A review by pineconek
Your Body is Your Brain: Leverage Your Somatic Intelligence to Find Purpose, Build Resilience, Deepen Relationships and Lead More Powerfully by Amanda Blake

informative inspiring medium-paced

2.5

(written nov 2024, 2 months after finishing this book)

This is the first book I read on somatics and coaching, per recommendation of my masseuse/somatic therapist. While definitely very "out there", it's an interesting entry point into the concept of somatic therapy. It's written for coaches/body workers and not clients, but very accessible. Part of this is because the concepts are basic and none of the science is complex (largely because none of this has been explicitly rigorously studied). 

I'm a natural skeptic but enjoy dipping my toes in low-cost and low-harm areas of wellness. So far, I've benefited from embodiments, some posture exercises (starting from the feet and pelvis), and thinking of my body and brain as a cohesive unit. 

The book turned a bit too "corporate" for me in parts, and some claims felt fantastical. I'm a natural skeptic and resist corporate framework, but it was easy to put that aside and focus on what I found more useful. 

Recommended if you're interested in wellness modalities like yoga and meditation, gentle movement, etc. and don't mind suspending disbelief. 2.5 stars rounded up.