Musings from Think Somatics + Kristin Jackson

Somatics is never meant to cause pain. If you start doing the moves, and are feeling pain, particularly later in the day or next day, here are helpful tips. 1) Are you working too hard at this? Somatics is not "exercise."  think of the movement as explorations, not “exercises.” Imagine you are moving like seaweed not a tightly wound contraption, or working out. This can be a very different way of moving your body, if you come from a no pain, no gain mentality of fitness/physical therapy world. You are working with your nervous system. Treat it with care. 2) Are you not contracting both sides of your body at once? I’ll use arch and flatten as an example: when you arch, notice if you are releasing the front of the body. Can you feel your belly muscles lengthen and be soft?  If not, you are literally using your body’s tension as a weight machine, pulling against tension. Instead, let the opposing side of the body release a you contract the focus side NO CO-CONTRACTIONS

Sometimes when new clients come to me they say they can't get down and up from the floor with ease, so they ask if they can do Somatics on their beds. Yes, you can do your Somatics practice on your bed, but if it's a soft, squishy one, be warned: You can over do the movements and make yourself sore. When I redecorated my home office I wanted a daybed of sorts. I actually got rid of my standing desk. I hate to sit at a desk or table for long periods of time. When I do sit, I like to sit on the floor. But this where you'll find me, when not on the floor. I sit on this bed to write newsletters and such. It's not really a daybed, but it makes a great little snuggly area to sit and work. I put my laptop on a pillow on my lap, legs crossed. It's SUPER firm! Perfect alternative to a traditional Somatics table, and actually less expensive than many of the folding tables. It would make a great bed for doing Somatics if you can't get to the floor. I've just go

Thomas Hanna was a "philosopher who worked with his hands." He believed that the way we sense ourselves is part of the living process of being human. By being aware of how we process everything in our lives through our thoughts, movements and habits, we can remain free and autonomous. To some people that might be a head scratcher. Especially since most people come to his work because they are in pain. Which is does wonders for. But really it's sooooo much more than that. Here is a great interview of the great man, Thomas Hanna . I suspect he would be appalled at how humans are living today. Let's see if we can turn this ship called humanity around and find a more homeostatic way of co-existing. peace, Kristin