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Somatics is a generalized term understood to mean 'of the
body'. In fact, many bodywork professionals fairly regard themselves
as somatic practitioners. However, Hanna Somatics Education (H.S.E.)
implies a specific form of bodywork developed by the late Thomas
Hanna. Hanna's technique is actually more a form of education than
therapy, per se. This is because the practice of H.S.E. entails a
collaborative process between client and practitioner, and because as
part of that process the client's brain is learning how to reassert
full voluntary control over the motor functions in its domain.
Thomas Hanna was a philosopher, writer, and teacher and also a close
personal friend and colleague of Moshe Feldenkrais. Like Feldenkrais,
Hanna was a pioneer in the field of human potential and possessed one
of the most brilliant minds of modern times. In his teachings he was
able to blend philosophy and psychology with the physiology of social
evolution for a truly unique and on-the-mark understanding of human
pain and suffering, especially that having to do with musculoskeletal
distress. Hanna's legacy is the means by which human suffering, at
least much of that stemming from musculoskeletal imbalance, can be
addressed and alleviated through the techniques he developed.
Hanna's technique involved a three-pronged approach, characterized by the means
whereby, a method of assessing musculoskeletal imbalances in the body;
kinetic mirroring, a technique for releasing muscular tension by
aligning with tension rather than opposing it; and pandiculation, a
technique for restoring full function to sensorimotor pathways and
relaxing the body's muscles. Each of these three prongs is premised on
Hanna's concept of sensory motor amnesia, or SMA. The educational
component of H.S.E. occurs on both a cortical and sub-cortical level
as the brain relearns and recovers its ability to control, and relax,
the body's muscles. Few learning experiences are more crucial to the
health and well being of any given individual than controlling one's
own body.
Sensory motor amnesia can readily be seen in individuals who display any
kind of habituated patterns. This includes most people to some degree
or another. We've all had occasion to observe someone whose body was
obviously, and perhaps severely, out of balance - the raised shoulder
or tilted neck, the shortened leg and resultant favoring of one side
over the other, or an exaggerated curvature in the low spine or neck
areas. Most of these issues fall into one or more of three predictable
reflex patterns as stipulated by Hanna. 'Green light' issues involve
chronic tightness/ amnesia in the body's "let's go" muscles.
'Red light' issues involve the body's startle reflex or "stop
now" muscles. And 'Trauma pattern' issues stem from unilateral
activities or experiences in which the body has tried to cushion
itself from some real or perceived danger or injury. Thomas Hanna
developed protocols for addressing each of these patterns, so that
much of the musculoskeletal imbalance, and pain and suffering rampant
in modern industrialized society can be alleviated in fairly short
order.
Hanna Somatics practitioners typically engage clients on two levels. First,
hands-on practice allows the practitioner to work directly with
clients in a collaborative fashion. In addition to, or in lieu of,
hands-on practice clients learn simple, yet profound, exercise
patterns for home practice to reinforce the lessons of their hands-on
sessions. The results, often immediate for hands-on work and
cumulative for home exercise practice, can be astounding as clients
recover a range of motion and freedom of movement otherwise beyond
their means.
Anybody can employ Hanna Somatics to address the 'myth of aging'. If you
are tired, achy, or inflexible even though you exercise, or if you
have pesky or lingering body issues even though you do good things for
your body Hanna Somatics may be able to help to restore a more
youthful freedom and range of motion. Think of Hanna Somatics for
headaches, neck or shoulder pain, low back pain or sciatica, insomnia,
or just about any of the discomforts often (mis)associated with the
aging process.
At this time there are fewer than 150 certified Hanna Somatics
educators/practitioners worldwide. Recently, that number is growing
with the addition of the Somatic Systems Training Institute in
Northampton
,
MA
. Currently, S.S.T.I. and South Shore Somatic Education, in Cohasset,
are the only two providers in
Massachusetts
recognized as offering Somatics in the tradition of Thomas Hanna.
John Loupos is the founder of South Shore Somatic Education and of Jade
Forest Kung Fu/ Tai Chi in Cohasset. He has authored 3 books on Tai
Chi and is currently a student in training at the Somatic Systems
Training Institute in
Northampton
,
MA
. John offers individual sessions in Hanna Somatics at his Cohasset
location. He can be reached at 781 383.6822 or at jadeforest@comcast.net.
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