What is Somatic Education, and why is it so well-suited to enhancing our yoga and movement practices and teaching? Read on.
Somatics is a fairly generic term used in many ways when discussing movement and other healing modalities.
You may have heard a lot about "Somatic Movement" recently. It's become a buzzword popular in movement circles and on Instagram. You may have heard of “Somatic Therapy,” “Somatic Experiencing,” or “Somatic Psychology.”
The word "Somatics" comes from the Greek word "Soma," which means “the body as perceived from within.” Each of these modalities focuses on an individual's internal sensations and experiences.
When it comes to movement, there are different schools of Somatic Education that you might have heard of:
The Feldenkrais Method (based on Moshe Feldenkrais’ research and work on Functional Integration)
The Alexander Technique and
Clinical Somatic Education (or Hanna Somatic Education)
I teach “Clinical Somatics” exercises based on the work of Thomas Hanna and Hanna Somatic Education. (ref. Somatics; reawakening the mind’s control of movement, flexibility, and health) Thomas Hanna’s movement philosophy is based on a few primary principles:
Sensorimotor education: which uses somatic exercises to improve motor control and retrain ingrained muscular patterns that might be causing pain and limiting movement;
Pandiculation: Thomas Hanna studied the “pandicular response.” Pandiculation is thought to be even more effective than stretching in decreasing excessive or chronic muscle tension. Pandiculation works in three stages: 1) a voluntary contraction of a muscle, 2) a slow, aware, controlled release, and 3) a complete letting go and relaxation of the muscle.
A yawn is a kind of involuntary pandiculation, like a languid cat stretch. It sends important biofeedback to our nervous system, known as a gamma loop, that prevents an excessive build-up of tension in our muscles. That tension can lead to pain, injury, and limited mobility.
Thomas Hanna created a series of self-care and hands-on somatic exercises using “voluntary pandiculation.” Using an eccentric contraction (muscles that engage while lengthening), he empowered clients to create a voluntary “pandicular response” in particular parts of the body or where they were experiencing pain.
These exercises were incredibly successful in helping clients with chronic pain and other mobility issues. When his students reduced their involuntary muscle tension, he was able to help them integrate new more functional movement patterns into their daily lives.
We can heal ourselves by approaching our bodies’ movement with internal awareness, curiosity, and exploration rather than striving for aesthetic or alignment goals.
Many of your clients and students might find themselves stuck in painful movement patterns that don’t serve them, yet they continue to push past the limits of their pain, only to find themselves in even more pain. This mentality is common in athletes, students, and clients who are not accustomed to prioritizing self-care.
Somatic exercises and pandiculation provide slow, attentive movement that helps our clients listen to their bodies’ signals long before they are sidelined by pain or injury.
What do Somatic exercises look like?
Clinical Somatic movement exercises are done slowly and coordinated with diaphragmatic breathing.
Clinical Somatic exercises are mostly done on the floor. The floor provides proprioceptive feedback and the opportunity to surrender to gravity.
Whether the exercises are self-guided or taught hands-on, students CHOOSE how they move. The body leads the way.
Self-guided Clinical Somatic practices help our students manage some of their most common complaints :
Poor posture neck
Neck and shoulder pain
Chronic pain as a result of injury
Age-related changes that cause stiffness and limited mobility
Nervous system regulation
Breathing
What do a yoga practice and somatic exercises have in common?
Both yoga and Somatic exercises are embodied practices that teach us that intentional movement can lead to self-awareness and inner listening. Both practices believe in the balance of effort and ease. Moving with minimal effort and maximum awareness creates greater balance and resilience in our bodies and daily lives and regulates our often overworked nervous systems.
Both practices believe that change takes time and consistent practice yields the greatest rewards.
If you are curious about my somatics-inspired vinyasa class,
Here’s a description of the class:
We’ll warm up with somatic exercises to unwind tension from a long week before moving into more traditional yoga poses and sequences that build on the movement patterns we explore at the beginning of class. Start your weekend feeling less muscle tension, more relaxed, and ready for whatever comes your way!
Everything you love about a traditional vinyasa class with me, with a new, calming twist!
JOIN US ON FRIDAYS FROM 4 PM - 5 PM EST
