🧘‍♀️ Traditional Yoga vs Somatic Yoga: What's the Difference—and Which One Is Right for You?

By Emily Neser, ERYT-200 | The Hippie Hut

If you’ve dipped your toes into the world of yoga, and especially if you have taken classes with me you have experienced somatic yoga. You might be wondering: What exactly is somatic yoga, and how does it differ from traditional yoga?

Let’s explore both and help you find the path that speaks to your body, your nervous system, and your healing.

🌿 Traditional Yoga: The Ancient Roots

Traditional yoga stems from ancient Indian philosophy. It’s a practice that combines asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork), meditation, and ethical living. Whether you're practicing Hatha, Vinyasa, or Yin, these styles all originate from this foundational system.

In many modern yoga studios, traditional yoga:

• Follows structured sequences or flows

• Aims to align the body in specific shapes

• Focuses on breath control and awareness

• May include philosophical or spiritual teachings

• Has a goal-oriented tone (e.g., building strength, flexibility, or achieving a pose)

Traditional yoga is powerful. It can be energizing, discipline-building, and spiritually expansive.

But what if your body needs a different approach—especially if you're recovering from trauma?

Somatic Yoga: Listening, Not Forcing

Somatic yoga focuses on your internal experience of movement, not the external shape. The word somatic comes from the Greek soma, meaning “the living body.” This style blends gentle yoga with principles from somatic therapy, trauma healing, and nervous system regulation.

Somatic yoga:

• Encourages slow, intuitive movement

• Prioritizes how the pose feels, not how it looks

• Often avoids rigid sequences—every session may look different

• Helps release stored tension or trauma through micro-movements

• Honors interoception (your ability to feel what's happening inside)

Think of somatic yoga as a conversation with your body, rather than a set of instructions. It invites you to feel safe, curious, and in control of your experience.

🌀 So...Which One Should You Choose?

The truth? Both have incredible value. Here’s a quick guide based on where you are:

You Might Prefer Traditional Yoga If...	You Might Prefer Somatic Yoga If...
You want structure and flow	You crave freedom and safety
You enjoy alignment and form cues	You need to reconnect with your body gently
You're focused on physical fitness	You're healing from trauma or burnout
You’re grounded and regulated	You feel anxious, dissociated, or tense

At the Hippie Hut, we believe there’s no one-size-fits-all yoga. Some days, you might want a fiery Vinyasa flow. Other days, a slow somatic unwinding on your mat is exactly what your soul needs.

💛 The Soul Truth

Your yoga doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It’s not about the pose—it’s about the presence. Whether you’re following ancient tradition or moving like seaweed in somatic space, what matters most is that it’s your practice, yourhealing, your emergence.

Let your body lead the way. It remembers the rhythm of safety—and it’s always ready to return to it.

Much Love,

Emily N