Somatics
Somatic is a word that essentially means of the body, and has been used in many different contexts over the years.
What we mean here is a practice of using movement and body awareness, specifically to effect release and help integrate mind and body.
We can use this kind of conscious movement and breath-work to help release physical tension and patterns related to shock and trauma, and also to use the body to work through emotional stress and trauma. As such it plays a large role in the Embodiment coaching program along with Qigong and Pilates.
The way we use these methods draws mostly from the teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais and Thomas Hanna, with a focus on noticing and awareness in movement rather than on external goals or positions. As such these practices integrate well with any other ‘mind-body-movement’ practice. The systems consist of easy to do exercises that help ‘improve your posture, vision, imagination and personal awareness’.
A central idea is that being in the world- stressors, social pressures, threat, responsibilities and fear- while affecting our consciousness are also taken on and held in the body. Like the way that when we are sad we tend to slump in the shoulders. Or how one person might feel anxiety with tight shoulders and jaw clenching, while another feels it in the pit of their stomach and grips with their hips.
And so by keying in to certain helpful movement patterns we can unwind these effect in the body, and in doing so help to process and move through unconscious effects on our nervous system and the psychological effects on our mind. By reawakening the minds’ conscious control of movement we can find ease in movement, increased flexibility, health and happiness
The way we tend to employ somatics is as part of an integrated and tailored plan based on your needs as a client. If you are interested in finding out more about how somatics might fit into your journey to physical freedom, or how it is woven into the embodiment program, contact us to arrange a call where you can ask any questions you might have.
