According to Thomas Hanna, many patterns of chronic muscle tension and pain are related to three natural protective responses of the nervous system, known as the Three Somatic Reflexes. These reflexes develop in response to stress, injury, or the demands of everyday life. While they are helpful in the short term, they can become unconscious habits when they remain active for too long.
The three reflexes are:
Red Light Reflex – The body's protective response to stress, fear, or anxiety. It causes the front of the body to contract, often leading to rounded shoulders, shallow breathing, and tension in the neck and chest.
Green Light Reflex – The body's response to action, achievement, and constant activity. It activates the muscles along the back of the body and can contribute to lower back pain, tight hips, and difficulty relaxing.
Trauma Reflex – A protective pattern that develops after injury, surgery, or repetitive one-sided movement. It creates asymmetrical muscle tension and compensation patterns that may persist long after the original injury has healed.
Through Hanna Somatic Movement Education, these habitual reflex patterns can gradually be released, helping restore more balanced movement, reduce chronic tension, and improve overall ease and comfort in the body.