‘The Workout Witch’ Finds Purpose and Millions of Followers Through Somatic Healing

Liz Tenuto, a 40-year-old former professional dancer, has garnered over 2.2 million followers on TikTok under the moniker “The Workout Witch,” using somatic movement to address trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress.

Tenuto’s journey began with a personal quest to understand chronic pain and insomnia, which led her to major in psychology and explore psychotherapy techniques such as EMDR. While dancing professionally after college, a ballet teacher observed her dissociation offstage and recommended she try somatic classes—an approach Tenuto initially doubted.

Woman doing Yoga | Source: Pexels

“In 2008, it just looked like a bunch of people rolling around in their pajamas on the floor,” Tenuto recalled. However, the profound effects of the slow, mindful movements shifted her perspective.

Somatic exercises, including yoga, breathwork, and gentle dance, emphasize internal sensations over appearance. They are especially noted for positively impacting the nervous system by helping people move from high-alert or shut-down states to a balanced “ventral vagal” state, according to polyvagal theory.

“You’re just reinforcing safety in your body as you do them over and over again,” Tenuto explained. “It’s similar to building muscle.”

Woman doing Yoga | Source: Pexels

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Tenuto began posting daily somatic routines on TikTok to stay motivated while coping with personal hardship, including a divorce. “I was having a really hard time just getting out of bed,” she said.

The posts quickly gained traction, with her follower count soaring to 10,000 in a matter of weeks. The viral growth and audience engagement gave her a “deep sense of purpose,” affirming the therapeutic power of her work.