Silly Somatic Practices to Bring Joy Into Your Day
Introduction: Movement That Feels Like Play
Sometimes life can feel heavy. Stress takes over, and we lose touch with the light, playful parts of ourselves. But what if joy could be as simple as moving your body in unexpected, silly ways?
Somatic practices don’t always have to be serious. Your body craves movement, laughter, and space to shake off the day—and sometimes the silliest practices are the most effective at bringing joy back into your daily rhythm. So let’s play. Here are a few simple, lighthearted somatic practices to brighten your day.
1. Shake It Out Like Nobody’s Watching
Stress has a way of sticking to the body—tight shoulders, clenched jaws, frozen energy. The quickest way to release it? Shake!
Try this:
Stand up and start with small movements—shaking your wrists, hands, or feet.
Gradually let the shake spread through your body: arms, shoulders, hips, even your face!
Get ridiculous. Wiggle your knees, bounce on your toes, or let your head flop around.
Keep shaking for 1–2 minutes, then pause. Take a deep breath and notice how you feel.
You might feel lighter, looser, or laugh at how silly you looked. That’s the point.
2. The Full-Body Yawn (With Sound!)
Yawning is one of the body’s natural ways of releasing tension, but when you add intention—and a little silliness—it becomes magic.
Try this:
Stand up, stretch your arms overhead, and force a big yawn.
Add sound: A long, exaggerated “ahhhhhhhhhh” as you exhale.
Repeat 3–5 times, letting your whole body stretch and expand with each “yawn.”
Bonus: Pretend you’re the world’s most dramatic yawner. Make it theatrical.
This practice resets your nervous system, brings oxygen into your body, and often ends with contagious giggles.
3. Walk Like an Animal
When was the last time you crawled, waddled, or slithered across the floor? Channel your inner child and move like your favorite animals.
Try this:
Pick an animal and mimic its movement. Here are a few ideas:
Bear Crawl: Walk on your hands and feet with your hips high (great for releasing tension).
Penguin Waddle: Shuffle your feet side to side with your arms at your sides.
Cat Stretch: Arch your back, then curve it while letting out a dramatic “meow.”
Starfish Roll: Lie on the floor and roll side to side like a big, happy starfish.
Pretend you’re in a nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough. The sillier, the better.
4. Blow Raspberries (Yes, Like a Baby)
Blowing raspberries—where you vibrate your lips like a baby—releases tension from your face, jaw, and nervous system. Plus, it’s impossible to feel serious while doing it.
Try this:
Inhale deeply, then blow out through your lips, letting them vibrate and make a “brrrrrr” sound.
Repeat 3–5 times. Try adding a shoulder shake or tapping your chest as you blow.
Bonus: Make sound effects like a car engine or buzzing bee.
It’s playful, silly, and surprisingly calming.
5. Dance Like a Puppet on Strings
When was the last time you danced without caring what you looked like? Let’s shake it up with a little puppet-inspired movement.
Try this:
Pretend there are invisible strings tied to different parts of your body:
One string pulls your left arm up.
Another tugs your right knee forward.
Maybe your head bobs side to side, like it’s on a string, too.
Move with no rhythm, no rules—just let the strings pull your body in random, silly directions.
Add music if you want, or just enjoy the movement. Give yourself permission to be weird, jerky, or uncoordinated. The joy is in letting go.
6. Make “Pretend” Faces in the Mirror
Our face holds so much tension, especially when we’re serious or stressed. Let’s loosen it up with a bit of silliness.
Try this:
Look in a mirror and make exaggerated expressions:
Surprise face! Eyes wide, mouth big.
Angry face! Furrowed brows, growling lips.
Confused face! Squint one eye and tilt your head dramatically.
Cycle through as many silly faces as you can. Hold each one for a few seconds before moving to the next.
This practice not only releases tension in your face and jaw but also invites you to laugh at yourself—a beautiful act of self-care.
7. Sing Gibberish to Yourself
Sometimes words fail, and that’s okay. Gibberish singing is a simple, silly way to move stuck energy and let your voice play.
Try this:
Open your mouth and hum or sing any sound that comes to you—no real words allowed.
Let the sounds get bigger, stranger, or completely ridiculous.
“La-la-boo-boo-sha-na-naaaaa!”
“Bip-bop-zzzzzzz-whoooo!”
Let your body move with the sound. Stomp, wiggle, or wave your arms like you’re conducting a silly orchestra.
It’s impossible to take yourself too seriously when you’re singing gibberish.
Conclusion: Joy Lives in the Body
Sometimes we forget that movement doesn’t have to be perfect, productive, or planned. It can be silly, playful, and full of life. By shaking, laughing, and wiggling, you remind yourself that joy is always available—you just have to invite it in.
Movement heals, play restores, and joy is your birthright. Want help reconnecting with your body in ways that feel light, freeing, and true to you? Let’s connect.
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