Somatic & Trauma Processing
Somatic "Pendulation" Breath
- Structure
- Not a set rhythm. Involves breathing into a calm/safe area of the body, then taking one breath into a tense area, oscillating back and forth.
- Benefit & Nervous System Impact
- Prevents flooding the nervous system, tracks somatic cues; Downregulating.
- Duration & Rationale
- 5-15 min (Used during active therapy).
- Best For
- PTSD, freezing responses, processing trauma.
- Good If Combined With
- Somatic Experiencing therapy.
- Source / Origin
- Peter Levine (1970s/1980s)
- Intensity & Safety
- Low. Extremely safe and titrated.
Related techniques
Vagal Toning (Humming Exhale)
Somatic & Trauma Processing
Stimulates vagus nerve via vocal cord vibration; Highly Downregulating.
EMDR Resourcing Breath (Bilateral Breath)
Somatic & Trauma Processing
Integrates left/right brain hemispheres while calming the amygdala; Downregulating.
Sun Dance Piercing Breath
Somatic & Trauma Processing
Induces endorphin rush, overrides pain, triggers visionary states; Extreme Upregulation.