sōma' meaning 'body' (via the adjective 'somatic' from Greek 'sōmatikos').
'sōma' (Greek) > Latin/medieval formations > English adjective 'somatic' (relating to the body) > noun form 'somatics' used to name the field/practices.
Originally meaning simply 'of the body' or 'bodily', over time it came to name a distinct set of disciplines and practices concerned with body awareness and embodiment ('somatics').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a field of study and practice focused on the lived experience of the body (movement, sensation, posture) and techniques for increasing body awareness and integration (e.g., Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, somatic experiencing).
She studies somatics to increase her awareness of habitual tension patterns.
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Noun 2
bodily aspects or bodily sensations considered as distinct from mental or emotional processes (the corporeal side of experience).
Her research examines the somatics of chronic pain in everyday life.
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Last updated: 2025/10/13 12:07