Frequently Asked Questions

Thomas Hanna coined the term Somatics in the mid-'70s. Somatic Movement Education is a form of neuromuscular learning that restores our ability to move comfortably and efficiently.

By releasing unnecessary tension and restoring natural coordination, we can regain greater voluntary control of our muscles.

When exploring slow, simple, gentle movements, we focus on internal sensations rather than concerning ourselves with alignment or poses. There is no right or wrong with Somatics.

In Somatics, you are the ultimate authority on your body. No one understands your body better than you. We empower you to move in a way that feels good and will yield the best results, rather than adjusting or moving your body parts for you.

By addressing the root cause of chronically contracted muscles (the brain), Somatics offers relief and freedom of movement for the long term. Learning Somatics also equips you with the 'tools' such as specific movement sequences and self-awareness techniques to manage aches and pains as they arise, preventing tension from accumulating and becoming a problem.

When you choose to learn Somatics, you're not just investing in your health; you're also making a smart financial decision. By preventing tension from accumulating and addressing aches and pains as they arise, you can save a significant amount of money in the long run, from reduced healthcare costs to increased productivity due to improved health and movement.

Our daily habits, from how we sit and stand to how we move, play a significant role in the muscular tension we experience. Daily stress, as well as our thoughts and feelings, can influence our movements. Understanding this can help us become more aware and conscious of our actions, leading to better control over our muscular tension.

We are the product of our movement habits, the sports and activities we have played, and the accidents, injuries, and surgeries we have endured. These can take their toll over time if we do not fully address them. Gradually, we lose sense of ourselves and blame the ageing process for a reason.

However, what happens is that we develop a condition known as sensory-motor amnesia. This is when our brain forgets how to fully control certain muscles, leading to chronic tension and reduced mobility.

We learned to stay tight and forgot how to let our muscles relax. This can become exhausting and painful at times.

When we learn a new movement pattern, it happens in a part of the brain called the motor cortex. Once we habituate that pattern, it gets stored in another area called the subcortex. This means that relearning movement is not only possible but also a natural process. Understanding this can give us hope and motivation to correct our poor movement patterns and regain control over our bodies.

To undo these chronically held muscles and regain control, we need to engage the motor cortex again - our 'learning zone' to wake up those muscles stuck on 'cruise control'.  By moving in specific ways, we can actively regain control of our muscles and reset their length and function, restoring our freedom of movement. This understanding empowers us to take control of our bodies and improve our movement habits.

Pandiculation is a natural process that we share with all vertebrates. It is a universal experience—you've witnessed your pets engage in pandiculation multiple times per day. It's a full-body yawn. It's important to note that there is no stretching involved!

Muscles only contract and relax; they do not stretch. We can pull them to a desired length; many people do this and cause themselves injury. I have overdone this many times before understanding Somatics.

The brain, our master controller, runs tension patterns in response to our life experiences. If you stretch and pull at muscles, they will always return to the habitual contracted pattern they are used to. When we stretch, we are trying to fix an area and missing the bigger picture. 

Pandiculation is a three-step process. The first step is to contract muscles more than they are currently contracted. Step two slowly allows them to lengthen as you relax and let go. Step three is to pause, rest, and notice, sense, and feel the sensations within and your contact with the surface beneath you. This heightened awareness allows the brain to sense new sensations and integrate them.

Focusing entirely on your direct experience frees your mind from stress, such as work deadlines, family worries and responsibilities, or personal issues. When you create space for Somatics, you create space in all areas of your life. 

Our bodies take on three primary reflex patterns in response to stress...

In Somatics, we call them the Red Light Reflex, better known as tension in the front of the body; the Green Light Reflex, tension in the back of the body; and the Trauma Reflex, tension in the sides. 

Red Light Reflex - The tightening of the muscles on the front of the body is not only the startle response to fear, anxiety, and emotional upset. It is becoming increasingly known today as a muscular adaptation to excessive computer and mobile phone use; this slumped forward posture can lead to chronic neck, shoulder and back pain due to the rounding forward of the shoulders, the head jutting forward and compression in the chest area.

This tension pattern pulls down the front ribs and tightens the belly, hindering our breath. Shallow breathing can deprive the body of the essential oxygen it needs to function correctly.

Green Light Reflex - The muscles on the back of the body contract to move us forward. We can overly contract our back muscles when walking, running for something, standing up straight (think military posture), or sitting up straight. If these stresses become habituated, they can contribute to back, neck, and shoulder pain, disc issues, and sciatica pain. 

When suffering from these pains, we can easily suffer from depression, anxiety and sleep problems. A cycle of pain can develop.

The Trauma Reflex is a pain-avoidance reflex; the sides of the body contract in response to accidents or injuries to avoid further trauma or create protection.

Daily stresses like sinking into one hip or holding a child on one side can create an imbalance from right to left. Many one-sided activities, like tennis and golf, can also contribute to this tension pattern.  

Nothing is wrong with these reflex patterns; however, we often experience reduced mobility and pain when habituating them.

Thankfully, we can release these chronically contracted muscles with a gentle Somatics practice and regain our freedom of movement.

I would love as many people as possible to benefit from this work. I offer free trials on all my online memberships and in-person sessions. 

If you'd like to discuss how Somatics can help you,  I offer a complimentary 30-minute telephone consultation.

Feel free to email me through this website or WhatsApp at 07907 22 60 60 to book your session.

I look forward to talking with you. 

All the best for now, 

Sarah 

I hope you can join us!