Category: thoughts
The subtlety of being
I found this part of a poem in a mindfulness meditation book by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It is a wonderful picture of the realm you can reconnect to with Somatic Education. Where is your breath? What screams for attention? Is your life shaped around a contraction, a void, a fear that is always between the waves?… Continue reading The subtlety of being
Truth shows up in movement
Some reflections on a discussion I had with one of my clients - so much to discover, so many things to reconnect to. I am grateful for my learning coming from working with people who are at a turning point of how they want to relate to themselves in the present and future. Who have… Continue reading Truth shows up in movement
Motor planning – why do we use this technique in Somatic Education?
'Can you imagine doing this movement before you actually do it? Can you compare your expectation of the movement with the actual sensation of doing it?' In Somatic Education we love motor planning or motor imagery! A lot of our clients can have difficulties with some movements - they brace from the thought of moving… Continue reading Motor planning – why do we use this technique in Somatic Education?
Explain Pain
I've been lucky to have had the opportunity in participating in an Explain Pain seminar this weekend, presented by Ben Davies (not the football player), a pain specialist with excellent presentation skills and a vast knowledge. The Explain Pain course is developed by the NOIgroup, Australia's leading pain science researchers. We were learning about how… Continue reading Explain Pain
The mind is like the ocean
On my way to teach a sold out Neck and Shoulder workshop at the wonderful Reform Pilates in Blackrock, a seaside community just outside Dublin, I was listening to Dan Siegel's The Mindful Therapist. It's a wonderful book for therapists, encouraging mindfulness practice, self-care and offering an insight into his concept of Mindsight and Interpersonal… Continue reading The mind is like the ocean
Snow makes Ireland come to a halt
When Storm Emma meets The beast from the East (who came up with that name?!), we get 4 days of snow - the first 15-20cm fell last night, which means schools are staying closed, bread is sold out and everyone is in a slight panic. Time for some selfcare - Somatic Movement lying on a… Continue reading Snow makes Ireland come to a halt
rambling about the hows and the whys
We had a great discussion in class yesterday after one of the participants told me she didn't quite get the movements we did the previous week - 'sometimes it clicks and you understand it, but this movement I couldn't get my head around it' (we were doing shoulder and hip circles). I explained why it… Continue reading rambling about the hows and the whys
What happens in a Clinical Lesson?
I was lucky to have my friend and professional dancer Karen Gleeson and photographer Angie Pappas Constable with me in my office to give you a glimpse of how a Clinical lesson might look like. I think Angie took some beautiful photos - check out her street photography work here: www.angieconstable.com , so I want… Continue reading What happens in a Clinical Lesson?
How to practice Somatic Movement
Following a discussion about principles and some philosophy of Somatic Movement with a client this morning, here are some thoughts about how to use Somatic Movement for real change. Thomas Hanna was a true pioneer in his way of connecting the dots and I'm grateful to learn slowly to 'see how he sees' by exploring,… Continue reading How to practice Somatic Movement