LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Hands and Feet: Somatic and Cultural Perceptions
of the Body’s Extremities 

Bibiana Badenes, MSME/MSMT

Saturday, January 31, 2026 • 5-8pm Central European time;
11am-2pm Eastern U.S. time 

Find your local time here. 

The registration deadline is Monday, January 26, 2025. 

Live participation is strongly encouraged. However, if you are unable to attend a session, the recording will be available to all who have registered for the course.

Hands and feet are more than functional appendages: they are organs of perception, expression, and symbolism. From a somatic perspective, these extremities shape our relationship with space, reveal psychological states, and participate in cultural and spiritual traditions across societies. This workshop explores the role of hands and feet in evolution, psychology, art, and spirituality, emphasizing their influence on somatic experience and proposing practical exercises that demonstrate their impact on body perception. Furthermore, it examines the fundamental role of hands in manual therapy and dance, with , highlighting the importance of self-care for therapists who rely on their hands as their primary tool. 

This seminar expands somatic movement education by refining perception where the nervous system invests the most cortical territory: the extremities. By integrating science (neurosensory density of glabrous skin), somatic psychology (Reich) and cultural/spiritual symbolism (mudras + rituals), participants gain a more multidimensional reading of the body, beyond biomechanics. We will also examine hands as therapeutic interface in manual therapies—improving quality of touch, safety in load transfer, and self-care strategies to prevent practitioner injury or burnout. This event supports professional development through: (1) new theoretical frames that interconnect body + culture + mindfulness; (2) perception training for clinical and somatic precision; (3) practical tools to improve client outcomes and therapist self-care. It is relevant for somatic educators, Rolfers®, dancers, physiotherapists, bodyworkers, yoga/movement teachers and mental health professionals using embodied approaches. 

Participants will: 

• increase their perceptual resolution in hands and feet and understand how this modifies global organization and movement quality. 

• learn relational touch principles (listening touch) to improve manual contact / manual therapy, and protect their own hands. 

• explore how reorganizing foot support (arches, weight distribution, contact with the ground) can produce systemic changes in the whole body structure, improving verticality, gait efficiency, and movement economy.

Bibiana Badenes 

MSME/MSMT

Expert in Body Intelligence and Somatic Movement, Bibiana Badenes is a physiotherapist and pioneer in somatic movement, renowned for her innovative approach to integrating body awareness with holistic health. She earned her degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Valencia in 1988 and furthered her education with advanced training in Rolfing© Structural Integration and Mindfulness. She is also a certified teacher of Rolfing™ Movement. 

With over 25 years of experience in manual therapy and myofascial techniques, Bibiana combines science and humanistic psychology to address chronic pain, stress, and emotional well-being. She has collaborated with international organizations, including Harvard University, where she presented her work on somatic approaches for stress and chronic pain relief. 

Bibiana is the founder of the Kinesis Center in Benicàssim, Spain, where she offers a unique blend of therapeutic movement, mindfulness, and somatic coaching. Her expertise extends to corporate wellness programs and leadership seminars, where she promotes sustainable well-being practices. 

She is the author of “Body Intelligence: Discover the Power of Conscious Movement” and co-author of “Life Planning: A Holistic Approach to Burnout and Depression.” Bibiana is also a board member of ISMETA and a passionate advocate for somatic education globally. Her work empowers individuals to reconnect with their bodies, fostering resilience and holistic health.