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“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

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 expression by guiding you in specific somatic exercises. We collaborate together in designing an individually tailored somatic practice relevant to your individual issues and needs that can be easily integrated into your life. Once you have the tools, you are able to teach your soma new ways to breathe, sit, stand, move, and express. These tools empower you to take positive action so you can respond more effectively and compassionately to stress, pain, and overwhelm by using your body's wisdom.

The COACHING aspect of the session

I act first as a witness (giving my full attention) and then as a coach (offering resources, possibilities and encouragement). As a witness, I receive your words and images; your body language: gestures, eye contact, posture, movement, tone and tempo of voice; and the silences. Paying attention to all these various expressions helps me enter your world and "get you". By understanding the totality of who you are not only as a body but as a human being, I am then able to respond with specific 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