Unlocking the Twelve Somatic Knots

The human body holds stories in its bones, muscles, and tissues. These stories are not only personal but ancestral, stretching back through generations of survival, adaptation, and expression. In bodywork we sometimes call these places of holding “knots.” Different traditions describe them in different ways, yet they all point toward the same truth: the body remembers, and it does so in specific places that we can feel, touch, and release.

The Background of Somatic Knots

In the yogic tradition the knots are called granthis. These are subtle blocks along the central channel where energy becomes bound up. Yogis describe three main granthis, but in practice the experience of holding and releasing runs through the whole length of the body.

Reichian therapy and somatic psychology speak about “armouring zones.” These are bands of tension across the body that develop as protective patterns in response to life experience. Over time these bands create chronic holding, a kind of emotional armour that becomes part of posture and breath.

In craniosacral therapy the practitioner listens to the “diaphragms” of the body. These are not only the muscular sheets like the thoracic diaphragm but also the subtle tissue fields that create zones of expansion and restriction. Each diaphragm reflects the body’s relationship with safety, breath, and flow.

All of these maps are useful, yet what I have found in my practice is that the most powerful entry points are the bones. The bones carry weight, structure, and memory. They are anchors for muscles and fascia, and they resonate with very particular kinds of energy. When we place hands on bones we connect directly with the foundation of the body’s story.

This is the approach I call working with the twelve somatic knots.

Why Bones?

Bones are not inert objects. They are alive, filled with marrow, blood supply, and subtle vibrations. Every bone has an anatomical role, but it also carries symbolic meaning. The sacrum is both a keystone and a cradle. The sternum is both armour and doorway. The jaw is both strength and restraint.

When we work with bones in bodywork we access both their mechanical function and their energetic resonance. The practitioner listens through touch, much like in craniosacral therapy, while also allowing energy to flow in the way Reiki teaches us. Visionary anatomy brings imagery into the process, helping the practitioner feel the living story of the bone and the release that wants to happen.

The Twelve Somatic Knots

The twelve knots are arranged in an ascending sequence from the coccyx to the occiput. They form a ladder of holding and release that moves through survival, control, power, breath, expression, and perception.

Coccyx and Sacrum

The base of survival and safety. Here we feel primal fear and grounding. The sacrum rocks in nutation and counternutation, a gentle movement like a raft on water.

Ischial Tuberosities

The sitting bones create the base of support. They widen and narrow with breath and posture, mirroring how secure or unstable we feel.

Pubic Symphysis

The pubic joint is a threshold. It reflects our relationship with control, boundaries, and letting go. Subtle shearing movements here mirror deeper emotional states.

Lumbar Spine and Psoas Roots

The roots of the psoas are guardians of ancestral fear. They activate in fight or flight and soften when trust is present. The lumbar spine arches and flattens in rhythm with these patterns.

Diaphragm and Lower Ribs

The diaphragm is the bellows of the body. It stores grief and anxiety when breath is shallow and opens into release when breath is full. The ribs expand and contract like wings.

Sternum

The shield of the heart. It can protect with rigidity or open with radiance. The sternum tips and glides with each breath, mirroring the play of protection and vulnerability.

Clavicles and Thoracic Outlet

The hinges of wings. When the clavicles lift and rotate back the chest opens to the world. When they collapse the weight of burden is visible.

Throat and Larynx

The channel of voice and resonance. These structures rise and fall with sound and swallowing. They reveal how much of our truth we allow to flow.

Jaw and Submandibular Area

The dam of restraint. The jaw clenches to hold back words, anger, and desire. The submandibular area reveals the effort of this holding.

Occiput

The horizon of perception. At the base of the skull the occiput rocks and nods, guiding how we see, integrate, and orient ourselves to the world.

Working with the Knots

In practice we approach these bones with three qualities.

First, the stillness of craniosacral listening. The practitioner does not impose but attends. By listening to the subtle rhythms, the body shows its own patterns of restriction and release.

Second, the openness of Reiki. We allow energy to move freely, trusting the universal life force to do the work once we make space for it.

Third, the imagery of visionary anatomy. Each bone can be felt through metaphor. The sacrum is a raft, the sternum a shield, the clavicles a pair of wings. These images are not fanciful; they are ways of perceiving the natural movements of the bones with clarity and depth.

Why This Matters?

Releasing the somatic knots is not just about reducing muscular tension. It is about restoring flow through the body’s story. When a knot loosens the nervous system downshifts, the breath deepens, and the person feels more present.

Working through the twelve knots in sequence gives a sense of rising coherence. The body is seen as a living map where each bone is both physical structure and symbolic gateway. This is why the practice feels so different from conventional bodywork. It is an alchemy of anatomy, energy, and story.

Alchemy of Bodywork

In Alchemy of Bodywork, we move beyond technique to experience. Classes combine hands-on practice, imagery, and anatomy, creating a container for release.

This current cycle is devoted to the twelve somatic knots. Each class we take time with one or more bones, listening to their rhythms and learning how to unlock their stories.

If you are a JDS Bodyworker Member you already have access to this class and the entire library of resources. That includes tutorials on moxa, muscle testing, and focused explorations of specific regions such as the jaw, knees, and shoulders.

If you are not a member you can still join this class individually for £45 just click on the drop down link on the course and pick the individual option. https://jds.jambodragon.com/courses/alchemy-of-bodywork-online-mentorship

This gives you the opportunity to experience the depth of this work while knowing that the complete library is waiting for you when you are ready to join the membership.

The body remembers, and it remembers through the bones. By working with the twelve somatic knots, we engage with both anatomy and energy, with both physiology and story. We honour the body’s instinct to hold and its capacity to release.

This is the heart of the Alchemy of Bodywork: listening deeply, touching wisely, and allowing the body to show us the path to freedom.

For those who prefer to join class by class, you can also sign up for individual sessions. This option lets you step into the work at your own pace while still receiving the full experience of each practice.