"Somatics is a field within bodywork and movement studies which emphasizes internal physical perception and experience. The term is used in movement therapy to signify approaches based on the soma, or "the body as perceived from within". Wikipedia
The term has become very popular and I am very excited about this! It is a general term used for one aspect of different healing methods. Somatic techniques may be used in bodywork, psychotherapy, dance, or spiritual practices. Basically, noticing body sensations as opposed to ruminating thoughts in your head. The Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Hannah Somatics, and Trager Approach are the pioneer modalities that I am most familiar with. They are all under the umbrella term of Somatic Re-education modalities. They all deal with similar concepts, approached a bit differently. They all help with awareness of self and that is so healing and empowering itself, then add someone else's experience to guide you, because they have practiced in their own process. That only brings one's learnings even deeper. Somatic practices helps to the release of muscular tension through gentle movement and specific awareness of how your muscles feel in various positions and movements. Any reason you may seek massage therapy, somatic bodywork/lessons can offer you solutions for those challenges, as well as add the self development component and you may find that this kind of approach reaches deeper than any amount of pressure can, and even lasts longer. Since the focus is to reach the nervous system, it changes patterns that created the tension in the first place. Gentle and deeply effective, that's a win-win! If you are a person that could use more grounding, deep relaxation, chronic tension relief, whole body integrated function, learning somatics will help you to move efficiently, love your body and do the activities you want to do again! Book a free consultation if you have questions. ***My favorite quotes from the pioneers mentioned in this article.*** “People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.” F.M Alexander 1869-1955 “I am convinced that for every physical non-yielding condition there is a psychic counterpart in the unconscious mind to the degree of the physical manifestations.” Dr. Milton Trager 1908-1997 “As we grow older, our bodies, and our lives, should continue to improve, right up until the very end. I believe that all of us, in our own hearts, feel that this is how life really should be lived.” Thomas Hannah 1928-1990
0 Comments
We all have clients that keep their arm held in the air for you. I remember doing that myself during my first massage! You'd think a girl growing up dancing her whole life would have the body awareness to know that she was doing this, but I didn't know what I didn't know. I was on a massage table, so in my mind, I was relaxed! And not until it was brought to my attention did I realize that I was holding, otherwise, I had no idea!
Our clients experience this too. They simply don't know what they don't know, and for us to tell them to relax may be unchartered territory for them. They certainly have an understanding of what "relaxed" is supposed to be, but not necessarily the understanding in a feeling sense, or to know that there is a different felt sense. If they haven't had the awakened experience of what that feels like, they don't have that experience to fall back on. Our minds are habitually wired. We tend to do what we have done before, whether we know it or not. How we think and hold our bodies runs on that same loop. How we move is often unconscious. Those patterns show up for our clients on our tables and we can help them with it. There is a very important clarification in how we can best help them. Notice the difference in the two ways we can work with this. The first is to tell them to relax. "Relax". This can send a message of, "you are supposed to be relaxed and you're not doing it right." This may be frustrating for them since they probably didn't even realize that they weren't, and then they can feel like they are doing something wrong. The second option is a more empowering option and helps them become aware of it without judgement or blame. You may ask something like, "Did you know that you are holding your arm up?" or " What would it feel like to drop your arm into my hands?". I'll sometimes say, "I got you", and offer that it's just a pattern and patterns can change. There is no end to how deep we can explore into movement patterns. It's nothing short of fascinating, and yet simple at the same time. Once a body-mind has felt a new way to move, feel and sense, then it has that forever. It's just how many times do we need reminders to tip the scales in favor of the new feeling. One example how this shows up in our own bodies is when you catch yourself hunching your shoulders up to your ears. We all do it. Do you proceed with getting frustrated and looping degrading words to ourselves, "I'm doing it again, my shoulders are up, grrrr". Again, the thought that you are doing something wrong shows up. A gentler mind set that realizes that changing patterns just need continual resets. "Hello shoulders, remember that you can soften and hang off your bones?" "What does it feel like to allow my shoulders to gently fall towards the ground?" Ahh, much better. I hope that you see that by asking a question, it is far more powerful and effective than a statement. One small yet very powerful shift. Have fun with playing with this for yourself and your clients. Let me know how it goes for you! If you are interested in learning more, I have two Intro to Somatic Principles workshops coming up in September. Please feel free to contact me for a conversation to see if you would like to incorporate this into your practice. Linda |
LindaI want to share the tools that have helped me overcome pain and love the work that I do again. ArchivesCategories |