Somatic therapy is a form of body-centered therapy that looks at the connection of mind and body and uses both psychotherapy and physical therapies for holistic healing. Somatics is an umbrella term for numerous practices that integrate the mind and the body.
“One muscle out of interplay can affect everything else, the body is highly orchestrated.”
Somatic therapy is a form of body-centered therapy that looks at the connection of mind and body and uses both psychotherapy and physical therapies for holistic healing. Somatics is an umbrella term for numerous practices that integrate the mind and the body. The methods of delivery of somatic practices differ greatly. The word somatic is derived from the Greek word “soma” which means living body. Somatic therapy is a holistic therapy that studies the relationship between the mind and body, physical and psychological.
The term somatic can be used to describe a variety of forms of movement and healing modalities. Many people find somatic movement education methods to be highly effective in relieving chronic pain, improving bodily function, recovering from common musculoskeletal conditions as well as enlivening a movement practice. The Somatic practice offered with move 2 Change is called Laban Bartenieff Movement Analysis.
One such body mind practice that developed out of the work of Rudolf Von Laban is Bartenieff Fundamentals.
Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) is a method and language for describing, visualizing, interpreting and documenting all varieties of human movement. Also known as Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis, the method uses a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating contributions from anatomy, kinesiology, psychology, Labanotation and many other fields. It is used as a tool by dancers, actors, musicians, athletes, physical and occupational therapists, psychotherapy, peace studies, anthropology, business consulting, leadership development, health & wellness, and is one of the most widely used systems of human movement analysis today.
Laban Bartenieff Fundamentals integrates inner, emotional attitudes and psychological habits as well as body function. Working with movement Fundamentals takes movers back to the building blocks of human movement, deep into our first movement understandings to help us more fully to discover and re pattern our movement to enrich our lives. Work here can be useful to those who wish to move as well as express themselves more effectively and with a more freedom. This work is accessible to everyone and can be deeply healing to psyche and body, resulting in a more connected, expressive and pain free movement.
Fundamentals develop:
Total Body Connectivity: Total body change, differentiation and integration of any part as we
Breath Support
Grounding: How we move in relationship to gravity
Developmental Progression: Basic body connections established through a stage specific developmental progression in early life.
Intent: Clarifying intent helps the body find the motor patterns to fulfill the intent.
Complexity: Recognizing that all movement is a multifaceted event helps to organize and work with muscle patterning in complex movement.
Inner -Outer: We discover inner impulses which manifest in movement as well as the reverse. We look at the inter play between the psychological as well as expressive life of the mover.
Function-Expression: We explore how movement is serving an individual before making efforts to change any pattern. We will see what speaks out in a session be it a function of the body or the expression manifested- they are intertwined.
Stability-Mobility: Effective movement comes from understanding what needs to be stable in order to mobile a part of the body. Stability and mobility work together to create effective movement.
Exertion-Recuperation: Exertion followed by recuperation allows the body to replenish itself.
Phrasing: How preparation and initiation set a course of action, from one phrase to the next is helpful to anyone looking for effective movement and effective movement statements.
Personal Uniqueness: Each person will pattern in a unique way.
“Existence is movement. Action is movement. Existence is defined by the rhythm of forces in natural balance. It is our appreciation for dance that allows us to see clearly the rhythms of nature and to take natural rhythm to a plane of well organized art and culture.”
Bio: Bio: Julie is a Certified Laban Bartenieff Movement Analyst. She studied under Peggy Hackey co founder of Integrated Movement Studies and author of Making Connections- Total Body Integration Through Bartenieff Fundamentals. Julie spent two years in training with Peggy and another two years as an apprentice and assistant to her program. Peggy’s work lives in Julie’s approach to movement education, be it in dance, Yoga or Pilates.
Somatics also includes Julie’s exposure and work with Authentic Movement, a format of witness and mover that has helped her better understand her inner motivation and meaning; to be seen by and connected within herself and with others.
In Authentic Movement sessions mover and witness create a container. Mover moves in any way, listening to and responding to impulses from within. Witness shares from her experience evoked in the presence of the mover. These sessions can be deeply connective, often develop greater trust in one’s own wisdom, and can help to hold experiences which might otherwise remain suppressed in the individual.
Bio: Julie was exposed to Authentic Movement at age 17 through Janet Adler who had enormous impact in her life. Through Janet she was inspired to study psychology, Jung, mythology and mysticism. Julie spent two years in Authentic Movement sessions before becoming immersed in her Somatic studies at Moving On Center in Oakland, CA. Julie offers herself as a witness to those who may be drawn to engaging in dyad sessions.