Healing Is Something We Are Interview

In your experience, how does somatic yoga challenge conventional approaches to healing and self-awareness, and what shifts do you observe in individuals who fully embrace this practice?

Somatic yoga does not necessarily challenge conventional approaches today as it might have in the past. In the 1980s, when I first turned to yoga to manage panic attacks, the connection between thoughts and biology was not widely accepted. At the time, the idea that mental patterns could influence physical health was unconventional, whereas today, concepts like the vagus nerve and the mind-body connection are more mainstream. However, my personal experience reinforced this understanding long before it was widely recognized. I realized that my thoughts directly affected how I felt in my body—especially in cases of chronic pain, disease, or trauma. Discomfort and “dis-ease” in the body is often the result of “stuck” or compressed energy, while anxiety can be a sign of excessive energy flow.

Somatic yoga offers a personalized approach to movement, allowing individuals to choose the intensity and pace that best supports their needs. For those experiencing high anxiety, stillness can sometimes be overstimulating rather than calming. I often compare it to being locked in a phone booth with a lunatic—except the lunatic is your own racing mind. Early in my journey, I couldn’t begin with stillness; I had to work my way into having a regular seated meditation practice. On the other hand, individuals experiencing depression or grief may need gentle encouragement to move, or they may benefit from simply resting and being present. Somatic yoga teaches us to listen to our bodies, trust our intuition, and honor what we need in each moment.

Unlike traditional yoga classes, where everyone follows the same sequence at the same time, somatic yoga incorporates frequent moments of stillness—what I call the “magic moments.” These pauses allow us to experience ourselves in the sensation of stillness. For some, this can create deep calm; for others, continuous movement is more supportive. The key is choice—there are no rigid rules, only what feels right for each person that day. This flexibility is valuable for individuals with strong Pitta energy, those who are always on the go, checking their fitness trackers, and struggling to simply be in their bodies without external rewards.
Somatic yoga can also present a unique challenge for highly athletic individuals who seemingly know their bodies well. I once worked with a rugby player who was incredibly strong but suffered from back pain due to sensory motor amnesia—he was unable to voluntarily disengage one side of his gluteal muscles. Being unaware of this gluteal muscle imbalance (I call this common issue butt check confusion!) created chronic discomfort. Through somatic yoga, he learned to communicate with his body in a new way, discovering how to activate and release the correct muscle combinations and restore balance. The process was simple in theory but not necessarily easy. However, by slowing down and engaging in mindful movement, he was able to reawaken his body’s innate intelligence.

My work with somatic yoga began in cardiac and cancer rehabilitation at my local hospital. Many of my students had lost hope after enduring extensive medical treatments. What I discovered is that healing is not something that can be done for you—nor is it something that is done at all. Healing is something we are. While we cannot cure everything, we can cultivate healing within ourselves, no matter what life brings. Somatic yoga empowers individuals to access their own inner resources, fostering resilience, presence, and self-awareness in a way that is deeply transformative.

https://www.mysticmag.com/psychic-reading/interview-megan-maccarthy