Clinical Somatics Education Classes
and Workshops
What does one learn in a Somatics class/workshop?
Somatic education classes focus on your experience of your bodily senses. For example, “What do feel when you move that part of your body?” During each movement, you will bring attention to what it feels like to relax a muscle as well as which muscles are used in the movement. Keeping your attention on the sensations involved in the movement is a key component in gaining voluntary control over the sensory-motor system to more effectively engage and relax the muscles as necessary.
You will be coached to make all movements slow, engaging their complete attention in the movement. To help maintain focus, most movements are done lying on the floor to take out the need to use one’s attention to balance freeing the mind to focus its attention solely on the movement. This makes the class accessible for most levels of physical ability. If you have further questions whether this class is appropriate for your needs, please contact the instructor.
Class sessions and workshops may vary in theme, but are designed to be part of a well-rounded curriculum when practiced on a regular basis.
The principles of Clinical Somatic Education are based on neuroscience and how the brain and muscles work together and offers gentle and easy exercises that are appropriate for all fitness levels and results in greater ease in movement.
For those unfamiliar with somatic education, other closely related modalities relying on similar principles include neuromuscular rehabilitation and the Feldenkrais methods, although there are some differences in techniques and overall application.
Appropriate for:
- Seniors with arthritis or chronic tension or stiffness
- Those recovering from injuries
- Athletes/dancers/fitness enthusiasts/musicians, etc. who depend on fine-tuned physical movements
- Yoga or other mind-body movement practitioners/instructors
- Those interested in medication-free ways to prevent and alleviate pain, chronic tension, and stiffness, or facilitate postural corrections
Class notes:
Bring to class: yoga mat, blanket, or exercise pad to lie on and an open mind for learning.
Note: Most exercises will be done lying on the floor, with small amounts of walking and observing that can be modified for those with limitations.
The instructor has 1 table that can be reserved for someone who is unable to easily get down and up from the floor.
For specific questions contact the instructor, Kim Kies, at 715-403-5241 or email somaticwellbeing@gmail.com.
Class Locations and Times
Yoga North Duluth
Prime Somatic Education Exercise Series: Somatic Education to let go of chronic tension, pain, and return one’s neurological reflexes to homeostasis
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
Thursday, January ?, 2011
7:00pm-8:30pm only $15 per class
We encounter daily stressors that result in innate reflex patterns that, if not corrected for over time, will lead to chronic tension often resulting in pain and limited movement. Such patterns occur through adaptation to repetitive motions, sports activities, repeated postures, hectic lifestyles, worries, fear, or trauma to name a few. Our bodies are designed to quickly adapt to whatever we present to it regardless of how balanced our lives are. Unfortunately, our culture does not always provide us ample opportunities to release these reflexive patterns nor the understanding and skill in how to release them if we do have the opportunity. Then, before we know it, we start having aches and pains and injuries that limit our lives.
The series of 4 sessions will provide you with a set of gentle exercises, which done with awareness will help re-align your neuro-muscular system in the moment, and help decrease the effects of the innate human reflexes that accumulate if left unchecked and result in tightness, pain, and postural distortions. The neuro-muscular reprogramming techniques get at the source of the tight or dysfunctional muscles at the level of where the movement signal is created- in the brain.
These exercises provide a great way to recalibrate your neurological system daily, to neurologically “warm up” for yoga or other movement practices, or rehabilitate injuries or chronic muscular dysfunctions –including some that you thought you would just have to “live with” for the remainder of your days.
While you are not required to attend all sessions in the series, it is highly recommended as they are designed to build upon each other. The four sessions will focus on working with re-aligning the core area of the front and back, rotational alignment, hip and leg alignment, and shoulder alignment respectively.
First Session: This session will focus on exercises that release tension and re-align the core muscles, Focusing on those that are triggered from the startle and lambdau reflex. This session is the most necessary for everyone, whether an accomplished yoga practitioner or couch potato.
Second Session: This session will focus on exercises that release rotational mis-alignment, whether resulting from the trauma reflex or other habitual postures due to repetitive actions. Remnants from the trauma reflex can result from injuries or psychological stress from as far back as one’s formative development and are not always the result of what is referred to as a major accident or injury. Most people have some level of rotational mis-alignment -common manifestations are: one leg longer than the other, a rotation in the pelvis, or less range of motion in turning one direction over the other.
Third Session: This session will focus on alignment of the hips and legs. Most osteo arthritis and wear and tear on joints is due to mis-alignment of the muscles controlling movement around the joints. If we continue to do activities, especially high-impact activities while not using our muscles in a balanced fashion, breakdown and injuries will ultimately occur. This session will provide exercises to become more aware of and align the major muscle groups around the hips and legs and will work with the walking movement since this is the most prominent movement for mobility in our lives.
Fourth Session: This session will focus on alignment of the shoulders. Most arthritis and wear and tear on joints is due to mis-alignment of the muscles controlling movement around the joints. If one continues to do activities while not using our muscles in a balanced fashion, dysfunction, arthritis, and/or injuries will occur. This session will provide exercises to become more aware of and align the major muscle groups around the shoulders.
From this series of 4 classes, you will experience:
1. The 3 innate human reflex patterns and what dominant patterns you have that may be causing postural misalignments, chronic tension, or other dis-ease.
2. How the brain and the muscles are integrated and experience the integration of the mind and movement.
3. How to re-program your mind to lengthen chronically contracted muscles.
4. The relationship of movement from the center to the periphery of ourselves.
5. A set of gentle exercises that you can do on your own or combine with your other exercise routines.
Appropriate for:
• Seniors or others with arthritis, back pain, sciatica, shoulder stiffness, or other common muscular associated ailments.
• Athletes/dancers/fitness enthusiasts who want to move more effectively.
• Yoga or other mind-body movement practitioners/instructors
• Those interested in medication-free ways to prevent and alleviate pain, chronic tension, and stiffness
Somatics Education offers gentle and easy exercises that are appropriate for all fitness levels. Most of the exercises will be done lying on the floor, although a therapy table is available for someone who has difficulty getting up and down from the ground. Bring a thick yoga mat and/or blanket and wear clothing that you can easily move in (no jeans or belts, etc.)
Instructor: Kim Kies, MA, MPH, cPT, cWC
and Somatic Educator
www.somaticwellbeing.com 715-403-5241 somaticwellbeing@gmail.com
Pre Registration and payment at…
Web: http://www.yoganorthduluth.com
4628 Pitt Street, Suite 208 Duluth, MN
888.722.YOGA 218.722.YOGA
Info@yoganorthduluth.com
Friday, April 16, 2010
www.yoganorthduluth.com
4628 Pitt Street
Duluth, MN 55804-1557
(218) 722-9642
Somatic Education for Aligning and Freely Moving the Cranial (Head) and Sacral (Pelvic) Regions
Course Description:
Once past our childhood, involving a variety of physical activities organically occurring through play, we often find ourselves repeatedly engaging in a small set of movements for long periods of time, such as sitting in front of computers, driving, standing, or even during sports we have played for years. While these postures are not inherently disruptive, many of us display perpetual misaligned use of ourselves in them, eventually forming subconscious habits in our neuromuscular system that we can’t seem to overcome, such as slouching, sitting with the head or pelvis rotated or tilted to one side or the other, the head held forward from the shoulders, or even pulling the hip up so one leg appears shorter than the other. Furthermore, if you have had an injury of any kind, your posture as a great potential to be adversely affected even more.
This particular class facilitates the experience of and learning about the core alignment between the sacrum (pelvic region) and cranium (head) that is central to all of our movements. If one does not have skillful control of and alignment in these areas, all other movements will be affectively misaligned.
You will learn:
During the class you will discover how movement in either the cranial or sacral regions directly influences movement in another, more precise control and understanding of movements in these areas, and specific techniques and exercises to help you re-learn correct alignment. The results also include decreased stiffness in the neck or back, weakness, or pain that is the result of chronic tension. In addition, the techniques allow the development of fundamental skills for dancers, yoga practitioners, athletes, and performing artists to gain finer control over their movements.
Breathing Room Classes/Workshops
(Call or email for updates to schedule.)
1301 E Wayzata blvd., Wayzata, MN 55391
952-473-3007
info@breathingroommn.com
www.breathingroommn.com
Somatic Education for Aligning and Freely Moving the Cranial (Head) and Sacral (Pelvic) Regions
Thursdays: April 29, May 13, May 27
(Note: This is the same class repeated on different days.)
90 minute class: $20
Course Description:
Once past our childhood, involving a variety of physical activities organically occurring through play, we often find ourselves repeatedly engaging in a small set of movements for long periods of time, such as sitting in front of computers, driving, standing, or even during sports we have played for years. While these postures are not inherently disruptive, many of us display perpetual misaligned use of ourselves in them, eventually forming subconscious habits in our neuromuscular system that we can’t seem to overcome, such as slouching, sitting with the head or pelvis rotated or tilted to one side or the other, the head held forward from the shoulders, or even pulling the hip up so one leg appears shorter than the other. Furthermore, if you have had an injury of any kind, your posture as a great potential to be adversely affected even more.
This particular class facilitates the experience of and learning about the core alignment between the sacrum (pelvic region) and cranium (head) that is central to all of our movements. If one does not have skillful control of and alignment in these areas, all other movements will be affectively misaligned.
You will learn:
During the class you will discover how movement in either the cranial or sacral regions directly influences movement in another, more precise control and understanding of movements in these areas, and specific techniques and and a set of exercises to help you re-learn correct alignment. The results also include decreased stiffness in the neck or back, weakness, or pain that is the result of chronic tension. In addition, the techniques allow the development of fundamental skills for dancers, yoga practitioners, athletes, and performing artists to gain finer control over their movements.
Somatics Education: Free Introductory Classes
(Note: This is the same class repeated on different days.)
Thursdays: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Dates: March 25, April 1st, May 20, July 22, July 29, September 23
Course Description:
The Somatics Education Free Introductory Class is held to provide the background and explanation of what Clinical Somatics Education is as well as a 30 minute experiential movement class to better understand what a class or seminar is like. You will be given a very gentle exercise that help align the neuromuscular system’s innate reflexes in about five minutes.
In the Somatics Education Free Introductory Class you will learn:
1. How the brain and the muscles are integrated and experience the integration of the mind and movement.
2. How to re-program your mind to lengthen chronically contracted muscles.
3. A gentle exercise that you can do on your own to help decrease tension and create more ease in moving your core region.
Somatics Education for the Hips:
Moving the Hips More Freely
Weekly Classes: Six Week Session ($90):
Thursdays: June 3 – July 8.
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Breathing Room
Saturday Seminar: 4 hr seminar ($60):
Saturday, July 10th:
9:30-2:00pm: Breathing Room
Course Description:
Somatics Education for the Hips will focus on what is involved in moving the hips, especially during everyday movements such as walking. You will notice more precisely what areas are holding you back from moving more efficiently and learn how to release those areas and coordinate movement more efficiently. You will learn a set of exercises that, with consistent practice, will create better alignment, more efficient movement, and reduced tension with the muscles that govern movement in the hip region. These are exercises that can be implemented daily alone or within an existing fitness routine and do not require any special equipment.
In Somatics Education for the Hips you will learn:
1.How the brain and the muscles are integrated and experience the integration of the mind and movement.
2.How to re-program your mind to lengthen chronically contracted muscles.
3.A set of gentle exercises that you can do on your own to help create more ease in moving your hips.
Somatic Education for the SNECK :
Letting Go of Shoulder,
Upper Back and Neck Tension
Weekly Classes: Six Week Session ($90):
Thursdays: August 5th– September 9.
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Breathing Room
Saturday Seminar: 4 hr seminar ($60):
Saturday, September 11th
9:30am-2:00pm: Breathing Room
Course Description:
Somatic Education for the “SNECK” (Shoulders and neck =SNECK) will focus on what is involved in movement and alignment related to the shoulders and head, especially during everyday movements such as sitting at a computer or driving. You will notice more precisely what areas are holding you back from moving more efficiently or movement patterns that are habitual and learn how to release those areas and coordinate movement more efficiently in the SNECK. You will learn a set of exercises that, with consistent practice, will create better alignment, more efficient movement, and reduced tension with the muscles that govern movement in shoulder and neck region. These are exercises that can be implemented daily alone or within an existing fitness routine and do not require any special equipment.
In Somatic Education for the SNECK: you will learn:
1. How the brain and the muscles are integrated and experience the integration of the mind and movement.
2. How to re-program your mind to lengthen chronically contracted muscles.
3. A set of gentle exercises that you can do on your own to help create more ease in moving your shoulders and neck.
