MODULE 3: SOMATIC WAY

Fundamentally, somatic processes are natural to each and every one of us as they arise from our lived body experiences. Somatics explores our personal body consciousness and how we are shaped by both inner and outer movements, or forces. The lived body can also describe collective bodies/ groups in society and culture.

Somatic way is a modern appearance. In the practice, echoes pour through our bones in the form of wisdom from the ancients, from those who came before us and were connected with and inseparable from the land. We are all pathfinders of the somatic way.  We are here through other people, other bodies. May we continue to pay respect to our teachers, both human and more-than-human, and remember the gifts they have shared.

Somatic Groundwork has a unique systems sensing approach. The explorations help us move and feel better, circulate stuck energy, return to embodied connection and belonging and provide better relating with ourselves and others. Inherent to somatic practice is creative play and experiential learning.

The teachings of the somatic way cannot be absorbed by reading (or rereading), studying concepts, taking notes, listening to podcasts or watching videos. Thought experiments alone, no matter how juicy or philosophical, will not develop the skills needed to guide others in somatic inquiry processes. Personal embodiment practice is a requirement. Skill development takes repetition over time. Be patient along the way. 

Module 3 is the heart of the program.

For Module 3, I recommend learning with the concepts and practices for 2 months.  Take several hours 3 - 4 days/week to read, study, practice and reflect.  A deep soak in this material is a great way to be initiated into the somatic way.  After your deep dive, come back to review as needed.


MODULE 3 OBJECTIVES

• Articulate how the ten basic patterns are fundamental movements

• Apply the principles of Somatic Groundwork to movement practice

• Learn how systems sensing is used to guide the grounding resources and the spacializing resources

• Practice the basic somatic techniques

• Describe the importance for trauma-informed somatic inquiry 

• Reflect on the basis of touch and the ethical guidelines of touch for Somatic Groundwork practitioners

• Learn the science of sensory reception

• Practice the first teachings: somatic inquiry, somatic containing, grounding resources and yielding

• Describe tensegrity and how this structural design principle relates to the body’s fascial architecture

• Build a tensegrity and articulate the emergent properties

• Experience unwinding as a form of self-massage therapy

• Connect ideas of decoloniality and somatics

• Learn about how social identity impacts lived experience

• Examine worldview and societal norms