How are your feeling today?
- Suffering from sciatica, chronic pain in your back, hips, knees feet, shoulders or neck that never quite goes away?
- Feeling less flexible than you used to be?
- Worrying about your posture?
- Moving less easily and freely?
- Spending too much time sitting at your computer?
Tried everything but only get short term relief?
Why not take control of your body and heal yourself?
Hanna Somatic Education teaches you how to relax muscles that are held in a constantly contracted state that pulls you out of shape, keeps you in chronic pain and reduces your flexibiity, mobility and balance. You’ll get:
- Less or no pain
- Easier movement
- More freedom
- Better balance
- Improved posture
What is Somatics
Hanna Somatics builds on the work of the Alexander and Feldenkrais techniques but adds the new knowledge of the brain and muscle relationship to the work to achieve faster and long lasting results.
It uses the technique of pandiculation where a muscle is gently contracted – not stretched – and then slowly released to neutral and finally allowed to completely relax. It is the slow release and relaxation phase which resets the muscle length.
Because Somatics works at the brain level you have to be actively engaged in the process. It’s not a case of “being worked on or done to.”
Somatic movements are slow movements where you learn to gently contract tight muscles then slowly release them to zero. The exercises are designed to reach different sets of muscles.
A daily routine then enables you to stay pain free, flexible, and mobile. You can learn the exercises in a class, a workshop or in a one-to-one session.
Watch a cat pandiculate by gently contracting its back muscles then slowly releasing them back to zero in preparation for movement and action. It does this over 40 times a day!
The Somatic Reflexes
Somatics focuses on these full body patterns of muscular contraction and deals with the root cause rather than just where the pain is. Pain in the hips, knees, feet, hands, shoulders or neck usually means tightness in the centre.
Green Light Reflex
The ‘get up and go’ response to the everyday world. The shoulders are pulled back and down, chin up, pelvis tipped forward and feet turned out slightly. It results in low back pain, sciatica, tight hips and hamstrings, painful feet, necks and shoulders and even migraines.
Red Light Reflex
This is a withdrawal, stress or startle reflex or can be habituated from too much sitting, driving or computer work. The shoulders slump forward, pelvis tucks under, chin juts forward and knees point in toward each other. It results in neck, shoulder, mid back and knee pain as well as shallow breathing.
Trauma Reflex
This is a protective reflex creating cringing from injury, accidents or surgery. It creates a shortening in the waist on one side of the body, a lean to that side along with tight ribs. It results in back pain, sciatica, scoliosis, having one shoulder higher than the other.
Learn for yourself
Somatics focuses on full body patterns of muscular contraction. The movements deal with the root cause of the problem, rather than just where the pain is.
There are several ways that you can learn Somatics.
Classes and Workshops
These provide an easy way to find out about somatics and learn the somatic exercises.
Individual Learning
These are one-to-one sessions where I can assess your issues and tailor programmes to your specific needs.
Face to Face classes
These are held locally in small groups. They may be general programmes covering the somatic reflexes, drop in classes or classes tailored to specific problems, such as sciatica or shoulders. Sessions are about an hour long.
Online classes
These use the zoom online video conferencing platform. They are small groups sessions learning in your own home with general or specific programmes. Join a weekly droip-in class. Sessions last about an hour
Individual Coaching
These are sessions where you are taught the somatic movements. These may either be done face-to-face or online. It’s a great way to get learn as you get individual coaching, especially if you don’t want to join a class.
Clinical Sessions
One-to-one clinical sessions using hands on assisted pandiculation techniques. Sessions include assessment of posture and medical hisotry so that work can be tailored to your specific issues. Sessions last about 90 minutes.
About Me
I began exploring Somatic Education in 2010 to resolve my own back pain. I was so impressed with the results that I trained to become a Somatics Coach so that I could teach the Somatic Movements to others.
However, I soon realised that I could acheive more by becoming a Certified Clinical Somatics Educator in the style of Thomas Hanna, which I did in 2017 after a three year training progamme.
Testimonials
I found the exercises excellent at relieving the aches in my back and hips. I will continue to practice. Thank you, especially for the the audio tapes containing your calm, clear instructions.
I am now pain free! I no longer have a bad back or sciatica or take a concoction of painkillers to reduce the pain on a daily basis. My physical and mental well-being has changed dramatically as a result and i feel like I’m back to being myself again.
‘When I first read about Martin’s Somatics classes the whole concept made immediate sense. Deceptively simple, I feel Somatics has given me back control over the aches and pains I have suffered over many years. I just love Somatics, and feel that I will be able to continue doing the exercises for the rest of my life.
Why not start right now?
Try out a simple somatic exercise.
Use the audio and notes to learn Arch and Flatten, a core somatic exercise, for releasing your back muscles