“Learn your other native language”, slogan of the Laban Institute for Movement Studies
A clear way to define Somatics is to distinguish it from psychotherapy. A psychotherapist may work with you on how you feel and think in regard to another person, and what strategies you might try to be more successful in that relationship. Somatics addresses how you think and feel about your body. The only relationship Somatic work focuses on is the one you have with your own body.
Somatics deals with the art and science of living in a body. What we call “body language” is a part of Somatics, as is the mind-body connection. Work, sports, sexuality, martial arts, dance, and theater have strong somatic components.
The feelings, sensations, and intellectual structure that allow us to assimilate our experience in all its splendor are a fascinating avenue into healing and growth. Bringing consciousness to the connection of our inner world with the outer world allows us influence over the course of our lives. We become able to choose our path more accurately.
General health is a balance between self-care and responding to the challenges from the environment. Somatics addresses both by giving us accurate information on our personal resources.
I use a number of strategies to help you integrate the changes in your body and mind. Somatic work enhances skills that affect every portion of being. The delight of accessing your ability to sense, perceive, and act based in your physical reality translates into less pain, and more joy.
I may work with you on such topics as: Where and how do you feel pain, frustration, or pleasure, how do you move in a social context, how do you think of your body, how do you generate your voice, how do your clothes affect your movement, etc. Somatics can change a frustrating problem into an entertaining asset.
We have been taught that our bodies are tools for industry. We learn to ignore our physical reality as long as we can function. I believe we are born to be joyful and expressive. Play and pleasure are critical pieces of the human drama.
Our work may include revisiting past injury or trauma in the body. I focus on resources and building safety to allow full recovery of joy and capability. Through careful somatic work, the pain, fear and confusion that accompany trauma can be replaced by wisdom.