Somatic Bodywork
A Treatment for Stress, Emotional Processing & Trauma Release
What is Somatic Bodywork & De-armouring?
Somatic bodywork and de-armouring are trauma-informed therapeutic approaches that work with the physical and energetic tension patterns we unconsciously build up over time in response to stress, trauma, and emotional suppression.
Understanding Body Armour - Wilhelm Reich
The term "armouring" was first coined by psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich in the 1930s. Reich observed that unresolved emotional experiences and trauma often manifest as chronic tension patterns in the body, which he called muscular armour. He believed that these physical contractions served as a form of protection, helping people cope with emotional overwhelm, but that over time, this armour could inhibit the natural flow of energy (or life force), leading to emotional, psychological, and physical distress.
The De-armouring Process - Somatic Therapy & Trauma Release
De-armouring refers to the gentle, conscious process of working with these held tensions through various somatic therapy techniques such as conscious touch, breath, movement, energy, and sound.
As the body releases these protective patterns, emotions and memories can surface and integrate safely, allowing for greater nervous system regulation, emotional clarity, deeper connection, and renewed vitality.
Modern Somatic Bodywork - A Holistic Approach to Healing
Contemporary de-armouring is practised through evidence-based somatic therapies and trauma-informed bodywork. This approach offers not only a pathway for emotional and physical release but also supports:
Trauma recovery and nervous system healing
Stress relief and tension release
Reconnection to body awareness and presence
Enhanced emotional regulation and resilience
Holistic healing that addresses mind, body, and spirit
Who Can Benefit from Somatic Bodywork?
This trauma-informed approach is particularly supportive for individuals experiencing:
Chronic physical tension or unexplained pain
Difficulty with emotional expression or intimacy
Recurring stress patterns or anxiety
Recovery from trauma or overwhelming life experiences
A desire for deeper body awareness and presence
The video below features scenes of strong emotional release that may not be very comforting to some individuals. Please watch with care.
Everyone responds differently to this work. Some people release their emotions visibly through sound or movement, while others experience more energetic movements or connect to old memories. There's no "correct" way to process.
Yoni De-armouring
Yoni de-armouring is a specialised form of somatic bodywork that addresses the physical, emotional, and energetic armouring held within the pelvic area and yoni (vulva, vagina, and surrounding tissues). Many women carry unprocessed emotions, tension, numbness, or trauma in this deeply vulnerable and sacred part of the body.
Through trauma-informed touch, breathwork, sound, boundaries work and presence, yoni de-armouring creates space for the body to release protective patterns that may be limiting your capacity for pleasure, intimacy, emotional expression, and life force energy.
What Does Yoni De-armouring Address?
This work can support women experiencing:
Physical tension or pain during intimacy or in the pelvic area
Numbness or disconnection from genital sensation or sexual pleasure
Difficulty with orgasm or feeling blocked in sexual expression
Shame, fear, or trauma stored in the pelvis from past experiences
Energetic stagnation in the sacral chakra or pelvic bowl
A disconnect between the heart and sexuality or difficulty integrating intimacy
How Yoni De-armouring Works
Sessions are approached with the utmost care, respect, and consent. This work is never rushed and always honours your body's pace and boundaries.
The process may include:
Nervous system regulation to establish safety before any touch • Boundary exploration to strengthen your capacity to say yes and no • External yoni massage working with the vulva, labia, and surrounding tissues • Internal work (if and when appropriate) addressing the vaginal walls, cervix, and pelvic floor • Breathwork and sound to support release and energy movement • Integration practices to ground the experience and honour what emerged
All touch is conscious, intentional, and communicated clearly. You remain in control of your experience throughout, with full permission to pause, adjust, or stop at any time.
Important: Building Trust First
Yoni de-armouring does not happen in the first session.
The initial session focuses entirely on building trust, establishing safety, and working with other areas of the body where armouring may be present, such as the diaphragm, jaw, throat, chest, or belly. This allows your nervous system to become familiar with the work and creates a foundation of safety essential for more vulnerable pelvic and genital work.
Only when there is established trust, clear consent, and readiness from both you and your body will we consider working directly with the yoni. This may take one session or several. There is no timeline for this work.
A Trauma-Informed Approach
Yoni de-armouring is held with profound respect for the body's wisdom and the understanding that this area holds deep vulnerability. The work is:
Consent-based — Every touch is communicated and agreed upon • Paced by your body — We never push beyond what feels safe • Therapeutic, not sexual — The container is professional, boundaried, and sacred • Honouring of all experiences — Whatever your history, you are welcome here.
Who Is This Work For?
Yoni de-armouring is supportive for women who:
Feel disconnected from their sexuality or body
Carry tension, numbness, or pain in the pelvic area
Are healing from sexual trauma or difficult intimate experiences
Want to deepen their capacity for pleasure and sensation
Seek to restore energetic flow and vital aliveness
This work honours where you are and meets you with compassion, presence, and care.
The De-armouring Process Combines Different Techniques - Somatic Therapy & Trauma Release
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Touch
The Gaia Method of De-armouring uses ‘invitation only’ soft touch. It respects the boundaries of the body and never pushes beyond what it is ready for.
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Sound
Sound can be a way to access locked memories, emotions and to release energy blockages from the body.
When the vibration and frequency of a sound meet the same frequency in the tissues of the body it can open frozen energy.
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Breath
Conscious breathing and breathwork bypass the conscious mind and deactivate’s the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). Tantric breathwork is also used to bring the body into a state of bliss. Once the body is in a relaxed state, it can freely express emotions or physical movements that arise.
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Energy
Working with a person's energy is one of the ways to remove armour from the body. Energy, like sound waves, is made up of vibrations and frequencies.
When blocked energy in the body gets activated it can trigger old memories. Which can create impulses that the body still holds and needs to express.
What People Are Saying
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“As soon as I stepped into the space Binta created, I felt so held and welcomed and was able to drop in. Binta holds a beautiful balance of authenticity and professionalism in her sessions. Her level of presence, everything she is and everything she brings into a session allows deep healing and transformation to take place. The throat de-armouring we did released lots of emotions for me. I felt so safe that emotions were naturally flowing. It also loosened the tension around my whole jaw and throat area which were around my expression. I was so surprised how I was able to release so much.
Isik Tlabar, Intuitive Coach & Breathwork Facilitator
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“At first, I was sceptical and apprehensive regarding what I saw as ‘ alternative therapies’. However, I’m so glad that I embraced the opportunity to work with Binta. Through her calm, knowledgeable and intuitive approach I was gradually able to resist trying to understand everything, pull it apart to try to find out the magic secret and instead just trust in the process and reap the benefits. As a result, I have been able to release both physical and emotional tension. Sessions were delivered with compassion and integrity, enabling me to develop a deeper emotional intelligence, particularly towards nurturing and nourishing my own needs and helping me to reach out to others in a more grounded and rational way. It has been a revelation.”
Julie Humpharis, Retired Teacher
FAQ
Starting a somatic bodywork journey can be deeply impactful, but it's natural to have questions about the process.
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We begin by discussing your reasons for seeking de-armouring, your expectations, and any boundaries or health concerns you may have.
This open dialogue helps tailor the session to your specific needs and ensures your comfort throughout the process.
Email me@bintapatelcoaching.com to schedule a 30min discovery call.
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Sessions are held in person at East London Therapy in Walthamstow, East London (18 minutes by train from Liverpool Street) and typically last between 2 -2.5 hours
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The session may start with exercises designed to regulate your nervous system.
These might include tension release techniques, gentle shaking, breathwork, or sound practices
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Before we begin any bodywork, we’ll take time to explore and strengthen your personal boundaries — a vital step in creating a safe and supportive space for deeper work.
We’ll also clearly establish boundaries between us at the start of the session, and you are warmly encouraged to communicate any changes as they arise. Your comfort and agency are always prioritised.
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For some body-focused sessions, you may be in your underwear, as oil may be used during the process. Also, when working with the fascia — the connective tissue system that often holds emotional and physical trauma — it can be more effective with direct access to the body.
Unlike a massage, where you are passive, these sessions invite your active participation. You'll stay present with your body's sensations, allowing space for the release of stored energy, emotional expression, and the processing of anything that arises.
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Your body may naturally express itself to release stored tension or emotions.
This could manifest as trembling, shaking, vocalisation, or emotional release.
Our space is judgment-free, honouring your body's innate wisdom and healing process.
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Each session concludes with a period of integration, allowing your body and mind to process the experience.
We'll take time to discuss your experience, ensuring you feel grounded before leaving.
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Like coaching, de-armouring often benefits from multiple sessions.
This allows for deeper work and progressive removal of layers of armour over time.
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These 1:1 sessions last between 2 and 2.5 hours and are an investment in your body, nervous system, and healing journey. The session fee is £300.
I recognise that financial circumstances can sometimes make this work difficult to access. If the full rate feels genuinely out of reach, please reach out, I have a few structures in place to offer support where needed.
In certain cases, I can offer a reduced rate of £250, and a limited number of £200 sessions are available on Thursdays between 12.30 and 4.30.
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or would like to discuss options.
Every individual's journey is unique. These sessions are designed to meet you where you are, respecting your pace and boundaries.
Resources
Insights
Trauma and the Nervous System: A Polyvagal Perspective gives a basic introduction and overview of how trauma and chronic stress affect our nervous system and how those effects impact our health and well-being.
When trauma gets stuck in the body | This article explains why the body shakes or tremors when it releases a block. |
What happens when you add sound waves to anything that matches the same frequency | This video will help explain how sound removes blockages in the body.
Stress, Anxiousness, and the Brain Wave Connection | This article explains how a healthy brain works and the importance of the brain wave connection.
Practices
TRE® (Trauma and Tension Release Exercises) | This is one of the exercises we use in a session to help regulate the nervous system.
Toning is a great way to self de-armour, once practised with a practitioner. I do not recommend that you use it alone if you have trauma. | I use the Washington Monument Frequency Pack of both 33and7 (Male/Female) which costs USD11.11 to download. Note: Don’t be put off by the website.
7 Energy Centers Breathing Intensified breathing practice to activate the life force energy and raise it up through the energy centres to the crown. (at 56mins 40secs)
How to Change Your Mind by Dr Joe Dispenza This YouTube video discusses how our past experiences impact our current reality.
Books
The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness by Peter A. Levine PhD
No Bad Parts - Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model by Richard C. Schwartz PHD