Divorce is more than a legal process — it’s a deep, emotional unraveling. When a relationship ends, our bodies carry the weight of everything we don’t always have words for: the grief, the stress, the anger, the emptiness, the fear. That’s why recovering from divorce isn’t just a mental or emotional journey — it’s also a physical one.
Somatic practices — body-based techniques that help us process and release stored tension and trauma — can be powerful tools for reclaiming your sense of safety, wholeness, and self.
Here are 5 somatic practice techniques to help you in recovering from divorce:
1. Grounding Through Your Feet
When life feels shaky, grounding brings you back to solid earth — literally. Stand barefoot if you can, and slowly bring your attention to the soles of your feet. Feel the ground beneath you. Notice the texture, the temperature, the pressure. Breathe slowly. Imagine roots growing from your feet into the earth, anchoring you.
Grounding helps calm anxiety and reminds your nervous system: You are safe now.
2. Gentle Movement (Even Just 5 Minutes)
You don’t need a gym membership or a 60-minute yoga class to benefit from movement. Even five minutes of slow, intentional stretching can help you reconnect with your body. Roll your shoulders. Sway side to side. Stretch your arms up and exhale deeply.
Divorce often disconnects us from our bodies. Movement says, I’m still here.
3. Hand-to-Heart Touch
One of the simplest yet most powerful somatic tools is placing your hand on your heart. Close your eyes and just breathe. Let your hand be warm, soft, supportive. You might say something kind to yourself — “I’m okay.” “I’m doing my best.” “This is hard, and I’m allowed to feel it.”
This kind of self-contact reminds your body that you are cared for — even by yourself.
4. Shake It Out
Animals instinctively shake after a stressful event — and so can we. If you’re feeling tense or emotionally overwhelmed, try a few minutes of shaking. Stand up, loosen your limbs, and shake your hands, arms, legs, hips. Let your body move freely and messily.
Shaking releases stuck energy, helps discharge stress, and resets your nervous system. Bonus: it can actually feel really good.
5. Vocal Release (Sound Your Feelings)
Your voice is a powerful outlet. You don’t need to be musical — this isn’t about performance. Try humming, sighing, groaning, or even letting out a full-body yell into a pillow (yes, seriously). Use your voice to move energy up and out of your body.
After months (or years) of holding it together, this is a way to let something go.
Final Thoughts
There’s no linear path through divorce. Some days you’ll feel strong, and some days you’ll wonder if you’ll ever feel whole again. But your body — even in all its weariness — is still here with you. Still holding you. Still waiting to help you heal.
These somatic practices aren’t about fixing or forcing. They’re about making space. Space for grief, for truth, for self-love — and eventually, for joy.
You are not broken. You are becoming.
Like this article? Check out “Divorce Stress and Anxiety Fueled by a Challenging Co-parent”
