“Spirit is not a mystical concept. The spirit of a person is manifested in his aliveness, in the brightness of his eyes, in the resonance of his voice and in the ease and gracefulness of his movements." - Alexander Lowen

Somatic Expression Sessions

	More Information: Overview What to expect in a session Benefits Who does this work and what they say Courses by title Individualized Retreats Getting involved

In workshops and individual sessions, you will:

Learn practical tools for self-care (the five elements of somatic experience)

Expand and deepen awareness of your body

Increase your expressive freedom

Change focus from mental chatter to sensory perception

Identify personal meaning

Discover creative solutions for your life

What TO expect in a workshop

Specific somatic practices and their variations:

Breath

Vocalization

Contact

Movement

Stillness

Structures for self-exploration and interpersonal interactions

A safe, relaxed and playful environment for learning

Different topics, themes and target audiences - click here for course titles

What TO expect in An individual session

Individual sessions are a combination of somatic education and a coaching process using:

• Dialogue 
• Somatic skill-building
• Internalized awareness and expressive action

The educational aspect of the session

I teach you how to become more aware of your body and its unique expression, and how you can take positive action and collaborate with your own nature. By guiding you in somatic exercises that are relevant to your individual issues and needs, we begin a dialogue process between action and reflection. This helps clarify the next step and what is needed in moving forward. Gradually, you are able to accrue a variety of tools and new perspectives that enable your body to embrace new ways of breathing, sitting, standing, moving, and expressing. These tools ultimately empower you to respond more effectively and compassionately to stress, pain, anxiety and overwhelm by using your body's natural wisdom. If desired, we can together design an individually tailored somatic-expressive practice that can be easily integrated into your life and periodically updated to reflect your changing needs.

The coaching aspect of the session

I alternate between being a witness and giving you my full attention with being a coach and offering resources, possibilities and encouragement. As a witness, I take in your preverbal language of gestures, eye contact, posture, movement, breathing rhythm, vocal tone and tempo and the silences as well as your words and images. Paying attention to all these various self-expressions helps me enter your world and understand the totality of who you are not only as a body but also as a human being. I am then able to respond more specifically with targeted resources and tools, and coach you in effectively reaching your personal goals.

Jamie working in an individual session
Photo by Hilary Nichols

“The five elements of Somatic Expression provide flexible and powerful tools for accessing the messages my body so desperately wanted me to acknowledge. They have become part of my toolbox for soothing, repair, investigation, change and growth. The long road to re-discovering my inner world has been brilliantly supported through the simplicity and ease of these elements, but more importantly through Jamie's strong, warm embodiment of Somatic Expression."

- Rob, Massage Therapist