What is Somatics?
Hanna Somatic Education (otherwise known as Clinical Somatic Education or ‘somatics’ for short) is a highly effective, gentle movement practice that changes muscle function at the level of the brain. The brain and nervous system control the muscles. Therefore the only way to permanently change the muscles is by engaging the brain through movement.
Somatics is sensory-motor training that releases chronically tight muscles that have, over time, learned to remain involuntarily (beneath the level of consciousness) contracted from accumulated stress, traumatic events, habituated patterns of movement, or accidents and injuries. Gentle, slow, controlled movements are explored and experienced with full internal awareness of sensation. The word ‘soma’ means the living body as sensed from within. It comes from the Greek word somatikos.
The Somatics term ‘sensory motor amnesia’ describes the involuntary muscular contraction held in the body where the brain has lost either full or partial control of a muscle group resulting in a functional breakdown. The roots of SMA are always in the centre of the body — the front, back and sides, where powerful muscles connect the lower and upper halves of the body at our centre of gravity (the somatic centre.)
Hanna Somatic Education focuses on full-body patterns of muscular contraction, not just one area. Tightness in the somatic centre of the body results in tightness in the periphery — ‘centre to periphery’ is a key somatic principle. Gentle, pleasurable movements reverse three key reflexive patterns to stress (red light reflex, green light reflex and trauma reflex) — restoring and increasing motion. This results in improved awareness, balance and control and efficiency and ease of movement. This new found spaciousness feels expansive and freeing — like being a kid again! The new length in the muscles changes posture and alignment and brings nourishment to previously forgotten tissues.
Somatics can be learned with me in a group classes or one-on-one sessions. I am trained as an Essential Somatics® Movement Teacher (ESMT) and teach in Powell River on B.C.’s Upper Sunshine Coast. Certified Clinical Somatic Educators (CCSE) use assisted pandiculation to release patterns of more deeply held SMA. See the Essential Somatics website for a list of practitioners.
The numerous health benefits of a daily somatics practice (as short as 15 minutes a day) include increased oxygen intake from more efficient breathing, improved lymphatic and cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, improved digestion, improved mental health and more. Somatics can provide relief for common musculoskeletal conditions such as lower back pain and neck and shoulder pain.
Learning Somatics offers the following benefits (and many more!)
Relief from muscular aches and pains
A toolbox for life — YOU know how to regain conscious control of habitually tight muscles
Self-efficacy — no need to rely on external practitioners to ‘fix’ you
Increased suppleness, flexibility, energy, coordination, balance and proprioception
The release of both emotional and physical trauma stored in the tissues
An enhanced sense of connection with oneself
Enhanced resilience to stress