What is Somatic Movement? Some thoughts about the questions I am frequently asked about somatics, somatic practice and Somatic Movement Educators…
One way in which Somatic Movement Educators work is by helping you become familiar with an aspect of the body, such as the pelvis, mapping it out, understanding how it moves and then applying that into movement and helping you discover that felt sense. We are the owners of many anatomical models!
What is somatic movement?
Somatic movement is a felt experience of your body in the present moment. It is not about intellectualising or trying to resolve things from our thinking brains. It is holistic in its approach and keeps you and your experience at the centre of what you do. Unlike much of western culture that views the body as an external object, something separate from us that can be fixed, or moulded into something, somatic work integrates the mind and the body together. It does not see the body as an ‘it’ ‘thing’ or something that can be punished or pushed around, but recognises that it is part of you and something to be respected, cherished and taken care of.
Somatic movement can take many forms - it is not so easy to identify because it can look like anything. Somatic work moves beyond bone and muscle and has the ability to harness many different systems in our bodies. Somatic movement is not only the movement you may see externally with your eyes but also is movement that the eyes cannot see, such as breath. It is very different to a movement modality, that often focuses on muscle, bone and fascia (now very popular) in the body and a particular look or aesthetic. In a movement modality you are often told that something is right or wrong, or you must or should do something to become ‘x’. In somatic practice you are offered a range of options to help you optimise your movement and you make the decision what feels right for your body.
Somatic movement works with the felt sense and what we term embodiment. By that we mean feeling at home in your body, being aware of its sensations and moving in a way that works with your design: working in movement in a way that is harmonious with the image our brain has of our actual structure and function.
Within my form of somatic work we apply imagery as route to get into a state of embodiment and developing comfortable, healthy, safe, optimal and powerful movement, that you can then apply to either your movement speciality or just apply to life and everyday living.
Somatic movement is a huge step away from the fitness or copying in class culture. There is nothing wrong with that as all movement can potentially be healthy movement, where there is understanding and very high quality teaching. However, for many, for reasons of developing a practice, resolving or fine tuning movement, regaining function, developing creativity and expression, or as a way to feel a lot better in mind and body, somatic work takes things into a deeper practice and one that becomes very much a lifelong practice of health and wellbeing.
It is a very integrated, sensitive, intimate and sophisticated way of working with your body, listening to it, understanding it and gaining a much deeper insight of yourself in the process.
Somatic work is all about connection. Understanding the interplay between your mind and body ultimately gives you greater insights into you, as through the process you learn so much about yourself. It helps you to self regulate and be in tune with your own internal state, and in doing so you have greater ability to handle yourself in the world as well as your relations with others. It is a lifeskill, a leadership skill and the skill of being human!
How does somatic movement benefit me?
Awareness - the foundation of everything, because with no awareness we simply cannot change. On any level. Our nervous systems are continually sensing, interpreting and integrating signals all of the time. So why not be aware of how we are moving so that we can make a conscious decision to improve our movement using strategies that work? Rather than avoiding movement because of past experiences that were not helpful or because something is uncomfortable become aware and learn more about your body. You’ll find there are definitely ways to feel more comfortable. As we take our bodies through motion we have an inner felt sense not only of what we are doing and how the body is working but in doing so we experience and active clearing of the mind. If you have practised meditation or found it challenging you will be interested to know that in somatic work because we are moving with awareness and being very conscious of what we do as well as how our body responds, our minds really calm down without asking them to calm down!
Reduce Stress - Somatic work is the perfect antidote to modern life, busy minds and stressors in life in particular. We evolved with a nervous system that has the ability to switch us into flight or fight mode very quickly to protect us from threats. However, the speed of modern living has resulted in so many of us staying in that state of alert. Stressed out and overactive minds can play havoc with our bodies, disrupting digestion, hormones, immunity, levels of inner peace, breathing capacity, heart rate, sleep, relationships with others. If you are a parent, manager or someone that works with others, by understanding ourselves helps us to understand how we relate to others and manage our own relationships with greater success.
Somatic movement gets you to slow right down and go back into the reality of being in your body in the present moment. In doing so you will find that you can calm your systems down very quickly and restore yourself into a parasympathetic or resting state. This is so much needed for our health and wellbeing. And for many people, the root of their pain or illness can be traced back to this issue. Somatic movement can, for many people be something that helps them manage living and make it enjoyable once more.
Comfort, efficiency and powerful movement - by being aware how you move you are able to enhance how you function. When somatic movement is taught you gain insights from your body of what it likes and what it wants to respond to. Every time your body has a positive experience and we are able to notice it new connections and pathways are formed in our brains, which means the next time we perform the movement we are more likely to do so recalling the previous positive experience. Our brains and bodies like positive change and respond very quickly. And sometimes the discomfort is the result of faulty movement pathways in the brain or faulty cues from exercise systems that override our natural pattern. Somatic movement puts that to one side and instead teaches you how you were designed to move, to feel different aspects of your body in motion, and often that can be the pathway not only to a more healthy and optimal way of moving but also to a more comfortable existence as a whole.
Ridding the body of unhelpful tension. Somatic work is excellent at rooting out patterns of tension and lack of ease in the body. Sometimes this is the result of stressed out busy minds, or a holding pattern in the body which can happen for many different reasons. Somatic movement education gives you the tools to look after yourself, to be aware when tension levels are building in your body as well as the reasons why, as well as a way to resolve it. Tension does not generate healthy, optimal movement, and sets us up for injury, pain and discomfort. Just doing more repetitions or stronger weights does not make you stronger if you are holding tension in your body. If you have been working in the office or sedentary all day, going to the gym may not be the best thing for you to do in the long term as you are layering one level of stress over another. Our bodies excel when they feel safe and supported, and they know exactly what to do once we can reduce the tension levels down.
How do you do somatic exercise / what is somatic practice?
Somatic movement or exercise is not stylised - we are not trying to make it look like anything. We are more interested in what it feels like and if it improves how we move, think or feel. It can also look like anything. It might look like walking down the street, sitting down or practising a particular movement in a modality! In my own Pilates or dancer sessions I may start with something in the somatic domain and then move into how this relates to improved movement in Pilates or dance! For dancers it can definitely spill into creative places and really free them up to allow them to explore movement in creative ways. Learning about the structure of the human body can help us develop new pathways in movement, getting us out of seeing movement as something linear and into experiencing it as linear three dimensional - which is how we actually live.
Some sessions may be focused on one area of the body, and exploring multiple ways movement is improved or how movement works. Or sessions may be focused on sensation, establishing a feeling or working with the whole body. Whatever the focus of the session there is focus, sometimes working quite slowly to allow the mind a chance to develop new pathways in movement and a new sense of ease. The keyword here is focus - somatic work requires focus because we are working on uniting and integrating the mind and the body into a more harmonious relationship with each other. If you want a scientific term for what we are doing - we are harnessing the neuroplasticity of the brain and forming new synaptic connections by taking this time to slow down.
Somatic exercise and movement is something that is experienced as a felt sense and can be outwardly observed. Or, it may be something where there is no outward movement that can be observed: we may practice breathing experiencing how that works in our bodies, our bones, muscles, organs. Or it may be something lying down where we are actively resting our bodies. Somatic movement takes on so many forms. But we always work from a perspective of comfort and gentleness with our bodies, listening to them, developing our own insights, felt sense and ease.
What does a Somatic Movement Educator do?
In a movement modality you have a teacher that you may copy or follow external cues from. As a Somatic Movement Educator I work very differently. Using my specialist knowledge of imagery and embodiment, through use of anatomy, biomechanics or physiology combined with movement, sound, breath, touch and sometimes vibration I am guiding you through a process. I do this to deepen your understanding and felt sense of your body in movement or breath, or to help you access states of being in your body that are beneficial to you. I’ll offer you a range of strategies to get to know your own body in order to help you generate healthy, comfortable, gentle, yet powerful movement. I have lots of different strategies to help you achieve this. When you work with somatic movement educators you are not following along, but are trying to apply the concepts into your body and feel the positive change happening. Somatic movement strategies are very personal and tailored to you, which is why I prefer working with small groups, so I can support you through the process.
Somatic Movement Educators also work a little differently to movement modality teachers, we suggest ways for you to improve movement, but we do not hold one single answer or ask you to push your body into a shape or aesthetic - after all everyone’s body is unique to them! We don’t correct movement like a teacher of a movement modality such as dance, Pilates or Yoga may do, our job is to educate you about how your body works and how to access movement, and then it’s over to you! Some things come to you much easier than others and some things your body will really like. All we ask, is that you try things out and look for what works for you. And try to stay present with what you are doing and give it a try without pre-judging. We work with kindness, gentleness and compassion because the best way to work with the body is to work in harmony with it.
We also respect and understand that in the human body movement is never just about movement. There are a whole symphony of systems at play all of the time, and sometimes we may work on showing you how to balance out something you may not be consciously looking for, or something you may not have considered. In that sense, there is a real three dimensionality to the work we do. We are working with the body but we know and appreciate that there is always a mind element to it, and sometimes one of the psyche too. As a result, the work we do can really bring about not just positive change but transformation, not just to movement, but to people’s daily life experience.
The training of Professional Registered Somatic Movement Practitioners and Educators takes place over many, many years. It is extensive, deep and continuous because the study of the human body in movement is deep and endless. Somatic Movement Educators are specialists in the somatic field of movement education and we are experts in how to generate healthy movement. But we respect our boundaries, we are not medical professionals and we do not diagnose or treat. Other somatic practitioners from different parts of our somatic family tree may teach from other perspectives or with a different emphasis. Even though my practice is movement based, my deep understanding of the human body means that I see movement through many differing lenses. My own additional training in the somatic field beyond what I teach deepens my own practice and enhance my own study, understanding and teaching skills. However, my taught focus is always on healthy, optimal movement and wellbeing.
From my perspective, movement inspires: it is enriching, joyful, empowering, creative and transformative.
Somatic movement takes you out of intellectualising and into that felt sense, of movement, of your body, of you. With that feeling, there is connection, integration, balance and harmony. It is a holistic practice; we learn about the depths of the miracles working within us and also a lot about ourselves. And all of this is very honest, deep work, there is nothing superficial about it.
It can literally look like anything, and you can travel, as far as you wish to go! And that’s what I ‘do’ is basically help you go on your own journey - and it is wonderful to be able to help you in whatever way I can!
And the best way to know more about it is to come and experience it - join me in one of my regular classes for a taste of what I do, or an immersive or workshop if you are interested in something specific, or work with me throughout the week in my Somatic Movement Studio! See my current events to see what is running or go to my studio to join in!
© Sarah Pritchard, 2021, All rights reserved.
Content Disclaimer - With pain, acute injury and any pathology you should always seek professional medical guidance and diagnosis. Somatic work does not replace medical diagnosis or care. Please refer to my Terms of Website use for further information.
DISCLAIMER: as I do not know your individual circumstances, none of my blogs, my videos, my guidance in the Facebook group or any other materials available to you where I have not taken you on as a one to one client shall be construed as advice and I shall have no liability to you in any circumstances should you choose to rely on any of the materials I publish.