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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.
