A somatic reflection on listening, blood pressure, and the wisdom of the body
I awoke not in pain, but in a quiet strangeness. A lightness in the head. A subtle pressure behind the eyes. But it was not my usual pattern of the familiar rhythm of a migraine I had come to understand through years of listening.
Something was different. Out of curiosity, awareness of the body’s signals— and perhaps something deeper — I took my blood pressure. The reading was high. Very high.
What followed was urgency, concern, and the swift movement of the medical world. While those around me felt fear, something in me remained steady, but not dismissive, or detached. Simply aware. The body had spoken — not in whispers this time, but clearly.
The Body Does Not Always Speak the Same Language
In somatic work, we learn to listen. We learn that tightness is often protection and that pain can be pattern. That the nervous system holds stories long after the moment has passed. But there is an important truth that must be honoured: Not all sensations are the same.
Some belong to pattern. Some belong to physiology. And the wisdom lies in learning to feel the difference.
This was not my familiar pattern, so, I listened differently.
The Modern Soma — Holding and Accumulating
The body of modern life is rarely at rest. Even in stillness, it hums:
- with thought
- with stimulation
- with subtle vigilance
Over time, this creates internal pressure — not always visible, not always felt clearly, but present.
In somatic language, we might call this holding. In medical language, it may appear as elevated blood pressure. Both are real. And both deserve attention.
When the Body Moves Beyond Pattern
There is a point where the body is no longer simply holding. It is signalling. Strongly. This is not a failure of awareness, nor is it something to override with deeper practice or greater effort. It is an invitation to respond appropriately. To seek support, stabilise, and to care for the physical system as it is.
Yogic Wisdom — The Intelligence of Restraint
In traditional teachings from masters such as B. K. S. Iyengar and T. K. V. Desi achar, there is a quiet but powerful principle: When the system is under strain, we reduce effort. In cases of high blood pressure, this means:
- avoiding strain
- avoiding force
- avoiding intensity
Instead, we return to:
- supported rest
- gentle breath
- minimal, mindful movement
Not to fix the body, but to allow it to regulate.
A Somatic Truth
The body whispers first, then it speaks, and if unheard, it will raise its voice. Listening early is not weakness. It is intelligence.
A Closing Reflection
This experience did not bring fear. It brought clarity. That even with awareness, practice, and care, the body still asks to be listened to — freshly, each day.
Not through assumption, nor through experience, but through presence. If something feels different, pause, listen and always honour what is being asked of you — whether that is rest, support, or stillness.
The body is not against you. It is always, in its own way, guiding you home.
About the Author
Lala Menen is a movement and somatic practitioner, a yoga teacher, researcher and author offering gentle, restorative practices that help the body release tension, calm the nervous system, and restore ease of movement.
Her work is an exploration of how the body holds, adapts, and eventually releases..
Blending somatic practice with quiet contemplative awareness, she offers a gentle approach to restoring ease in the modern body—one that listens rather than forces and allows change to emerge naturally.
Author of The Soma Awakens Understanding SMA and how to undo tense holding patterns in the body to reduce common aches and pains.
Author of Release — A practical guide to easing tension and restoring ease in the modern body (Coming Soon)