Unlock the Hidden Patterns:
The Eric Cooper Somatics Method

Discover the Unseen Constraints of the Body through Breath and Movement

Pain is not the root problem—it’s an expression of an underlying problem. When pain arises, it indicates that the body has reached its limit, the “boiling over” of deep, long-held tension patterns. Traditional Somatics approaches focus on three basic patterns that affect surface-level tension. There is a different way to view these problems, one that is more effective at addressing the deeper root causes. The Eric Cooper Somatics Method is a different path—moving beyond symptom management to uncover the hidden patterns of tension that lie beneath the surface.

The Hidden Breathing Space Constriction

At the core of most tension patterns is a constriction of the body’s natural breathing space. Where in the torso does someone never breathe? This seemingly simple question holds the key to understanding the deeper stuckness that limits true freedom of movement. Whether in the front, back, sides, or along diagonal lines, twisting lines, or lines of intent that even go through the torso (what Eric calls the Inner-X lines), tension relationships between areas of tension—all of these possible expressions become the forgotten places that forget how to move. In the torso, it is a forgetting of how to breathe.

By focusing on this critical, yet often overlooked, element of restricted breathing space, we go beyond the simplistic notion of tension as surface contractions. The Eric Cooper Somatics Method allows you and your clients to explore and release these hidden restrictions, creating a newfound sense of space, ease, and vitality in movement.

A Method Born from Necessity

The Eric Cooper Somatics Method grew out of a personal journey to find a better way. After years of chronic pain and a traditional somatics training that failed to address the deeper issues (although it was reduced, I still had my pain), I realized something was missing. I had experienced almost all of the patterns: a C-curve from early injuries, an S-curve from a motorcycle accident, and the hunched posture of bicycle racing that reinforced the posture of depression. Even with professional training, I was still stuck—trapped in a body that couldn’t find relief.

So, I began to innovate. I designed a method that is truly somatic, one that listens to the nervous system’s ability to learn and unlearn its own stuck patterns. I discovered new ways of approaching tension, developed better movement strategies, and focused on breath as the key to finding and unlocking hidden patterns. This method allowed me to free myself—not just from pain, but from a life defined by physical limitations and stuck emotional habits.

A New Way Forward for Practitioners and Clients

Whether you’re a practitioner or a client, the Eric Cooper Somatics Method offers a clear, adaptable framework for teaching the nervous system how to release its grip on old patterns. Instead of trying to “fix” the body, this method guides individuals on a journey of inner discovery, revealing the ways in which they’ve been unconsciously holding tension for years, even decades.

The emphasis is on exploring hidden spaces, learning how to move in ways that promote deep, sustainable change. As a practitioner, you’ll learn to guide clients to see their own unique patterns, helping them understand the relationship between tension, posture, and breathing space. You’ll also discover how to teach adaptive movements that work with the nervous system’s natural ability to learn. Learning to teach this method requires that you go through the process yourself. Ultimately, you and your clients get to free yourselves from patterns that were previously unknown. How you’re stuck is hidden. You don’t know what’s holding you back.

A Better Somatics for Real Transformation

The Eric Cooper Somatics Method is designed for those who seek real transformation, whether for themselves or their clients. This is not a quick fix—it’s a deep dive into the body’s intricate tension patterns, one that requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to explore the unknown. But the rewards are immense: no more chronic pain, no more emotional weight tethered to your body, and the freedom to move through life with ease and vitality.

If you’re ready to experience somatics on a whole new level, to unlock the hidden patterns restricting your body’s natural movement, then this is the way. Embark on this journey. Change the course of your ship. Discover your own transformative power with this perspective on awareness, movement, and breathing.