Somatic Movement & Embodied Pilates for Runners
There’s a quiet wisdom that settles in the body when we learn to move with intention. At Soma Practice, movement isn’t just about exercise—it’s a conversation between the body, the breath, and the nervous system.
Recently, Soma Practice had the joy of collaborating with Nobody Run Club, a Carlton-based running community that shares our values of connection, presence, and community-led movement. Together, we explored the rich intersection of running, somatic awareness, and the intelligent strength of Pilates.
As a runner myself, I know firsthand how powerful running can be. It’s rhythmic, cathartic, and energizing—a beautiful way to release emotion and shift out of the mind and into the body. When I run, everything else tends to drop away. I become deeply present in my body, aware of each step. There’s little room to think about much else other than my breath, my rising body heat, and the steady rhythm of my heart.
But running can also be demanding. The repetitive, linear motion takes its toll—tight hips, sore joints, and tired fascia are all too familiar in my own Soma. These are physical responses from a body that’s been under stress, operating in a highly activated state.
With a deep love for all forms of movement—both high-intensity, energizing practices and those that are restorative, mindful, and regulating—I began to wonder: could these contrasting rhythms be integrated?
What if somatic awareness could not only support but actually enhance my running practice? What if running longer and stronger wasn’t about pushing harder—but about moving with presence and intention?
I carried this curiosity into our collaboration with Nobody Run Club. Staying true to the Soma Method—Release, Restore, Regulate—I designed a movement session that honored the natural rhythm of the nervous system.
Drawing from functional movement and Pilates, and tailoring them to meet a runner’s unique demands, Soma STRONG brought intention to dynamic, energizing movement. The practice blended isometric holds, primal non-linear patterns, breathwork, and paced cardio variations. It supported joint mobility, muscular strength, endurance, and cardiovascular conditioning—while staying anchored in embodied sensations: body temperature (sweat!), breath, and heart rate.
Runners often operate in a sympathetic state—high cortisol and adrenaline, fast-paced, high-output, and linear in motion. While this state is essential for performance, our nervous system also needs the balance of restoration and regulation—That’s where Soma SOFT comes in.
In alignment with our Soma Method, following the dynamic intensity of STRONG, we transition into SOFT—the space where integration happens. Soma SOFT invites the body to land. Through gentle mobility work, somatic exercises, restorative breathwork, and grounding practices, we guide the nervous system back toward balance. This reframes recovery—from “time off” to a nourishing, essential practice we prioritize and enjoy. A way to care for our Soma, release held tension, prevent injury, and give thanks to the strong, resilient body that carries us—every single day.
By weaving somatic practices into your movement routine—whether it's orienting with your senses, connecting with your breath, or simply noticing the rhythm of your feet—you begin to run with your body, not against it. Taking a moment to ground before a run invites embodied awareness: you become more attuned to your surroundings, more sensitive to your body’s internal signals, and more able to adapt in real time—whether that means slowing down, picking up pace, or shifting how you move.
This deeper connection enhances proprioception, supports injury prevention, and allows you to find your authentic rhythm—a pace that is responsive, intuitive, and uniquely yours.
At Soma Practice, this is at the heart of what we offer. Movement is not just exercise; it's a dialogue between body, breath, and nervous system. It's about learning to listen. Our collaboration with Nobody Run Club was a beautiful reflection of this ethos—blending strength with softness, performance with presence, and running with regulation.
Because when you move with intention, you don’t just get stronger. You become more connected—to yourself, to your Soma, and to the world around you.
