Somatic

The term somatic refers to the body. It also refers to the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary movement and sensation and judges relative effort and weight, called proprioception.

Contents 1 Origin of term 2 Description 3 Somatic techniques 4 See also 5 External links

Origin of term

The term comes from the Greek word Σωματικóς (Somatikòs), meaning "of the body". The term was popularized by the philosopher/Somatic Educator Thomas Hanna, Ph.D. in his book Bodies in Revolt: A Primer in Somatic Thinking (Freeperson Press 1970).

Description

Somatic education enhances movement and sensation, improving function. Generally, it also implies a philosophy of mind and body unity, and some forms utilize a teacher-student rather than a client-practitioner relationship.

Somatic techniques

• Hanna Somatic Education,
• Feldenkrais method,
• Body-Mind Centering,
• Continuum,
• Somatic Coaching
• Bartnieff Fundamentals (LMA),
• East West Somatics for Dance and Movement Therapy,
• Global Somatics,
• Topf Technique,
• Halprin Method,
• Rolf Movement,
• SOMAction Movement Therapy,
• Leven Movement Therapy,
• Vocal Dance & Voice Movement Integration,
• In-Motion Movement Therapy
• Alexander Technique
• Somatic Leadership.

See also

• Focusing technique
• Psychosomatic illness
• Gnosticism

External links

• The International Somatic Movement Education & Therapy Association
• Feldenkrais Guild of North America
• Strozzi Institute
• The Black Belt Way

The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic under GFDL