Somatics
What is Embodiment, What are Somatics?
Exploring Embodiment Coaching through somatics, we delve into the profound connection between our physical existence and overall wellness. The term ‘embodied’ may prompt the question, “Aren’t we all inherently embodied, possessing a body?” Indeed, we are. Yet, ‘embodiment’ and ‘somatics’ transcend mere physicality; they represent a conscious journey towards integrating our body’s wisdom with our mental and emotional landscapes.
Understanding these concepts, which carry centuries-old wisdom for healing, good health, personal transformation, and world peace, helps each of us navigate our ever-changing world. Additionally, coaches, therapists, and other healers who have not yet encountered these thoughts will be able to understand the importance of their neuro-regulation in both therapy sessions and in their own personal activities.
In today’s fast-paced world, where stressors range from daily distractions to pervasive exposure to conflict and unrest through media, the principles of embodiment and somatic work are increasingly relevant. These practices offer a means to regain our neurobiological balance, often disrupted by the relentless stimuli that demand our attention and emotional response.
Our modern life is filled with immense stress, leaving us little opportunity to slow down. When we encounter these stressors, a host of biological reactions can beset us. Our breathing shifts, heartbeats increase, digestion slows, hormonal and endocrine systems shift, muscles tense, and we lose the ability to think well. Just texting alone is causing multiple hand problems for many people, with hand/eye coordination so central to thought and living.
Embodiment practices encourage individuals to reconnect with their physical selves and to feel grounded in their bodies amidst the chaos of the external environment. By focusing on the sensations within, people can find a sense of calm and presence, often lost when multiple stressors scatter the mind.
Somatic work provides tools for individuals to explore and release the tension that accumulates in their bodies due to stress. It helps to recognize the physical manifestations of emotional and psychological strain, allowing for a holistic approach to wellness that includes the body’s wisdom in the healing process.
These practices are not just about self-care; they are about survival in a world that can often feel overwhelming. By fostering a deeper connection with our physicality, we can create a buffer against the barrage of stimuli that threaten to disrupt our equilibrium. In essence,
Embodiment and somatic work serve as anchors, helping us navigate the tumultuous seas of modern life with greater resilience and composure. With new developments in the science of the brain, we are also able to work with the effects of trauma in new and successful way.
The mind will forget traumatic events, but our body holds those memories, and they can then negatively affect mental and physical well-being. This is the hidden power of the Somatic/Embodiment movement; as the motto states for Y12SR (Yoga for 12 Step Recovery): “The issues are in the tissues.”
I’ll always remember a client of mine who came to me after years of ‘talk therapy,’ where her abusive husband, her miscarriage, and her teenage rape were all reviewed. What was never opened and resolved for her was childhood sexual abuse, which she found through somatic work. She had no memory of the event until we began the bodywork.
She later said, “My body remembered what my mind forgot” and it was true. She herself drew the connections however to the ‘story’ behind the sensations released, through her own intuition and journaling. In some somatic and embodiment practices cognitive processing is not found to be necessary unless, on some occasions, when dealing with complex Trauma. In others, the experience starts with the history and moves into the body, and the work may follow that path, or the reverse.
Somatics centers on the introspective journey through movement, prioritizing the cultivation of internal awareness and the therapeutic impact of such practices. They are about tuning into the body’s signals and fostering a harmonious mind-body connection by supporting the process of listening to the body’s signals, and in some cases, understanding their meaning and emotional connotations.
In a world where mental health concerns are becoming more prevalent, embodiment practices offer a refuge. They allow individuals to navigate their emotional landscape by tuning into the body’s signals, which can often reveal underlying stress or trauma. Through techniques like deep breathing, mindful movement, and grounding exercises, people can find a sense of calm and clarity amidst the turmoil of everyday life.
In my blog series for The Wellness Universe, “Creating an Embodied World,” I explore the history of the somatics and embodiment movement, and the reasons behind our Western disconnect between our bodies and our minds and emotions: “Embodied Reality, Decoding the Mystique.”
To survive in this fast-paced world we need to learn to calm our bodies. Our nervous systems are profoundly impacted, struggling to differentiate between virtual and real threats. Despite consciously recognizing safety, our reality feels unsafe, risking nervous system dysregulation without active lifestyle monitoring.
Embodiment practices encourage awareness, connecting us to our bodies. Sensation informs emotion and thought. Disconnection from sensation leads to stagnant thoughts and default emotional reactions, influenced more by history than present events.
Embodiment work renegotiates events bodily, fostering relief. But here’s the truth: We can all be okay. Instead of manically pushing ourselves, let’s attune to our inner rhythms. A constant flow of re-regulation should guide us throughout the day—based on our unique physical needs and perceptions, not external ideals.
Remember, the cultural messages that bombard us—whether through media, advertising, or societal norms—often reinforce the idea that we’re perpetually flawed. These messages insidiously whisper, “You’re not enough.”
But we have the power to challenge them, to reclaim our innate okayness. Let’s rewrite the narrative, honoring our bodies and minds as they are—imperfect, yet beautifully resilient.”
From among the various somatic services offered below, from yoga to breath work to Laban Space Harmony, you will learn to live with physical comfort as a natural state, fostering mind-body harmony that will give you peace beyond measure.
Somatic Sessions
Embark on a Journey of the Heart – Somatic Liberation Sessions
Gift yourself this Heart Journey with me, where each somatic session is a unique, personalized experience designed to meet your individual needs. With over 40 years of expertise in somatic and embodiment training, I integrate a tapestry of methodologies to guide you toward holistic well-being. As a Certified Laban Movement Analyst (C.M.A.), I combine Laban Space Harmony and movement quality work with Bartinieff Body Fundamentals to enhance your movement awareness and efficiency. My sessions are further enriched by the Feldenkrais technique, which I had the privilege of studying directly under Moche Feldenkrais, and the Klein technique, learned from Susan Klein. This harmonious blend of approaches allows you to explore new movement possibilities, fostering ease and fluidity in your body.
My sessions are also deeply influenced by my early training in NYC in embodied anatomy with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen’s early Body-Mind Centering© program, offering a profound understanding of the body-mind connection. I also incorporate principles from Trauma Release Exercises (TRE©) and Somatic Experiencing® to help you release tension and trauma stored in the body. Techniques from Chi Gong and Tai Chi are seamlessly woven into the sessions, promoting balance and harmony within.
Additionally, various breathwork techniques are integrated as a central component of any Session to enhance relaxation and support the flow of energy, helping you connect more deeply with your body and mind.
In a typical session, I might employ various approaches such as orienting, grounding, pendulation, micro-movements, breathwork, and holistic movement. These methods help you reconnect with your body, enhance awareness, and facilitate healing. Influences from cranial sacral therapy and myofascial release work further support the release of deep-seated tension and promote overall relaxation. Each session is an interplay of movement and stillness, tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Whether you are seeking to improve your movement patterns, recover from an injury, release trauma, or simply find a greater sense of ease and connection within your body, a somatic session with me offers a holistic and integrative approach to well-being. My compassionate and intuitive guidance creates a safe and nurturing environment, allowing you to explore and transform your relationship with your body.
Experience the profound benefits of somatic work from a knowledgeable Practitioner employing a multi-disciplinary approach and take the step toward greater self-awareness, embodied presence, freedom, and empowerment.
Yoga Classes
Yoga: A Path for Mind, Body, and Spirit
Welcome to the Yoga section of our Somatics offerings, where you’re invited to embark on an ancient path of mind, body, and spirit. With over 40 years of experience, I began my yoga practice with the precision and alignment-focused Iyengar yoga. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of teaching yoga, and sharing its profound benefits with countless individuals. Currently, I am completing a new Yoga YTR500 certification in Vinyasa Flow, Nin Yoga, and Yoga Nidra, expanding my expertise to offer you a diverse and enriching yoga experience.
Yoga, a practice with roots tracing back over 5,000 years, is more than just physical exercise. It is a holistic approach to well-being that integrates physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana). Originating in India, yoga has evolved into various styles and practices, each offering unique benefits. From the dynamic sequences of Vinyasa Flow to the deep relaxation of Yoga Nidra, yoga provides a pathway to balance, flexibility, and inner peace.
Begin Your Embodiment Journey with Chair Yoga
Are you tired of feeling your body’s “creaks”? Are you looking for a gentle and mindful way to improve your fitness, health and well-being? Do you want to feel more connected, balanced, and grounded in your life? Do you want to enjoy the benefits of yoga, but find it hard to sit on the floor or assume difficult postures?
If so, somatically informed Chair Yoga is for you. This is a type of yoga that can be done while seated in a chair, and also using it while standing for easy balance and support. It emphasizes the internal experience of the body, rather than the external appearance of the poses. It helps you relax, release tension, and reconnect with your body. It also improves your flexibility, strength, balance, and stress levels.
Somatically Informed Yoga is based on the principles of somatics, a movement practice that helps retrain the brain to allow muscles to relax fully and go back to their natural state, undoing habitual learned movement patterns that can cause pain or tension.
I’ve written a popular three-blog series for The Wellness Universe on Chair Yoga:
Harmonizing Mind, Body, Yoga, and Embodiment
Some of the benefits of Somatically Informed Chair Yoga are:
- It can help you relax your muscles and undo habitual patterns that can cause pain or tension.
- It can help you explore your own sensations, feelings, and intuition, and move in ways that are nourishing and comfortable for you.
- It can help you foster embodiment, personal agency, and self-awareness.
- It can help you heal from trauma by reconnecting the pathways between your body and brain.
- It can help you improve your mobility, strength, posture, balance, digestion, hormone and sleep issues.
- It can help you cultivate a more mindful, contemplative, and creative practice that can enhance your life.
In my classes, you will learn how to practice chair yoga poses that suit your needs and abilities. You also learn how to use your breath and your senses to embody your true self and live with more awareness, agency, and creativity.
These classes are perfect for anyone looking to enhance their mind-body connection, develop a higher physical fitness level, and reduce stress, regardless of age or present fitness.
This is a special program for special people who are ready for the next step in self-care – suitable for beginners and anyone who wants to try a new and fun way of gently entering the world of their body by practicing yoga. No previous yoga experience or equipment is required. All you need is a chair and an open mind.
Sign Up for my free Newsletter to hear about upcoming classes, and get ready to move, breathe, and feel better!
Dance Classes
Discover the Healing Power of Dance
Unlock the power of dance and experience profound emotional release and healing! Dance is a unique medium for emotional expression, offering a beautiful way to connect with and process your inner experiences. Through rhythmic and spontaneous movements, you can access and express emotions that may be difficult to articulate with words. This form of movement taps into your body’s innate wisdom, facilitating the release of stored emotions and tension.
Indigenous dance traditions around the world have long recognized the healing power of dance, using it to connect with the self, the community, and the natural world. These dances often involve repetitive, grounding movements that help release pent-up energy and emotions, fostering a sense of balance and harmony. In modern contexts, dance continues to serve as a therapeutic tool for emotional release and healing. When you dance, you engage in a full-body experience that integrates physical, emotional, and mental aspects of your being. This can help unlock and release trauma stored in the body, providing a sense of liberation and relief.
Moreover, dance creates a safe space for you to explore and express your emotions without judgment. The non-verbal nature of dance allows for a more intuitive and embodied form of expression, where feelings can be released through movement rather than words. This can be particularly beneficial for those who have experienced trauma, as it provides an alternative or additional pathway for processing and integrating difficult emotions. Dancing with others also fosters a sense of connection and support, enhancing the overall therapeutic experience.
Music and Dance
Music plays a vital role in enhancing the emotional release experienced through dance. The rhythmic patterns and melodies can evoke a wide range of emotions, creating a powerful synergy with movement. When we dance to music, our bodies naturally respond to the beat and tempo, allowing us to express emotions that might be difficult to articulate verbally. This connection between music and movement helps facilitate a deeper emotional release, as the music provides a supportive and expressive backdrop for our physical expressions.
The combination of music and dance can also stimulate the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood enhancers. This biochemical response not only elevates our mood but also helps alleviate stress and anxiety. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of music can induce a meditative state, allowing dancers to become fully immersed in the present moment. This immersion can lead to a cathartic experience, where emotions are released and processed through the physical act of dancing.
Moreover, music can synchronize with our internal rhythms, creating a sense of harmony and balance. This synchronization can enhance the therapeutic effects of dance, making it easier for individuals to access and release stored emotions. The emotional tone of the music can also influence the type of emotional release experienced. For example, upbeat and energetic music might encourage the release of joy and excitement, while slower, more contemplative music might facilitate the release of sadness or introspection.
The Impact of Rhythm on Emotions
Rhythm profoundly influences our emotions, acting as a bridge between our internal states and external expressions. The rhythmic patterns in music can evoke deep and powerful emotions, often resonating with our own emotional rhythms. This connection is so strong that listeners can often identify the emotion of a piece of music simply by feeling its rhythm.
The power of rhythm also lies in its ability to synchronize with our body’s natural rhythms, such as our heartbeat and breathing. This synchronization can create a sense of harmony and balance, helping to regulate our emotional states.
When we move to a rhythm, whether through dance or simple movement, we engage in a form of embodied expression that allows us to process and release emotions. This is why rhythmic activities, like drumming or dancing, are often used in therapeutic settings.
Moreover, rhythm can induce a meditative state, allowing us to become fully immersed in the present moment. This immersion can facilitate a cathartic experience, where emotions are released and processed through the physical act of moving to the beat. The repetitive nature of rhythm can also provide a sense of predictability and safety, which is particularly beneficial for those who have experienced trauma.
In essence, rhythm acts as a powerful tool for emotional expression and regulation. By engaging with rhythm through music and movement, we can tap into a deeper level of emotional awareness and release, fostering a sense of well-being and emotional resilience.
Sacred Dance and Spiritual Dance
Non-denominational sacred and spiritual dance is a profound practice that transcends religious boundaries, offering a universal pathway to connect with the divine and the inner self.
This form of dance serves as both an expressive medium and/or a worship ministry, allowing individuals to convey their spirituality through intuitive and heartfelt movements. Sacred dance is often included in church services and other worship experiences, enriching these gatherings with its deep sense of reverence and connection. By engaging in sacred dance, participants can experience unity with the universe, nurture self-awareness, and embark on a journey of spiritual awakening, honoring the diversity of spiritual traditions while fostering a sense of community and shared sacred experience.
Dance Offerings
Whether through the structured movements of traditional dances or the free-flowing expressions of contemporary dance, the act of dancing provides a powerful and transformative pathway to emotional well-being. Take the first step towards a more balanced and harmonious life—experience the healing power of dance in one of my programs!
I offer classes online in expressive dance, dance technique, improvisation and choreography, for professionals, adults, and children. I am also available for college and school residencies and workshops, and to both teach in and produce children’s and community dance events as well as Sacred Dance programs throughout the USA and Canada
Chakra Healing Sessions
Experience Somatically Informed Chakra Healing
Open to the full potential of your energy centers with somatically informed Chakra Healing. This unique approach combines the wisdom of somatic practices with the ancient knowledge of chakra healing to create a holistic and transformative experience. By integrating body awareness techniques and gentle movements, we help you connect deeply with your chakras, promoting balance and harmony throughout your entire being.
Chakras are energy centers within the body that regulate various physical, emotional, and spiritual functions. There are seven main chakras, each located at a specific point along the spine, from the base to the crown of the head. These chakras spin and vibrate at different frequencies, influencing our overall well-being. When balanced, they promote harmony and vitality, but blockages or imbalances can lead to physical and emotional issues. Understanding and working with the chakras can help restore balance and enhance holistic health.
In a somatically informed Chakra Healing session, we learn how to experience the chakras as energetic centers within our bodies and how to promote their natural spinning.
Each chakra resonates at a specific frequency, and through mindful movement and focused intention, we can harmonize these energy centers. The natural spinning of the chakras is essential for maintaining the flow of energy throughout the body. When chakras spin freely, they facilitate the release of blockages and the smooth distribution of energy, enhancing both physical and emotional well-being.
Our sessions are designed to help you feel more grounded, centered, and connected to your inner self. The gentle, somatic techniques we use encourage the flow of energy, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Whether you are seeking to alleviate physical discomfort, release emotional tension, or enhance your spiritual growth, Somatically Informed Chakra Healing offers a comprehensive approach to well-being.
Experience the dynamism of this integrative practice and discover a new level of balance and vitality. By harmonizing your body’s vibrations and aligning your chakras, you can achieve a state of holistic health and inner peace. Join this journey towards greater self-awareness and energetic harmony.
Sound Healing Sessions
Sound Healing – Raise Your Vibrations
Whether we incorporate sound and vibrational healing in our Somatic Sessions or choose a Sound Bath Session as a stand-alone experience, we unlock a new level of well-being. Sound Healing is a powerful approach that uses sound frequencies and vibrations to restore balance and harmony in your body and mind. Imagine feeling deeply relaxed, free from stress and tension, and more connected to your inner self. My sound healing work offers just that, using instruments like singing bowls, tuning forks, and gongs to create healing vibrations that penetrate deep into your body, promoting physical and emotional release.
These sessions are designed to help you achieve a state of deep relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety by altering your brain wave patterns. The soothing sounds and vibrations can help to release stored emotions and trauma, providing a sense of emotional relief and clarity.
Understanding the Concept of Vibration
At its core, vibration is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the oscillation or repetitive movement of particles. Everything in the universe, including our bodies, is made up of particles that are constantly in motion. These particles vibrate at different frequencies, creating what we perceive as sound, light, and even physical sensations.
In the context of sound and vibrational healing, specific frequencies and vibrations are used to influence the body’s natural rhythms. Just like how a musical instrument can be tuned to produce harmonious sounds, our bodies can be “tuned” to achieve a state of balance and well-being. When we are exposed to certain sound frequencies, our body’s vibrations can synchronize with these frequencies, promoting relaxation and healing. This process helps to release tension, reduce stress, and enhance overall health by restoring the natural harmony of our body’s vibrations.
By understanding and harnessing the power of vibration, sound healing offers a unique and effective way to support your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Experience the transformative benefits of sound and vibrational healing and embark on a journey towards greater health and harmony
The Science Behind Vibrational Healing
Vibrational healing is based on the principles of resonance and the body’s natural frequencies. Resonance happens when one vibrating object causes another to vibrate at the same frequency. In vibrational healing, specific sound frequencies and vibrations are used to align and balance the body’s natural rhythms, promoting overall well-being.
Our bodies are made up of cells that emit electromagnetic frequencies. When these frequencies are disrupted, it can lead to physical and emotional discomfort. Vibrational healing introduces external frequencies that resonate with the body’s natural vibrations, helping to restore balance. Instruments like singing bowls, tuning forks, and gongs produce these healing frequencies, which can penetrate deep into the body, promoting relaxation and the release of tension.
Research has shown that sound frequencies can influence brain wave patterns, helping to shift them from states of stress and anxiety to relaxation and calm. This process, known as entrainment, allows the brain to synchronize its waves with the rhythm of the sound, reducing stress and improving overall well-being. Additionally, the vibrations from sound healing instruments can stimulate energy flow in the body, enhancing circulation and helping to release stored emotions and trauma.
Whether you’re dealing with physical pain, emotional stress, or simply looking to enhance your overall well-being, sound and vibrational healing can offer profound benefits. Experience the rejuvenating effects of these ancient practices and discover a path to holistic health and harmony.