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This month is my tenth anniversary of teaching somatics 🎉, (and also teaching movement for 21 years!). My first brief introduction to somatic movement was during my yoga teacher training in Costa Rica in 2005, it was very Feldenkrais like and I loved it! Seven years later my yoga therapy training mentors were recommending the work of Thomas Hanna the founder of somatics. After all my yoga and yoga therapy trainings, I was still on the search to help myself ease by constant underlying tension, anxiety and back pain, I also knew if I felt like this, then others would do too.
I took my first training with Essential Somatics and remember crying with relief when Martha, my teacher took us through the movement "Arch and Release”, I recall thinking “this is what it feels like to finally feel my back let go” It was life changing for me. I felt I had come home, felt calmer and more well, more whole.
Understanding the muscular reflex responses to stress and habitual thinking/feeling and ways of moving finally helped me make sense of my back pain and anxiety and played one of the biggest parts in my self healing. I just knew I had to teach this - and share this important work.
Ten years on and last week I taught another free Zoom class to over 70 participants as part of Essential Somatics community classes. I feel so lucky to be part of this community and practice - and to share this work with students across the world. In my quest to help myself and others, I never thought I’d get to teach a class that would reach so many. Only on reflection today does this now feel like a fitting way to celebrate my 10 years of teaching somatics.
Afterwards, I received some lovely feedback and emails and one in particular from a psychotherapist really resonated me in. I am grateful to G and all for taking the time to email me…
““Today your gentle invitational practice was a delight … In my practice as a somatic psychotherapist, I value a slower pace and gentle invitational language which is neurophysiologically respectful and not premised on performative goals”.”
I truly believe there is, now, more than ever a need for somatics. A moment in your week to be with yourself, to explore movement in a gentle way, to connect more deeply, restore you, back to you.
And if you missed this class, called “Grounded and Centred” it is available to purchase from Essential Somatics here
Below details of what’s in class this week, what’s new in the library and here you can find my upcoming offerings.
I hope you can make space for you,
From my Heart, Soul & Soma to Yours,
Liz 🙏🏻🧡
Just added to the Library - Feet First “Nothing short of a Miracle"
This class focuses on relieving the stiffness in the ankles and also connecting the movements of our feet to the pelvis. A lot of positive feedback for this class, one student commenting “I really noticed a lot that was unexpected which surprised me”.
Online & In Person Classes - This Week - “Head First"
Gentle somatic movement for restoring the position of your head creating balance and ease to your neck, shoulders, soma and soul.
