Somatic Yoga x Cupping for a regulated nervous system
https://www.somaticsportsclub.com/
Mit Somatic Sports Club™ verbinde ich fundiertes und ganzheitliches Wissen über das Nervensystem mit somatischen Übungen und Körperarbeit, sanftem Somatic Yoga, intuitiver Bewegung, Tanz und einem achtsamen, liebevollen Blick auf Körper und Seele. Ich begleite gestresste, überlastete und erschöpfte Menschen dabei, wieder in Verbindung mit sich selbst zu kommen – raus aus dem Kopf, rein in den Körper.
Do you know that feeling when you do yoga and it looks totally calm and mindful on the outside…
but inside, something more like this is happening:
“Oh shit, I forgot to send the email.”
“What do I still need to buy later?”
“What am I even cooking for dinner tonight?”
“Okay okay – I’m arriving here and now – how am I supposed to do this – and why does it always look so relaxed and easy for everyone else… and why not for me?!”
And then you try to focus on your body again, but somehow you don’t really get into feeling?
As the first and most important message: You are definitely not alone with this AND your body is not “broken” or “malfunctioning.”
Because many people find it difficult to really arrive in their body during yoga, movement, or meditation. Not because they are doing it “wrong.” But because the nervous system might not yet be safe enough in that moment to really feel inward. And at the same time, consciously “arriving with ourselves” doesn’t feel safe for us. Because thoughts or feelings might come up that we have suppressed for so long.
And this is exactly where the combination of Cupping, Somatic Yoga, and nervous system work can be SO valuable.
Cups can give your body a clear, physical point of contact. A somatic anchor that you can repeatedly perceive during your practice.
So that you repeatedly feel:
Ahhh, here I am.
Here I feel something.
Here I can safely direct my attention.
And that can be a beautiful first step to get out of your head and back more into your body.
What is Somatic Yoga?
Somatic Yoga is a body-oriented practice that isn’t about perfectly assuming certain shapes or being as flexible as possible.
It’s more about perceiving your body from the inside out.
How does a movement feel?
Where does spaciousness arise?
Where do you feel tension?
What changes through breathing, touch, or small intuitive movements?
And what does my body really need right now?
Somatic Yoga combines gentle movement, body awareness, breathing, nervous system regulation, and intuitive impulses.
So you can move away from “I have to do this asana/exercise perfectly/as correctly as possible” towards:
What am I feeling right now?
What feels good to me?
What do I REALLY want to do right now?
Where does my body need more space, safety, or support?
So that we reconnect with our body and our needs. Both on the mat and in our lives.
And that’s exactly why Cupping fits so wonderfully into this work.
Why your nervous system is so important in this
Many of us carry an incredible amount of tension in the body. For example, in the neck, shoulder, and jaw areas, or also in the hip region.
And of course, this can be related to unhealthy posture, too much screen time, or too little movement.
But often there is even more behind it.
Because stress plays a VERY important role here. And it eventually becomes visible in the body.
If your nervous system constantly perceives a lot of pressure, stress, or inner tension, your muscles can go into a kind of protective tension.
💥The shoulders chronically pull up or forward.
💥The neck becomes tight.
💥The jaw tightens.
💥The breath becomes shallower.
💥The hip area, lower back, and buttocks are permanently tense.
💥The chest feels less mobile.
💥and much more.
And from this, a real vicious cycle can develop:
Stress puts your nervous system on alert.
Your body prepares for fight or flight.
Your muscles tense up.
If this stress becomes chronic, the protective tension in the body eventually becomes the new normal.
And this tension sends a signal to your nervous system:
It’s not safe here.
Warning, stress.
And then it starts all over again. 🙈
That’s exactly why for many people it’s not enough in the long run to just stretch the neck a few times or massage the shoulders.
That can of course feel good. And sometimes that is also additionally important.
But if we want to work more holistically, we need to include several levels:
🌿movement
🌿touch
🌿breathing
🌿body awareness
🌿nervous system regulation
🌿conscious sensing in the body
And here Somatic Yoga and Cupping can be beautifully combined. 🫶🏻
How Cupping can support your Somatic Yoga practice
When a Cup sits on your skin, a clear sensory stimulus arises.
That means: Your body gets a tangible contact point.
And exactly this stimulus can support you and your nervous system in shifting your attention from thinking more into feeling.
Because sometimes the thought "just focus on your body" doesn't really help us.
Especially not when the nervous system is currently overstimulated or the inward sensing feels uncertain, diffuse, or hard to grasp.
The body sometimes needs something physical to safely come back to itself.
Something that is truly tangible.
A contact point that says:
❤️Here you can tune in.
❤️Here orientation is possible.
❤️Here is your anchor.
And this is exactly what Cups can support in your somatic practice.
You can use them, for example, in calmer, Yin-heavy positions where you hold longer and perceive consciously.
Or you use it in more flowing, intuitive movements and observe how the sensation of the Cups changes during the movement.
This is especially exciting because it allows you not only to think "about" body awareness but to truly experience and feel it - and your nervous system looooves that - because it gives it a moment of safety aka regulation. 🙌🏻 ❤️
Cupping in flowing and intuitive movements or in stillness or longer holds
1. Cup as a contact point in stillness
Gently place a cup on a body part you want to perceive consciously.
For example, on the upper back, neck, shoulder, ribs, chest, hip, or thigh.
Then stay here in silence for a few breaths.
You don't have to change anything.
Don't optimize anything.
Don't force anything.
Just ask yourself:
How does the contact feel?
Can I sense there?
Does my breath or tension change during it?
Does the contact feel pleasant, or does it need less intensity?
This variant is especially well suited for meditation, savasana, yoga nidra, or conscious moments in between.
2. Cup in a yin position
Choose a yin posture in which you want to stay a little longer.
For example, Child’s Pose, a lying twist, or a supported heart opener.
Place the cup on a suitable/pleasant/tense spot and slowly come into the posture.
Then feel:
What changes through the contact?
Where is more presence created?
Where might my body still hold on?
How does my breathing change?
Can I adjust the posture so that it feels safer or softer?
Especially in yin-heavy positions, the cup can help you not to (mentally) “drift away” but stay connected with your body.
3. Cup in gentle movement or shorter-held stretch
Place the cup, for example, on the shoulder, neck area, upper back, ribs, or hip.
Then start with a very slow movement.
Maybe shoulder circles.
Maybe cat-cow.
Maybe a slight side tilt or a twist.
Maybe an intuitive movement that arises from your body.
You can perceive:
Where do I feel the cup?
How does the contact change during the movement?
Which direction feels good?
Where does my body need less?
Where is more space created?
The same applies here:
Don't force anything.
Better to focus on orienting & perception through the cups.
4. Connecting cup and breath
You can also use the cup to perceive your breath more consciously.
For example, on the side of the ribs, in the chest area, or on the back.
Then breathe gently toward the point of contact.
And here too, you don't have to breathe maximally deep or “perfectly calm.” Just gently focus on your breathing as neutrally as possible—just as it is right now, without needing to change anything.
Somatic work does not mean that relaxation must happen immediately.
It means that you reconnect with your body and also with your breathing.
5. Sensing without the cup
After a few minutes, you can remove the cup and sense again.
How does the spot feel now?
Warmer?
Tinglier?
More relaxed?
Clearer?
Softer?
More alive?
Or just different?
Everything is allowed to be exactly as it is, and you don't have to judge anything here.
It's not about producing a specific result.
It's about listening to your body.
And this is exactly where the real nervous system work begins. With your perception.
If you want a little more inspiration:
My favorite routine for lymphatic and nervous systems
My favorite routine for tense necks & overstimulated nervous systems
My favorite routine for more vagus nerve activation
Cupping for your nervous system
Why this combination fits the nervous system so well
Cupping, Somatic Yoga, and nervous system work share a common core for me:
They invite you to reconnect.
Not through pressure.
Not through control.
Not through “I have to finally relax now.”
Because an overstimulated nervous system doesn’t need more pressure.
It doesn’t need another exercise that has to be “perfect.”
It needs experiences that feel safe enough.
Experiences where your body notices:
🌿I get to slow down.
🌿I get to perceive something.
🌿I get to feel boundaries.
🌿I get to change something.
🌿I get to reorient myself.
🌿I get to work WITH my body, not AGAINST it.
And that’s exactly why I love the combination of Somatic Yoga & Cupping SO much.
Who I am
Hey, I’m Franzi.
I am the founder of the Somatic Sports Club™, a health and sports manager, nervous system and embodiment coach, and Somatic Yoga & Movement teacher.
In my work, I combine Somatic Yoga, nervous system knowledge, body awareness, movement, and everyday regulation techniques.
It’s important to me that somatic work isn’t complicated, extremely time-consuming, or only for people who are already super aware, relaxed, and “perfectly regulated.”
Quite the opposite.
Somatic work can be raw. Human. Practical. And sometimes a little humorous too.
Because we all know those moments when the mind is racing, the body is tense, and we really wish to finally find calm, relaxation, and ourselves amid all the chaos.
That’s exactly what the Somatic Sports Club™ is for. 😊
What you’ll find in the Somatic Sports Club™
In the Somatic Sports Club™ you’ll find various offers around Somatic Yoga and Movement, nervous system regulation, embodiment, and body-oriented self-connection.
These include:
my Somatic Yoga trainings (next online training round from July 2026)
1:1 Somatic Nervous System Coaching
Courses and programs about the nervous system & somatics
Somatic yoga and movement flows as free videos on YouTube and Spotify
My e-book for getting started with the nervous system & somatic bodywork
€0 Somatic SOS Guide for Anxiety & Panic
Insights, routines for your daily life, and everything about nervous system regulation, somatic movement, and embodiment on my Instagram account
My vision is to create spaces where you feel safe, can let go, and learn to treat yourself with compassion. You are allowed to be just as you are here – and find your way back to yourself at your own pace.
I’m so happy when we meet again in one of my videos, on my channel, or through one of my offers. 😊
All the best
Your Franzi
