From: http://workfromwithin.typepad.com/weblog/2005/05/what_is_somatic.html
What is Somatic Psychology and how does it relate to the world of work?
Somatic Psychology has actually been around for at least 50 years, if not more like a century. It is also known as body psychology, or body-centered psychology.
I like to think of 'traditional' psychology as addressing people at a 'neck-up' level, where you really do a lot of talking. The problem with that? We are not just brains. We have hearts and guts and whole bodies that move. And, as I've heard it said, "the issues are in the tissues." Our history resides in our muscles and bones, our tissues, our cells.
Somatic psychology takes into account the whole person. It recognizes the unity of body, mind, and spirit.
As I understand it, the term 'soma' refers to the body experienced from the inside. Thomas Hanna described it as "the body as perceived from within by first-person perception." To me, our own self-perception includes thoughts, emotions, and sensations.
In somatic psychology, a client would be encouraged to experience his or her body as a resource. In a session, being 'in the moment' is vital, and by attending to what is happening moment-to-moment, a client gains awareness of his or her own experience. The body tells the truth, and by focusing on sensations, tensions, finding relaxation, using breath, a movement, inner wisdom can come to the surface.
I think the European Association of Body Psychotherapy does a nice job of explaining this concept behind Somatic Psychology, even though they call it something a bit different.
So...how does somatic psychology relate to the world of work?
For me, it's all about some core beliefs that the field has helped me to realize:
1. When we move, we change.
2. Paying attention to our bodies helps bring us into the present moment.
3. Being present feels good -- and we deserve to feel that way at work!
4. Our aliveness and alignment resides in the body -- when we attune to our body, we can feel alive and aligned in work, in play, in relationships, and in all aspects of our lives.
5. When we are dissatisfied with our work, we can turn inwards and trust that our body will give us the messages we need about how to change.
6. Our gut and our heart both have vital messages, if we can learn to listen to them.
7. To inform any change, we can pay attention to our emotions as well as to how our energy feels. Simply put, we can ask: "Does this feel good to me?"
Lots more to come on the topic of body and work. I believe it's vital to embody the work you love, the work that expresses who you are.
And, I'm committed to teaching others how to do it. That's part of who I am.
Deep breath.
