Evolving Somatics: Moving Beyond Protocols to Address Real World Tension Patterns
Beyond Tradition: Evolving Somatics for Deeper Healing
In my journey, I began with traditional Somatics, which offered a foundation for understanding movement and tension patterns. Over time, though, I noticed that a protocol-based approach had certain limitations, especially when it came to addressing complex, real-world tension patterns and chronic pain. My experience led me to ask: how could Somatics evolve to better serve those dealing with deeply ingrained tension, unyielding postural issues, and pain that lingered despite consistent practice?
Why Move Beyond the Traditional Approach?
While Thomas Hanna’s work in Somatics was groundbreaking, his approach primarily centered around three foundational tension patterns, all of them single harmonic bends, which focus on simplifying the postural patterns that contribute to pain and discomfort. This method, however, may not fully account for the more intricate, spatial relationships of tension that many individuals experience. Through my own practice and teaching, I’ve found that these more complex tension patterns require an adaptive, individualized approach.
Meeting People Where They Are
Traditional Somatics often relies on specific exercises—like the Arch and Flatten, or The Back Lift—that may not address the real issues driving chronic tension for some individuals. My method, developed from this realization, offers alternative movements designed to address not just single harmonic bends, but the double and triple harmonic bends of relational tensions which coordinate to boil over as intense discomforts. In addition to this adaptability, my approach removes protocols in favor of self-assessment focused on discovering root tension holdings. This empowers clients to directly engage with their own ‘holding patterns,’ allowing them to transform chronic tension into greater freedom of movement.
The Inner Landscape of Movement
In traditional Somatics, there is often a strong emphasis on sensing—an important step, but only part of the picture. The problem lies not solely in what we can sense, but in what we cannot sense: the disconnection, or “Sensory Motor Amnesia,” to tensions that run in the background. These hidden tensions may feel normal because they’ve become automatic over time. My approach targets these areas by helping the brain adjust the threshold of awareness so these once-involuntary tensions can come into conscious control and, ultimately, release.
A Focus on Adaptability and Lasting Change
The traditional model, in many cases, has not adapted well to people with chronic pain and dysfunction who need movement that is accessible, flexible, and responsive to their unique needs. My approach emphasizes strategic adaptability and insightful assessment, to ensure movements are relevant to each person’s experience. This is a method designed to help you uncover the disconnection between mind and body, revealing hidden blind spots and deep-seated holding patterns to unlock greater freedom and comfort.
A New Path Forward
Moving beyond traditional Somatics has allowed me to create a practice that honors its origins while extending its benefits. By guiding people through movements that reveal previously hidden tensions, I aim to support others on their journey of healing, self-discovery, and discovering a new sense of calm and lasting relief.
-Eric Cooper
Eric Cooper Somatics Method ©2024
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