Somatics has become a buzz word and is attached to so many of today's therapies and disciplines. It can get quite confusing so let's look at the definition of the word "Soma" first. Soma simply means "Body" and therefore "Somatics" is defined as "relating to the body". If attached to other therapies such as somatic yoga, somatic psychology, somatic breathing techniques etc., it indicates that these disciplines emphasize bodily awareness.
How did Thomas Hanna, Ph.D. define Somatics?
Alexander and Feldenkrais are some of the pioneers in this field and Thomas Hanna, Ph.D. studied under Feldenkrais and founded the field of Somatics. He wrote a book titled "Somatics: Reawakening the Mind's Control of Movement, Flexibility, and Health" which teaches people how to sense themselves from within and move with ease and voluntary control. He created Hanna Somatic Education, also known as Clinical Somatic Education (CSE). This field is different from other somatic modalities in the way that Thomas Hanna emphasized self-awareness through a distinct movement practice.
What is unique about Thomas Hanna's movement practice?
Thomas Hanna developed a technique called pandiculation which is designed to restore voluntary control over chronically contracted muscles in order to release them. His movement practice first brings awareness to the muscles in the body that are no longer sensed (Sensory Motor Amnesia). Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA) occurs when certain muscle tension patterns have become habituated over time, they are no longer in our voluntary control and can be described as our body's blind spots. The causes for SMA are our body's reaction to stress whether it be physical or mental.
SMA presents with three stress response patterns:
Green Light Reflex - associated with tension being held in the back of the body (back, hamstrings, calves, plantar),
Red Light Reflex - presenting with bracing patterns in the front of the body (chest, belly, legs), and the
Trauma Reflex - also referred to as one sided tension pattern, e.g., after injury affecting one side of the body.
The technique of pandiculation addresses these stress response patterns by gently contracting the muscles where SMA is present to regain control of the muscles, followed by a gentle and intentional slow release. The full release is followed by a resting breath cycle or two to allow for integration of this new resting muscle tone. This muscle release technique can be learnt and executed independently by performing the Somatic Movements, or by guidance of a Somatic Movement Teacher, or with a hands-on approach by a Clinical Somatic Educator.
It is important to note that hands-on guidance of a Clinical Somatic Educator is intended to help the individual to start sensing their body from within. Long lasting results can only be achieved from the first-person perspective with active participation of the individual. Only you know what it feels like to be in your body. You cannot change muscle tension patterns if you cannot sense them. And to feel these SMA patterns, awareness has to be created first. Over time new, balanced movement patterns are internalized restoring mobility and functionality, reducing the occurrence of stiffness or pain.
At Somatics Tampa, LLC. we teach you Essential Somatic Movements to release chronic muscle tension and stiffness.
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