Coaching vs. Teaching Somatic Work: Embracing the Power of Embodied Support
As we dive deeper into the worlds of somatic work and coaching, it's essential to understand how they intersect, yet also how they differ. Both play crucial roles in fostering embodied awareness, creativity, and growth, but they approach the journey from different angles. Whether you're an educator, a performer, or a creative professional, exploring the benefits of somatic coaching might just be the transformative experience you need.
In our recent Becoming mBODYed podcast, special guest, Karen Cubidis and I dove into the powerful intersection of somatic work and coaching, discussing the nuances between teaching, coaching, and the different types of coaching that exist. We unpacked why these distinctions matter for musicians, artists, and educators and how coaching can offer profound support in your personal and professional life.
What is Coaching?
Coaching is often misunderstood. Many people think that it's just someone giving advice or solving your problems. However, true coaching, especially somatic coaching, is a deep and reflective partnership that helps you uncover the innate wisdom within your body and mind. It's a journey of exploration, where the coach serves as a guide, helping you access your inner resources while holding space for your transformation.
In contrast to teaching, where the focus is on imparting knowledge or skills, coaching helps you unlock your potential from within. It's a collaborative relationship where the coach listens deeply, offers insights, and guides you through a process of self-discovery and growth. Coaching is about empowering you, not providing all the answers but helping you find them for yourself.
Somatic Coaching: An Invitation to Embody Change
Somatic coaching goes a step further by integrating the body into the coaching process. Through somatic techniques, we work with the body's nervous system, breath, and movements to promote deeper self-awareness and transformation. This kind of coaching isn't just about talking, it’s about feeling, experiencing, and shifting how you show up in the world.
In the podcast, Karen and I discussed how somatic coaching helps individuals experience a shift from a state of anxiety or stress to one of calm and presence. Through embodied practices, we invite you to tune into your body, to re-establish a sense of safety and calm, and to connect deeply with your inner self. Whether you’re dealing with performance anxiety, career transitions, or personal challenges, somatic coaching helps you ground yourself and make decisions from a place of clarity and confidence.
The Science Behind Somatic Coaching
One of the key elements of somatic coaching is understanding how our autonomic nervous system governs our body's responses to stress, fear, and connection. It influences how we relate to others and the environment around us. When we regulate our own nervous systems, we can create a co-regulation effect with others, helping them feel calm and present. As we explored on the podcast, Somatic Coaches use this principle to guide clients toward a state of safety and awareness, allowing them to access their best selves.
For me, somatic coaching is about tuning into the client's body and energy, just as a musician tunes their instrument. When we align ourselves with our clients' nervous systems, we create a space where true transformation can occur. This is a sacred, energetic exchange that goes beyond words.
Coaching vs. Therapy: Know the Difference
While both coaching and therapy can offer profound benefits, it’s important to recognize that they serve different purposes. Coaching focuses on moving you forward, helping you set and achieve goals while fostering self-awareness and empowerment. Therapy, on the other hand, often deals with deeper emotional or psychological healing, working through past trauma and exploring unresolved issues.
At mBODYed, I’ve worked hard to distinguish somatic coaching from other practices by offering an approach grounded in embodied awareness, trauma-informed principles, and an unwavering commitment to client safety. Somatic coaching can complement therapeutic work, but it's important to know when to refer clients to therapy if deeper psychological support is needed.
Why Somatic Coaching is Essential for Musicians and Educators
As musicians and educators, we are often taught to push through stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. This mindset, though common in many fields, can be detrimental to our health and creativity. Somatic coaching offers a different approach—one that honors our bodies as valuable instruments in the creative process.
Through coaching, we can develop sustainable practices that nurture our creativity, well-being, and performance. When we learn to be more present in our bodies, we become more attuned to the physical sensations of music-making and teaching. This awareness enhances our artistic expression, reduces performance anxiety, and helps us stay grounded during high-pressure moments.
The Power of Embodied Support
The beauty of somatic coaching is that it invites you to bring your full self into the process. It's not about perfection or getting everything right. It's about showing up, being seen, and trusting that your body knows what it needs. Just as I discussed in the podcast, somatic work helps us tune into our bodies and minds in a way that can be life-changing, not just for your personal development, but for your professional growth as well.
If you're ready to explore the transformative power of somatic coaching, I invite you to connect with me through the Becoming mBODYed Coaching Program at www.mbodyed.com/coaching. Whether you’re a musician, educator, or creative professional, this program is designed to meet you where you are and guide you towards a more embodied, authentic, and empowered way of being. And if you’re interested in joining one of our cohorts and becoming a practitioner of the Becoming mBODYed approach, we have a new cohort forming now to start August 15th. You can find more information here at https://www.mbodyed.com/becoming-mbodyed-cohorts.
Ready to Start Your Embodied Journey?
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