- Somatic meaning bodily aware, explores pertaining to the body, experienced and regulated from within. Concept of soma posits that neither body nor mind is separate from the other; both are part of a living process.
- Somatics is the field which studies the soma meaning how the body is perceived from within by the person themselves. When a human is observed from the outside by another or others viewing their body the phenomenon of a human body are perceived. But when this person observes themselves from their viewpoint by proprioceptive senses, the human soma is perceived. These viewpoints of observing a human are built into their natural observation, allowing the person to be aware internal and external. Therefore making soma different from a body, because you perceive soma from a different viewpoint. .
- While integration between both mind and body is the goal. However culture still understands and relates that body and mind are separate entities.
·
Hanna describes the field of somatics as “The
art and science of the inter-relational process between awareness, biological
function and environment, all three factors being understood as a synergistic
whole.” It is “the study of the soma, soma being the biological body of
functions by which and through which awareness and environment are mediated.”
·
Somatics is a combination of understanding
anatomical structures and functions, how these processes are affected by
movement but this also includes the mind. This understanding comes about by
experiencing.
·
The various somatic practices or processes are
normally multi-layered therefore bringing awareness to more than one
physiological process at a time but the individual experience is the key
importance.
·
An individual experiencing and understanding
their physiological systems, by using this body mind relationship and awareness
of senses can propel them forward into a healthier lifestyle.
·
Central theme in somatics is the experience of
“conscious embodiment” which is explored through the use of hands on touch,
imagery, the study of anatomical structures and physiological processes, series
of movement exercises and life-cycle development patterns.
·
“Touch and movement exercises are often designed
to mirror and influence the natural processes of the body and mind, providing a
fluid interconnection between movement, sensation and thought.” Through this an
individual can release tension of habitual or unhealthy patterns of being or
within oneself, providing the tools for the individual to move forward in
understanding their body.
·
By exploring these somatic approaches an
individual’s interaction with their environment
is improved which can be seen in greater sensory perception, faster
generation of motor commands, better awareness of spatial reasoning, more use
of conscious thought and language. All of these support structural, functional
and expressive integration.
·
All these interactions that an individual
experiences help in the education and development within themselves, therefore
maybe leading on to a more efficient, healthier and integrated self.
·
Somatic methods explore new ways of movement
potential with individuals so they can develop their own resolutions to
physiological and anatomical issues that have happen during development or from
an environmental factor.
·
Somatic theories are applied in somatic
psychology, somatic movement (International Somatic Movement Education and
Therapy Association), somatic body work, and somatic dance.
Part two-History of Somatics-
1.
1970’s Thomas Hanna was the first to apply the
term somatics, to the ideas and approaches that he and others of how body and
mind overlapped were coming up with. He was also the founder of Somatics
Magazine: Journal of the Mind-Body Arts and Sciences and the somatics society.
He also has created a training system to help in the use of treatment for
people suffering with muscular disorders.
2.
Thomas Hanna is a pioneer in the field of
body-mind awareness.
Part three-How do people use
somatics today? Injury prevention, rehabilitation, therapy, course of
treatment. Education of the body
3.
Thomas Hanna Somatic Education & Training is
the procedure for teaching voluntary conscious control of the neuromuscular
system to persons suffering muscular disorders of an involuntary, unconscious
nature and is a method for reawakening the mind's control of movement,
flexibility, and health.
4.
Repatterning of anatomical, physiological
structures –issues from development.Most working methods in somatics identify
new capacities for movement potential and offer bio-creative resolutions to
functional and developmental issues. Many approaches utilize neuro-muscular
repatterning and tissue re-organization, as well as directed intention and
touch, to facilitate changes at the deepest levels of experience, even
utilizing cellular and embryological information to achieve change in the “mind
of the tissue” – another concept central to somatics work. A skilful somatic
practitioner can facilitate improvement and change in infants and others whose
mental understanding is not accessible through verbal direction. Individuals
working alone and exploring their “edge” of kinesthetic knowledge can also
achieve significant new understandings through close attention to internal and
external experience.
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