Somatic Self-Love is a transformative practice where we reconnect with our bodies and reclaim our agency. On a societal level, this personal empowerment disrupts the cycles of violence and disconnection created by oppressive systems like patriarchy, white supremacy, and exploitative capitalism.

When we recognize our bodies as sacred and valuable, we are better equipped to challenge harmful narratives, advocate for systemic change, and build communities rooted in safety and care. When we combine this work with advocacy, education, and partnerships with organizations driving policy changes to address the root causes of gender-based violence, the personal becomes political.

Somatic Self-Love is the process of coming home to our bodies with love. We feel the sensations of self-love alive in our bodies. We remember our body as a source of wisdom, safety, and autonomy. It’s a practice of noticing and honoring our sensations, emotions, and lived experience without judgment. We use breathwork, movement, ritual, and other embodied practices that help release trapped energy (trauma) and cultivate self-compassion.

To make this concept more actionable, we provide tools and practices designed to help you understand and integrate Somatic Self-Love into your daily life. These practices include workshops, courses, and guided exercises rooted in the art and science of embodiment.

Somatic Self-Love starts as a personal body practice but extends outward, creating ripples that touch families, workplaces, communities, and eventually influence education and political systems to drive systemic change. Oppressive systems rely on disconnection and shame to maintain control. By reclaiming our bodies and connecting to our power, we collectively weaken these systems and build capacity for advocacy, activism, and structural reform.

In addition to promoting personal transformation, our mission includes:

• Partnering with organizations to influence policy and raise awareness about gender-based violence.

• Supporting community-based initiatives that create safe spaces for healing and empowerment.

• Providing accessible resources and education to help people advocate for systemic change.

• Establishing our nonprofit, Alchemy by Love, and offering free access to education, programs and courses.

Somatic Self-Love is one piece of the puzzle, designed to complement broader structural and community-level efforts.

We recognize that not everyone has the resources or privilege to prioritize self-love practices, particularly those in survival mode due to systemic oppression, trauma, or financial insecurity. To address this, we:

• Offer free and low-cost resources, such as workshops, online guides, and scholarships for our programs.

• Partner with grassroots organizations to bring Somatic Self-Love practices to underserved communities.

• Center the voices and experiences of historically excluded communities in our work, ensuring the practices are culturally relevant and inclusive.

Our goal is to make Somatic Self-Love as accessible as possible, regardless of background, identity, or financial status.

Somatic Self-Love is grounded in the belief that reclaiming personal agency creates pathways to collective liberation. While the practice begins with you, it extends outward to impact relationships, communities, and systems. We emphasize collective action by:

• Hosting group workshops and community events to build shared support and solidarity.

• Encouraging people to use their embodied awareness to advocate for safer and more just communities.

• Partnering with organizations that focus on dismantling systemic oppression and building collective power.

This movement is about working together to create ripples of transformation that extend far beyond the individual practitioner.

Gender-based violence thrives in systems that perpetuate disconnection, shame, and control. Somatic Self-Love disrupts these dynamics by helping individuals reclaim their sense of self-worth, autonomy, and embodied presence.

For example:

• A survivor of violence reconnects with their body’s signals, learning to trust their intuition and set boundaries.

• Generational trauma, often stored in the body, can be processed and released, breaking cycles of harm passed down through families.

• Communities practicing Somatic Self-Love create safer, more compassionate environments, reducing the prevalence of abuse and violence.

Somatic Self-Love is not a standalone solution, but it’s a vital tool for shifting the cultural and systemic conditions that allow gender-based violence to persist.

We recognize that this is an ambitious goal, but we believe it is possible when individuals, communities, and systems work together. Ending gender-based violence requires both cultural and structural transformation, which is why our mission focuses on:

• Supporting individuals in reclaiming their bodies and breaking cycles of trauma.

• Building collective action through partnerships, education, and advocacy.

• Addressing systemic drivers of violence, such as patriarchy, white supremacy, and economic inequality.

This goal may take time, but every step we take brings us closer to a world where safety, dignity, and equity are the norm.

We understand that gender-based violence manifests differently across cultures, regions, and communities. Our approach is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we:

• Work to ensure the principles of Somatic Self-Love are adaptable to different cultural contexts and practices.

• Partner with local organizations and leaders to address region-specific needs and challenges.

• Center the voices of those most affected by gender-based violence, allowing their lived experiences to shape our programs and initiatives.

Our mission is grounded in respect, inclusivity, and a commitment to honoring the diverse ways liberation can take place. We are still working through this aspect of our organization. We welcome feedback and suggestions. Please email daniella@somaticself.love to start the conversation.