HTPA is excited to bring you a new episode in our Expand Your Network – Exploring Self-Care Modalities series!
This presentation features Linda Smith, longtime Healing Touch practitioner, instructor, author, and holistic wellness educator, who introduces us to Somatic Therapy—a holistic approach that recognizes the powerful connection between the mind and body and explores how our emotions and life experiences can be expressed through the body.
Drawing from decades of experience in Healing Touch, holistic wellness, and personal development, Linda shares practical ways to become more aware of the body's signals, regulate the nervous system, and reconnect with the body as a partner in healing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What Somatic Therapy is and how it supports mind-body healing
Explore how somatic approaches focus on the living body and recognize that stress, grief, trauma, fear, and other emotions can manifest physically when left unaddressed.
How the nervous system responds to stress and trauma
Learn about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and how prolonged stress can contribute to symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
How to recognize and listen to your body's signals
Discover how fatigue, tension, discomfort, and other physical sensations may serve as important messages—and why developing body awareness can be an important part of self-care.
Simple practices for reconnecting with your body
Explore practical tools including conscious breathing, mindfulness, gentle movement, time in nature, noticing areas of tension, and self-compassion.
Key principles of Somatic Therapy
Learn about body awareness, mindfulness, the importance of a supportive practitioner-client relationship, and titration—working with difficult experiences gradually rather than trying to process everything at once.
Ways to incorporate somatic practices into everyday life
Discover how journaling, breathwork, relaxation, gratitude, affirmations, self-care routines, and other holistic practices can support greater emotional resilience and mind-body balance.
Throughout the presentation, Linda reminds us that our bodies are not our enemies—they can be lifelong companions and teachers. By learning to listen with curiosity rather than criticism, we can begin to recognize both the wisdom and the messages our bodies hold.
Whether you're interested in strengthening your own mind-body connection or exploring additional approaches to support your clients, this presentation offers practical ways to bring greater awareness, compassion, and connection into everyday life.
About Expand Your Network – Exploring Self-Care Modalities:
This HTPA series invites Healing Touch Instructors and Certified Practitioners to share self-care modalities they are skilled in or passionate about. These presentations are designed to inspire your own self-care, support your clients, and serve as a valuable resource for Healing Touch Practitioner Apprentices working on Level 5 Growth Work, especially the self-care modalities requirement.
This presentation can be found on the Expand Your Network- Self-Care page of the member site and is available to HTPA Community and Professional Members.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this video is provided only as general information and for educational purposes only. It does not offer medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute or replacement for qualified medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please take responsibility for your own health!
