Several people have come up to me lately at Movements Afoot and asked for a definition of somatic.
The soma is the living body. The body exists even after we die. The soma does not. It only exists when its breathing, living, expressing, feeling.
Somatic refers to paying attention to the signals from our living bodies, learning from body wisdom.
There are several organizations that represent the somatic approach. The one that is most affiliated with movement and fitness professionals is the International Somatic Movement Therapy Association. Check it out - www.ISMETA.org ISMETA is a professional organization that registered somatic movement educators and somatic movement therapists. There are numerous approved training programs including my Somatic Movement Therapy Training - SMTT. www.MovingOnCenter.org/SMTT.htm My training combines the expertise of Rudolf Laban, the creator of movement analysis and his protege physical therapist Irmgard Bartenieff, with the work of occupational therapist Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. By combining an approach from Body-Mind Centering with that of Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis the movement professional is able to both view and describe the movement habits of clients AND support their healthy development with a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology (the study of human movement). As I have developed the SMTT this integrative system incorporates key movement principles and philosophy from LMA, BF and BMC while also having a life of its own based in my own background as an exercise physiologist, movement scientist, educator and developmental movement therapist. Derived from these interests, SMTT integrates dance science, conflict resolution, perceptual-motor development and a synthesis of different hands-on approaches. While addressing physical issues we interact with the whole person - body, mind, spirit, and psyche, finding movement activities that are motivating and pleasurable.
Movement’s Afoot and CKE sponsor a Somatic Fitness Certification called BodyMind Fitness. Qualified graduates of this training can also link to my SMTT program to become registered as movement therapists through ISMETA. Check out www.MovementsAfoot.com and www.WEllnessCKE.net for more examples of how somatic movement educators and therapists apply their knowledge!
Hope you join us sometime! We offer 2-day introductory classes. New classes begin Sept 9th!
Dr. Move
Several people have come up to me lately at Movements Afoot and asked for a definition of somatic.
The soma is the living body. The body exists even after we die. The soma does not. It only exists when its breathing, living, expressing, feeling.
Somatic refers to paying attention to the signals from our living bodies, learning from body wisdom.
There are several organizations that represent the somatic approach. The one that is most affiliated with movement and fitness professionals is the International Somatic Movement Therapy Association. Check it out - www.ISMETA.org ISMETA is a professional organization that registered somatic movement educators and somatic movement therapists. There are numerous approved training programs including my Somatic Movement Therapy Training - SMTT. www.MovingOnCenter.org/SMTT.htm My training combines the expertise of Rudolf Laban, the creator of movement analysis and his protege physical therapist Irmgard Bartenieff, with the work of occupational therapist Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. By combining an approach from Body-Mind Centering with that of Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis the movement professional is able to both view and describe the movement habits of clients AND support their healthy development with a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology (the study of human movement). As I have developed the SMTT this integrative system incorporates key movement principles and philosophy from LMA, BF and BMC while also having a life of its own based in my own background as an exercise physiologist, movement scientist, educator and developmental movement therapist. Derived from these interests, SMTT integrates dance science, conflict resolution, perceptual-motor development and a synthesis of different hands-on approaches. While addressing physical issues we interact with the whole person - body, mind, spirit, and psyche, finding movement activities that are motivating and pleasurable.
Movement’s Afoot and CKE sponsor a Somatic Fitness Certification called BodyMind Fitness. Qualified graduates of this training can also link to my SMTT program to become registered as movement therapists through ISMETA. Check out www.MovementsAfoot.com and www.WEllnessCKE.net for more examples of how somatic movement educators and therapists apply their knowledge!
Hope you join us sometime! We offer 2-day introductory classes. New classes begin Sept 9th!
Dr. Move