No Pain, All Gain: Somatic Healing with the Workout Witch Liz Tenuto

Somatic exercises offer a science-based approach to nervous system regulation for neurodivergent individuals, who often experience chronic stress and sensory overload. By utilizing gentle, intentional micro-movements, people can transition from a "fight, flight, or freeze" state into a regulated, ventral vagal state. Unlike traditional high-intensity fitness, which can be overwhelming, these somatic practices—such as bilateral stimulation or rhythmic rocking—provide necessary sensory input to "calm up" the nervous system. Somatic specialist Liz Tenuto emphasizes that these techniques, which can be performed in as little as ten minutes, help release stored trauma and physical tension. This bottom-up approach acknowledges that mental states are often direct reflections of physical tension, allowing individuals to improve interoception and achieve a more stable, relaxed baseline without the executive function demands of conventional gym-based exercise.