The Moving Cycle: A Somatic Model for Healing Blog Series Pt. 2

In the first blog of this series, we explored how Getting Our Bodies Back by Chrstine Cadlwell brings awareness to our bodies and how incorporating our bodies is essential to our wellbeing. Our bodies carry stories, adaptations, and wisdom shaped by living experience. In the following post, we will explore the Moving Cycle, which is a body-based model that helps us understand how awareness and movement can gently bring us back into connection with ourselves by slowing down and noticing what our bodies are feeling.

The Stages of the Moving Cycle

1. Awareness

Healing begins with paying attention and bringing awareness to our physical sensations. A repeated movement, a posture, a subtle impulse, or holding the breath. Then you can ask yourself, “What am I noticing in my body right now?” ‘What am I avoiding by repeating these movements?’ This allows you to slow down and reflect. Even if the feelings/sensations are subtle, awareness is the first step to reconnect with our bodies.

2. Owning

According to Caldwell, this stage is about telling the complete truth and being honest with ourselves. We might want to avoid negative or uncomfortable feelings, but in the owning stage, we collect all the parts of ourselves, good and bad, and anything in between.

3. Acceptance

In this stage, we practice letting go of self-judgement and begin cultivating unconditional compassion towards ourselves. Acceptance often brings awareness to old beliefs and patterns of low self-esteem, not to criticize them, but to understand their origins. By allowing our authentic selves to be present, we learn to embrace our imperfections as meaningful parts of who we are, meeting them with courage and care rather than resistance.

4. Action

The final stage of the Moving Cycle invites us to challenge long-held beliefs and begin moving through the negative patterns that keep us from living authentically. As Caldwell puts it, we must become producers of our own world rather than consumers.

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In the next blog series, we will explore the five intentions and five interventions that are within the moving cycle. If you are curious about deepening your body and mind connection, feel free to reach out to our team of professionals at Olive Branch Counseling Associates. We are located at 6819 167th St, Tinley Park, IL 60477 (708) 633-8000.

Mariana Rodriguez, Graduate Intern, 2025.

Reference:

Caldwell, C. (2018). Getting our bodies back: Recovery, embodiment, and self-compassion. Shambhala Publications.

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