Somatic Patterning Chapter 01: Section I - SOMATICS Chapter 1 has been fully revised and updated for massage students and practitioners. Instructor resources for this new chapter include: New Chapter 1 PDF Instructor Supplementals for Section I SOMATICS PowerPoint for Section I SOMATICS Instructor Supplementals for Section II PATTERNING PowerPoint for Section II PATTERNING The PowerPoints contain a slide for each head and subhead in the entire chapter, so you can pick and choose what you want for your class. To access instructor resources, e-mail us at info@emspress.com with the subject line Send new Ch1 e-files. Make sure to include your name and contact information for your school. NOTE: YOU WILL FIND CONDITIONS FOR THE USE OF THE IMAGES IN THIS PowerPoint IN THE LAST SLIDE. 1
Somatic Patterning Chapter 01: Section I - SOMATICS Somatics refers to a broad field of body-mind therapies in which a practitioner takes a client through active movement explorations, with the goal of improving posture and the ease and efficiency of movement. Somatic skills are widely used in massage and bodywork education and practices. 2
Somatics Definitions somatic (so mat ik) n. <Gr 1. soma, body 2. the body in all its realms: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual SYN. body-mind. somatics pl (so mat iks) n. holistic body therapies that use body-mind awareness and movement as primary tools for change; includes Yoga, Tai Chi, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Pilates, and Rolfing Structural Integration. 3
Body-Mind Body-mind refers to relationships between physical and mental health physiology and psychology Body-mind processes manifest in an integral and ongoing interplay of physical, mental, and psychological states. 4
Channels of Body-Mind Experience Body-mind experiences manifest through multiple and simultaneous channels: 1. Thought and memory 2. Proprioceptive awareness and physical sensation 3. Emotional tone, tension, and expression 5
Sensorimotor Amnesia Sensorimotor amnesia is a lack of neuromuscular control over body movement that 1. Causes habitual responses during functional activities; 2. Results in muscular imbalances and poor posture; 3. Is associated with psychological defenses and muscular armor; 4. And predisposes a person to stress, pain, and injury from faulty body use. 6
The Language of Body-Mind (BM) The body speaks with nonverbal communication through somatic channels that include touch, movement, gesture, voice, and vibration. 90% of communication is nonverbal Tactile BM communication occurs on a response continuum between yielding and retraction trust and fear 7
Massage as a Body-Mind Therapy Massage enters the flow of the client s body-mind experience. Massage addresses somatic pain stored in: stress responses high autonomic tone chronic contractions muscular bracing & armoring 8
Massage Massage is defined as a system of structured, therapeutic touch. Massage is widely used for pain relief, relaxation, and soft-tissue normalization. 9
Bodywork Bodywork has no universal definition. Bodywork is a system of massage and structured touch that integrates active techniques and client education. The main objectives of bodywork are to alleviate pain by improving muscle and joint function alignment and posture neuromuscular coordination ease and eff iciency of motion 10
Somatic Therapy Somatic therapy has no universal definition. Somatic therapy is a client-centered process of changing and improving body-mind patterns using movement education and tactile guidance. The objective of somatic therapy is to address maladaptive body habits associated with patterns of poor posture, faulty movement, and myofascial pain. 11
Somatic Therapy, continued Somatic therapy integrates mindfulness, body awareness, and functional movement exercises. People use somatic therapy to reduce pain by improving selfawareness, proprioception, and neuromuscular control. 12
Self-Regulation Skills In somatic therapy, a practitioner teaches a client two types of self-regulation skills: relaxation skills neuromuscular patterning 13
Our Changing Understanding of the Body-Mind Relationship Historic BM duality values mind over body: I think, therefore I am. Self-reflection is a unique human ability that allows us to be aw are of aw areness to be able to think about thought 14
Pros and Cons of BM Connection Pros Gut feelings carry innate wisdom and guidance. Body-mind connections can elicit profound healing states. Cons Strong emotions and traumas can be overwhelming. Stress reactions can cloud rational thinking. 15
Pros and Cons of BM Separation Pros Mindfulness and focused thinking can helps us detach from strong emotions a key skill of emotional and social intelligence. Cons Unhealthy mental detachment from physical, emotional, and social needs leads to neglect and stress, creating ill effects on both body and mind. 16
Body-Mind Considerations in Western Medicine Western medicine evolved for specialization, to treat specific health problems in isolation. Current shift in health care is toward interdisciplinary, integrative teams that provide client-centered, holistic care. 17
The Role of Stress in Health and Illness Stress is the body s nonspecific response to any demands placed on it, pleasurable or not. It is not w ear and tear, but the symptoms caused by w ear and tear. It causes many maladaptive, vague conditions such as headaches, chronic pain, and indigestion. Vague conditions often precede chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. 18
The Biopsychosocial Basis of Integrative Medicine Addresses social and psychological elements of a person s life to change factors contributing to ill health. Is holistic because it treats the whole person. Is client-centered because it empowers patients to take charge of their healing process. 19
3 Premises of Integrative Medicine 1. It empowers patients to utilize body s innate healing capacity. 2. The quality of doctor-patient relationship plays huge role in outcome of treatment. 3. Health-care providers need to work as an interdisciplinary team to accomplish integrative goals. 20
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) ORIGIN AND MISSION Set up in 1998 at National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research public use of complementary treatments and body-mind practices. 21
NCCAM, continued RECENT NAME CHANGE In a press release on December 17, 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that the agency with primary responsibility for research on promising health approaches that already are in use by the American public has a new name: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) 22
Time to Talk Campaign Promoted by the NCCIH to encourage doctors and patients to discuss use of complementary therapies. Massage therapists can download talking points about massage to share with clients and doctors at 23
Top 4 Modalities researched by NCCIH (formerly NCCAM) Massage Chiropractic Acupuncture Naturopathy Why these four modalities? popularity of modality consistency of standards of practice and licensing 24
The Psychophysiological Basis of Body-Mind Relationships Stress has dramatic effects on day-to-day life, causing anxiety and ill health. Stress can be caused by gloom-and-doom thoughts and perceptions. 25
The Psychophysiological Roots of Muscular Patterns Muscular patterns have a sensorimotor foundation in family patterns, particularly movement and touch experiences as an infant. Neglect, abuse, and trauma shape defense responses into muscular holding patterns. 26
Somatic Responses to Touch Response patterns develop in relation to how a person was handled as an infant and child. Responses patterned in childhood are often unconscious and reflexive. Range of responses fall between yielding and trusting retracting and defending 27
Body-Mind Considerations in the Treatment of Chronic Pain Chronic pain is the main reason people get massage. Manual and trigger point therapy are effective treatments for muscle pain. A huge issue in treatment of pain is measuring it because pain has a strong subjectiv e psychological component ev ery person has a different pain threshold 28
Primary and Secondary Effects of Chronic Pain Primary Protective and guarding develops around area of chronic pain. Pain triggers contraction and flexion. Secondary Postural holding patterns and movement dysfunctions caused by protective guarding lead to new area of pain perpetuate pain cycle 29
Integrative Approach to Chronic Pain Treatment An integrative approach addresses the entire nervous system. For ANS: Relaxation techniques to evoke stress release and teach clients self-regulation. For SNS: Neuromuscular techniques to improve muscle function, self-control, and movement coordination. 30
Body-Mind Considerations in the Treatment of Chronic Pain Body-mind approaches that use active techniques evoke deep changes in the client s nervous system. Participation with self-regulation skills empow ers clients to reduce effects of stress. Participation with active movement changes gives the client tools to change and improv e neuromuscular patterns. 31
Summary 4 benefits from the study and practice of body-mind skills in massage: 1. Personal development and self-care 2. Active body-mind techniques to integrate into hands-on work 3. Client education and support 4. Body-centered communication skills 32
Summary, continued 1. Somatic skills can help massage students and practitioners dev elop therapeutic presence and conf idence w ork w ith both specif ic problems and general health 2. Somatic skills can be practiced with or without patterning 3. Patterning is covered in Chapter 1- Section II 33
Image Use All of the images in this PowerPoint are copyrighted and can be used under the following conditions only: Images may be used only in educational materials for classes in which instructors have adopted the text Somatic Patterning. Image credits in this PowerPoint need to accompany all images used in all educational materials and handouts. Any other use of images requires specific written permission from the publisher. For more information on image use or permissions, contact Mary Ann Foster at info@emspress.com. 34