When a person is Somatically Embodied there is a sense of ease, naturalness, balance, coordination, grace, a quality of fullness to that person’s presence and a psychological and emotional congruence with how you sense them.

Most of us take our bodies for granted.

Even though we “are our bodies”, we identify with the mental realm of thoughts. We are for the most part unaware and disconnected from the body’s consciousness. We use the body like a tool to achieve experiences and get things done. We only “think about” the body when we feel the primal urges of our biology, the discomfort of misuse, or the pain of injury and disease.

We thrill when watching a super athlete perform.

Why is that? That is because super athletes, dancers, figure skaters and the like are somatically embodied. Your body can relate to this state. This is often called “the zone”. It is an experience of completely being at one with the consciousness of energy, movement and sensation in balance with the mind. It is actually your natural state of being. It is an intrinsic part of who you are.

The body is alive and waiting to be consciously lived in.

Somatic Embodiment is living this aliveness consciously. Fortunately, it doesn’t require you to become a super athlete or train like one. It simply requires letting go of the strong emphasis of the mental realm of thoughts and tuning in to the body consciousness of energy, movement and sensory awareness. It is that simple and an experience that is accessible to all of us.

Connecting you to your body’s innate wisdom creates Movement Intelligence.

You literally begin to think with your body energy, movement and sensations and become intelligent about these aspects of yourself. That is what makes watching a great performance or being in the zone yourself so exhilirating. It is the full intellegent expression of human potential. You are completely at one with your body, it’s natural grace, flow and ease informing your actions.

Why is this important?

Somatic Embodiment is important because “you are your body”.

Your body is your home. You reside in it. The harmony and well being of the body has a tremendous influence on your mental, emotional, and spiritual well being as well. The perpetual discounting of the body has a damaging effect on every aspect of your humanity. Remember how hard it is to keep a positive attitude when you are sick?

The body is all about movement.

The body is your instrument of expression and interaction with the world. Everything that you are comes through your body consciousness. The way that you move is your means of perceving yourself and the world around you. It is how you experience life. Cultivating body awareness, consciousness and intelligence sharpens your perceptions, broadens your perspective, and increases your freedom of expression.

You are not ever, not moving.

Even when you appear to be still, energy is moving and movement is happening, always. The heart beats, the blood flows, the lungs breathe, the organs pulse and churn, the nervous system fires and senses. Body parts constantly readjusting and moving you through space. Tiny and large movements happening all the time. Most of us don’t even notice.

The body is plastic, changable, always seeking balance and wellbeing.

It is self regulating and adapting. This is the nature of the wisdom, healing and regenerating capacity of the body. It is a great resource for us. Yet the full range of this wisdom is only available if we become aware, conscious and responsive to it.

Unfortunately many of us feel separated from and at odds with the body.

Taught to look outside of ourself for clues as to how to be rather than to feel and be responsive to what is happening inside, we try to force the body into a prescribed mold of how to look, feel or perform, never satisfied with how we measure up. We develop contempt, frustration or disregard for the body, loose touch with a loving relationship with the body and live in a chronically tolerated state of unhappiness with it.

The body is intimately connected to the mental realm.

If your thoughts are all you invest your attention and consciousness in, then what you think about your body will have a strong influence on it. The body responds to and will become a hostage to your thoughts, trying to mold it’s energy, movement, shape and sensation to the notions of the mind. This is one survival mechanism of the body. It is however, extremely ineffective because the body gets more rigidly set as the years go by, and you lose access to it’s regenerating plasticity, fluidity, flexibility and wisdom of well being.

The lack of conscious connection to the body is painful.

When the body is only taking cues from the preconceived ideas of the mental realm the result is lack of natural coordination, lack of freedom of movement, lack of ease, self conscious awkwardness and physical insecurity, brittle stiffness, lack of mobility and balance, poor health, low vitality, and lack of access to the vast internal world of healing and support that exists within.

“But, I go to Yoga classes”

Even if you “take yoga classes”, “work out”, “go out dancing”, or “play sports”, unless you consciously and fully “inhabit” your body, after the activity is over you drop back into the old habitual way of being in your body, or worse, you take on the “look” of the culture of that activity, further forcing an image onto your body’s structure.

How you are in your body is how you experience life.

The more open, fluid and responsive your body is the easier it is for you to feel the joy of being alive, the pleasure of the body’s vitality and capacity, and to flow with the changes of life. The more set in a mental concept your body is the harder it is for you to feel these precious aspects of life and flow with life’s changes.

The body is your home, your sanctuary, and your temple.

Inner conscious connection to your body results in conscious of care of it. Your body becomes a temple, a sanctuary, a welcoming home and a deep well of infinite wisdom, healing, regeneration and joyous celebration of life.

Somatic Embodiment enhances your aliveness.

Through connecting with the language of the body – energy, movement, touch and sound – and how you move naturally from the inside out – you gain freedom from inhibitions, expand your range of movement, improve strength, coordination, balance, flexibilty, creativity, playfullness, vitality and authentic self expression and confidence. You come into direct connection with yourself and You cultivate the ability to regenerate your vitality through your own unique healing capacities.

How to enter in to Somatic Embodiment?

Somatic Embodiment is our natural state.

A balanced mind/body connection and interplay is our birth right. It is an experience that is accessible to all of us. Returning to this mind/body balance requires letting go of the strong emphasis of the mental realm of thoughts, tuning in to the body consciousness of energy, movement and sensory awareness, and reacquainting oneself with the language of the body. Once you begin to make this shift over time you will begin to trust the lnaguage of the body and begin to inhabits it’s intelligent consciousness.

Somatic Embodiment applies to all parts of your life.

The fundamental underlying principles and awarenesses of Somatic Embodiment are principles that you can apply to all of life, because these principles are about the essential nature of “how” you inhabit your body in connection to your mind, heart and spirit.

Your daily life activities, such as the chores you do, how you drive your car, engage with people, sit at your desk, etc. will become less stressful as you become more aware of your body. If your work requires physical exertion and full body movement you will shift into a more balanced way of working. Your involvement with sports and movement arts such as yoga, dance, martial arts and the like will become more pleassurable, richer and fuller experience of yourself. The way that you engage with the other people in your life will have more presence and connection.

How to enter in to the realm of Somatic Embodiment?

Relax the mind, relax the body, breath, stretch, let your body move freely, feel the sensations of the body, become aware of your physicality. It is as simple as that, but, not that easy. Especially if you feel disconnected from your breath, relaxation, or authentic movement. That is why it is worth having a guide. Someone who can create an experience for you that supports you to let go into something new.

Classes and individual sessions support your learning and growth.