Thomas Hannah, a movement theorist, coined the term Somatics in the 1970s to describe the experience of the body from the inside out. In modern psychology, it refers to integrating the body and mind as one deeply connected system. Somatic practices as a therapeutic pathway are incredibly effective for widening what is called our window of tolerance. By gradually using somatic tools, we can build an embodied sense of safety in our lives, allowing us to experience our authentic feelings without dissociating, denying, or living in ways that aren't true to who we are, or acclimating ourselves to high levels of stress. We can then feel the full range of our human experience without cutting ourselves off from our emotions and our bodies. We can grieve when we need to grieve, we can find safety within when we feel scared, we can be seen in our authenticity without needing to hide, we can say no when something is unhealthy for us, we can find calm when we are anxious, we can process heartbreak or the stress of parenting, or other major life experiences with more tools, and we can heal from abuse or trauma.