The purpose of somatic movement education and therapy is to enhance human function and body-mind integration through movement awareness. Our profession, as represented by ISMETA, encompasses distinct disciplines each with its own educational or therapeutic emphasis, principles, methods, and techniques.
The practice of somatic movement education and therapy includes:
– postural and movement evaluation
– experiential anatomy and imagery
– movement patterning and re-patterning
– communication and guidance through touch and verbal cues
Each method helps students and clients in some way to:
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- – focus on the body both as an objective physical process and as a subjective process of lived consciousness
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- – refine perceptual, kinesthetic, proprioceptive, and interoceptive sensitivity that supports homeostasis, co-regulation, and neuroplasticity
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- – recognize habitual patterns of perceptual, postural and movement interaction with the environment
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- – improve movement coordination that supports structural, functional and expressive integration
- – experience an embodied sense of vitality and create both meaning for and enjoyment of life
Somatic movement education and therapy is applied to both pedestrian and specialized activities for people in all stages of health and development. The work can be communicated either on an individual basis or with groups.