Somatic meditation is a mindfulness-based practice that places attention on the body as the main point of reference. The term “somatic” comes from the Greek word soma, meaning body, and reflects an approach that values direct, physical experience rather than analysis or interpretation.

Rather than requiring stillness, the practice includes gentle movement alongside awareness of sensation. Attention may move between breath, physical sensations such as pressure or temperature, emotional shifts, and subtle impulses in the body. By staying connected to these cues, people often find that tension becomes easier to work with and the mind settles without being forced. Grounding attention in bodily experience supports steadiness and regulation as part of the process.

To support this, somatic meditation often incorporates simple ways of orienting to the present moment. This can include noticing what you can see or hear in your surroundings and allowing sensory awareness to remain open. Using the environment as a reference point helps connect internal experience with what is happening outside the body.

The practice may also involve slow, intentional movements that provide clear sensory feedback, such as noticing contact between the feet and the floor. Gentle side-to-side eye movements or awareness of sounds on both sides of the body can further expand sensory input without intensity or effort. Attention is directed toward felt experience while avoiding fixation on pain or discomfort.

Together, these elements help the body recognize the present moment. As this orientation strengthens, stress that has been held outside conscious awareness can begin to release through attention rather than control.