Within the integrity of a single organism, they do not see how it could be otherwise. For the somatic therapists it goes both ways: if the state of one’s body directly affects one’s mind, then the reverse also holds. A somatic therapist sees that the fate of the human mind is utterly bound up with the fate of the body – a view which is, of course, shared by traditional medicine.īut another aspect of the somatic viewpoint is unique: namely, that the workings of the mind also have the power to transform the body. This wholistic approach is strongest in the somatic therapies where the therapist deals with the patient’s body, understanding that he thereby deals simultaneously with the patient’s mind, This approach is “somatic” in the precise sense that it sees the human mind as embodied. These new therapies leave behind the traditional split between the mental and physical and use techniques that work on both mind and body together. One characteristic of these new procedures is that they view the person as a dynamic whole in whom mental and physical functions intertwine. To add to the confusion, from Asia there appeared a number of ancient disciplines which also seemed to have therapeutic virtues: various forms of yoga, meditation, the martial arts and more. An invisible dam seems to have broken, and out tumbled, one upon the other, wondrous new therapies: sensitivity training, gestalt therapy, encounter, T-groups, transactional analysis, bioenergetics, psychosynthesis, dance therapy, Rolfing and scores of others. Something happened during the 1960s which carried us far beyond the tranquil days of simple medicine. If you’re interested in a short history of the development of somatic healing here’s a link to an excellent article. Most people who have done a lot of talk therapy would agree that something has been missing from their experience, the body.
However, I am trained in numerous movement and bodywork techniques which allow me to work through the body and be able to hold the space for whatever might come up emotionally for people as we move and work together. Although work at Urbanfitt can become somatic in nature, I’m not a qualified psychotherapist. “Fitness” is about the fitness of the nervous system in large part. Change the body, change the mind right? I consider the strength, movement and body work I do with people as a nervous system ‘reset’ and deprogramming. And MOST people recognize that by feeling physically stronger, they will feel emotionally more resilient as well. I’ve been using the Body Braid at Urbanfitt for movement and for the somatic healing work I do with the many clients I see who are interested in going in through the body as a way to heal past trauma, deal with chronic pain, live with PTSD and live in a state of constant hypervigilance or over activation of the nervous system (most of us in the Western world to a certain degree). Some use Body Braid to enhance body awareness during yoga and movement practices. Invented by a Canadian doctor who wanted to help people feel better in their bodies, Body Braid provides support where you need it and freedom of movement everywhere else. The Body Braid is a soft, elastic body wrap that traces over the fascial spiral lines and provides gentle cues to help you move in healthy ways.
I’ve been exploring the potential benefits of the Body Braid soon after I first tried it on during Tensegrity Touch and Movement Therapy training with Diane Bruni at 80 Gladstone over a year ago.
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