The Language of the Body:
Sensory Pathways of the Felt Sense .
The felt sense refers to our ability to perceive, from the inside out, what is happening within us—not just emotionally, but physically, energetically, and intuitively. It’s a living, breathing expression of how our body, brain, and experience meet in the present moment.
Interoceptive feelings: These are the internal cues that arise from within the body—letting us know how we are physiologically. Hunger. Thirst. The urge to breathe or use the toilet. The rhythm of our heartbeat. A flutter in the chest. These signals are the body’s way of saying, this is what’s happening inside. Interoception helps us attune to what we need, whether it’s rest, movement, nourishment, or stillness. It’s also deeply connected to our emotional states—fear might show up as a tight gut, while peace might feel like a spacious breath.
Exteroceptive feelings: These come from the outside world, filtered through our five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. These sensory inputs are the bridge between our inner world and our environment.
Noticing how our system responds to certain lights, sounds, or textures can offer clues about our state. A soothing voice. A warm cup in our hands. A certain kind of music. These outer experiences can profoundly affect our inner state, sometimes without us even realising it.
Proprioceptive feelings: Proprioception is our sense of position and movement in space. It’s what allows you to touch your nose with your eyes closed, or to know your feet are on the ground. In somatic work, developing proprioceptive awareness helps us reconnect to our from the inside. It brings a sense of presence, body orientation, and embodiment—especially important if we’ve spent years disconnected or “living from the neck up.”
This form of sensing also supports regulation. Feeling our body in space—its weight, balance, and movement—can gently guide us back to a sense of groundedness.
Autonomic feelings: These are the background currents of the body, governed by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS runs the show beneath our conscious awareness—regulating heart rate, digestion, temperature, and breath. Yet we can feel its signals: the rush of adrenaline, a sudden chill, a wave of fatigue, the settling warmth of safety. These sensations often give us the earliest signs that we are shifting in or out of our window of tolerance. Learning to recognise them can help us respond earlier and with more care.
Broadening our Somatic Vocabulary
The felt sense doesn’t speak only in words—it speaks in images, textures, gestures, movements, and energies. Each of us may have a primary “channel” through which our body communicates, but we can learn to open to others as well. This flexibility deepens our ability to attune, reflect, and respond.
Why it Matters
When we learn to tune into the felt sense, we start to build a bridge between our thinking mind and our sensing body. This is where real integration happens—not just knowing about ourselves, but actually knowing ourselves in a deep, embodied way. It strengthens resilience. It supports emotional regulation. It invites intimacy with the present moment. And over time, it cultivates a felt knowing that says: I can meet what’s here, and I can stay with myself in it.
The Living Body: Understanding Soma
In Greek, Soma means “the body in its wholeness.” It’s also a term used in biology to distinguish the living body from its individual genetic components. But Soma is more than just a physical form—it is the experience of being alive, a continuous interplay of movement, awareness, and transformation.
Expanding Our Understanding of Wholeness
As scientific understanding has evolved, so has our perspective on life. We now see that humans are not the centre of existence but part of an intricate, ever-adapting biological web. Our understanding of life has been shaped by genetics, biochemistry, anthropology, neuroscience, and more— revealing that while we are more than just our bodies, it is through the body that life expresses itself.
Life Takes Form Through the Body
The body is more than a physical structure—it is a dynamic, self-organising system, unlike anything else in the universe. Unlike inanimate matter, living bodies move with intention, adapt to their surroundings, and maintain their integrity over time. This is the essence of Soma—life in motion, intelligence embodied.
Dimensions of Existence
Soma is not just a three-dimensional form; it exists in time, constantly evolving, balancing, and renewing. It is both unchanging and ever- changing—a paradox of continuity and transformation. Unlike the static notion of “body,” Soma reflects fluidity, adaptability, and the innate wisdom of self-regulation.
Soma as Process
Rather than being a thing, Soma is a process —an ongoing, self-sustaining rhythm of change. Our bodies are continually replacing cells, yet our essence remains intact.
The Nervous System: Soma’s Guiding Force
At the heart of Soma is the nervous system, orchestrating the body’s processes from the simplest single-celled organisms to the complexity of human consciousness. This system has evolved over time, adapting to maintain balance and wholeness.
A Self-Guiding, Adaptive Process
Soma is not passive—it is intelligent, self- correcting, and responsive to its needs. It is not a “what” but a how—a living, breathing process of self-organisation and adaptation.
Cellular Connection: A Tapestry of Life
At a microscopic level, Soma is a network of countless atoms and cells working in harmony. Like pieces of a puzzle, each component fits into a greater whole, not by accident but with precision. The bonds between molecules create structure, function, and vitality—forming a soma of somas, where life is built from life itself.
Returning to Wholeness
Soma is more than just the body—it is the living experience of being. It is the rhythm of existence, the intelligence of adaptation, and the deep connection between movement, awareness, and transformation. A rediscovering of the innate wisdom that has always been within us.