In learning to move from the body's innate rhythms and impulses, we open to deeper expressivity and vitality. Grounding experience in the moving body dissolves the separation between inner and outer and deepens the connection to ourselves. Conscious movement, breath, touch, sound and imagery allow us to sense and feel ourselves and others with greater clarity and curiosity.

Some of the modalities used in this class include:  

• Fundamentals of Laban Movement Analysis 
• The practice of Authentic Movement 
• Deep Listening strategies of composer Pauline Oliveros 
• Perspectives of Body-Mind Centering® 
• Perspectives drawn from Somatic Experiencing® 
• An introduction to Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal theory 
• The Anatomy of Trauma including titration and the basics of the threat response cycle
• Touch skills drawn from both Tellington TTouch and from Kathy Kain’s Touch Skills
• Improvisational strategies supporting playfulness and curiosity with movement.  

Participants will learn to:  

• Build skill and confidence in your ability to integrate movement into your therapeutic or teaching practice.
• Understand the fundamentals of the anatomy of trauma and Somatic Experiencing®.
• Explore questions of dominance in relationship to our own bodies and the bodies of others, including other species.
• Understand how movement awareness can enhance your observational and relational  skills, including attunement and co-regulation.
• Learn how to bring both improvisational and intentional somatic movement perspectives and insights to your practice.
• Understand the fundamentals of Laban Movement Analysis, Body-Mind Centering and other somatic movement practices and how they can expand movement expression and experiencing for ourselves and our students or clients.

Paula Josa-Jones

CMA, MSME/T, SEP

Paula Josa-Jones is a dance artist, choreographer, author, somatic movement educator and therapist, who brings an improvisational perspective to all her work including choreography for humans, inter-species work with horses, dancers and riders, film and video. Much of Josa-Jones's solo work arises from her own experience of being gender non-binary, and dance explorations of the complex architecture of identity and expression. Her background includes deep research into somatics, improvisation, Deep Listening, Somatic Experiencing®, the anatomy of trauma, Body-Mind Centering®, equine studies, Authentic Movement, and somatic psychology. www.paulajosajones.org

Amy Matthews

MSME/T

Amy Matthews has been teaching movement workshops and courses in the US and internationally since 1994. Integrating experiential anatomy, kinesiology, embryology and developmental movement with inquiries into pedagogy, educational philosophy and movement practices, she has taught on somatic certification programs and in a variety of university and studio settings.

Amy is a Body-Mind Centering® Teacher, an Infant Developmental Movement Educator, and a Certified Movement Analyst. She co-founded Babies Project with Sarah Barnaby, and co-authored the book Yoga Anatomy. She is currently based in Maine. www.movementpractices.com