LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Justice, Peace and Sustainability through Somatics and Aikido

Paul Linden  Ph.D., MSME

Richard Sims  MSME, MSMT, CTP

To purchase the recordings of this workshop register below.

Much of the stress, injustice, violence, war and environmental destruction comes from a lack of respect for ourselves, others and the environment. Too many people use angry power to create change. Self-righteous anger breeds intolerance and violence. By using ethical, gentle and respectful power we can create personal and social change and healing. Workshop participants will experience and understand:

• Emotions are actions we do in our body.
• Emotions such as fear, anger, and hatred create collapse and contraction in the body, making us weak and unable to act effectively.
• By learning to replace negative emotions with actions of awareness, balance, flow, sensitivity, and love we regain our power.
• In this state we are able to find compassionate, respectful ways of confronting the problems we face – without alienating the people we are trying to change.
• Clear and precise Somatic methods of self-regulation that can be used in areas from politics, ecological sustainability or relationships to mental and physical health.

Paul Linden (Developer of Being In Movement® mind-body education) and Richard Sims (President of the ISMETA Board of Directors and Board Member of Aiki Extensions), are both black belts in the nonviolent Japanese martial art of Aikido. In addition to their somatics expertise they draw upon the principles and methods of Aikido in their work. They have extensive experience working in areas such as trauma, stress, pain, abuse, health/wellness, and peacebuilding.

Live participation is strongly encouraged, but those who register in advance will have access to the recording after the workshop is completed.

No experience in Aikido or other martial arts are necessary. We will be exploring how Paul Linden and Richard Sims have incorporated principles from the martial art systems they have studied and taught into their own somatic practices with the goal of helping people intentionally enhance and regulate their physical and emotional states as well as the world in which they live.

Any movements we explore will be gentle in nature and each participant will have the option to participate or observe as they see fit.

Paul Linden

Ph.D., MSME

PAUL LINDEN was born in 1945 in New York City.  He is now 79 and lives in Columbus, Ohio. Paul has a BA in Philosophy from Reed College, an MA in Physical Education from San Jose State University, and a PhD in Physical Education from the Ohio State University. He has been practicing and teaching Aikido for over 50 years and holds a sixth degree black belt in the art. He also holds a first degree black belt in Isshinryu Karate and a certificate as an instructor of the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education.

Paul developed Being In Movement® mindbody education as a method for achieving rapid and precise communication of body information. Teaching focuses on helping people  learn how to use a mindbody state of calm alertness and compassionate power as a foundation for efficient, effective, and ethical behavior. He has applied it in areas such as sports, computer use, attention disorders, trauma recovery and conflict resolution. www.being-in-movement.com

Richard Sims

MSME, MSMT, CTP

Richard Sims is a Master Somatic Movement Educator/Therapist, Mindfulness and Body Awareness Educator, Aikido Instructor, and Certified Trauma Professional who specializes in the areas of stress, fear, anxiety, trauma, depression, pain, self-regulation, de-escalation, resilience, and empowerment.

He brings his somatic approach to MenHealing (supporting sexual abuse survivors) and the Cancer Wellness Center (helping patients, survivors and caregivers). He is certified by the state of Illinois to work somatically with first responders whose jobs often push their bodies and minds to their limits. His work has been featured on 75,000 tablets serving incarcerated individuals in Indiana and Ohio. He also serves teens and adults looking for somatic approaches for the many challenges they face.

Rich is the President of the ISMETA Board where he works to promote the Somatic Profession in the Whole Person Integrative Health Field. He's also on the Board of Aiki Extensions, working to extend Aikido and other "Aiki" based martial arts beyond the mat to address the challenges and conflicts people encounter in their everyday lives through Aiki.

He has a private practice, teaches online and in person in Chicago and abroad as a part of an integrative health team working in a complimentary fashion with other mental and physical health practitioners. www.RichardESims.com