What is a Somatic approach to movement?
Somatics is an approach for releasing muscular tension using exercises and awareness, a way of increasing our "movement intelligence". Throughout our lives our bodies and minds respond to daily stresses and traumatic experiences by producing reflex muscle contractions. When these muscular reflexes of stress are triggered repeatedly, habitual involuntary muscular contractions develop. This can eventually result in stiffness and pain, postural changes and decreased function. In Somatics we refer to this as Sensory Motor Amnesia, a memory loss of how certain muscle groups feel and how to control them.
So we all tend to develop habitual muscle tension over time, or after injuries.
Just think of how actors use body language to show emotion, and posture to show personality, profession or age. Our life experiences tend to show in our bodies. But the key to aging gracefully is that they don't have to...
What can we do about this?
Your brain and the rest of your nervous system control your muscular tension and the coordination of movement in your body. You might notice that a certain muscle is tight or tense and wonder why. It is actually YOU, your nervous system, that is setting that tension, but if it has become habitual, you are no longer aware of doing it. Of course your brain is designed for learning and changing, so these unconscious habits can be re-learned. That is the basis for Somatics.
Sense and move...move and sense.
Somatic exercises consist of slow, gentle, mindful movements that help bring voluntary control back to muscles. The origin of the word Somatics is from the Greek word Soma, meaning "living body." The somatic view, then, is the living body as experienced from within.
A somatic experience begins by bringing awareness to what you can sense in your body right now; then you move and keep on sensing. In this way the natural feedback mechanisms to the brain and the rest of the nervous system are restored, so that you immediately improve the control of your muscular system.
Simple, yet deeply effective.
You can expect to:
Somatics is a very individual experience.
My mission is to support you as you explore your potential to move more freely and skillfully, and to live comfortably in your body. My own somatic journey is on-going. Each year brings more awareness and more ease as old habits are transformed and possibilities for change evolve. Life being what it is, each year also brings new challenges, new injuries and new habits to transform! But I notice that with the success I have in healing from these events using movement and awareness, my outlook towards aging and healing has grown so much more positive.
Why not take some steps on your own somatic journey?
Try a class or two, or book an individual session...
So we all tend to develop habitual muscle tension over time, or after injuries.
Just think of how actors use body language to show emotion, and posture to show personality, profession or age. Our life experiences tend to show in our bodies. But the key to aging gracefully is that they don't have to...
What can we do about this?
Your brain and the rest of your nervous system control your muscular tension and the coordination of movement in your body. You might notice that a certain muscle is tight or tense and wonder why. It is actually YOU, your nervous system, that is setting that tension, but if it has become habitual, you are no longer aware of doing it. Of course your brain is designed for learning and changing, so these unconscious habits can be re-learned. That is the basis for Somatics.
Sense and move...move and sense.
Somatic exercises consist of slow, gentle, mindful movements that help bring voluntary control back to muscles. The origin of the word Somatics is from the Greek word Soma, meaning "living body." The somatic view, then, is the living body as experienced from within.
A somatic experience begins by bringing awareness to what you can sense in your body right now; then you move and keep on sensing. In this way the natural feedback mechanisms to the brain and the rest of the nervous system are restored, so that you immediately improve the control of your muscular system.
Simple, yet deeply effective.
You can expect to:
- Reduce or eliminate pain
- Increase flexibility and muscle function
- Increase ease and freedom of movement
- Improve alignment and balance
- Improve coordination for sports, playing musical instruments or other activities
- Breathe more freely and feel more relaxed
- Reduce the symptoms of aging
Somatics is a very individual experience.
My mission is to support you as you explore your potential to move more freely and skillfully, and to live comfortably in your body. My own somatic journey is on-going. Each year brings more awareness and more ease as old habits are transformed and possibilities for change evolve. Life being what it is, each year also brings new challenges, new injuries and new habits to transform! But I notice that with the success I have in healing from these events using movement and awareness, my outlook towards aging and healing has grown so much more positive.
Why not take some steps on your own somatic journey?
Try a class or two, or book an individual session...