Somatic therapy is a series of bodywork exercises that were developed by Thomas Hanna in the 1970s. It is based on the premise that the body has three reflexes and these are:

Red Light Reflex – this occurs in the abdominal muscles and is effectively a withdrawal where the body curves in on itself.

Green Light Reflex – this relates around the back muscles and sees the body thrusting forward as a response to daily responsibilities.

Trauma Reflex – this will occur when the body has suffered an injury.

The aim of somatic therapy is to teach the patient a series of exercises in order to correct these reflexes and bring the body back to health. Through this therapy a patient can learn to control the muscles in the body and so prevent these reflexes from occurring in the future.

People who practise somatic therapy will often experience improved balance and posture, reduced pain as well as an increased ease of motion. Some of the specific conditions that somatic therapy has been shown to help include adhesive capsulitis, arthritis, back pain, balance problems, dislocation of joints, displaced patella, dizziness, foot pain, frequent urination, hamstring pulls, headaches, joint pain, obesity, sacroiliac pain, sciatica, scoliosis, shoulder tightness and pain, spinal stenosis, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), thoracic outlet syndrome, uneven leg length, and whiplash injuries.