The biggest and most basic distinction we make when talking about the nervous system is the one between the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), so that’s where we’re going to start our map. The map we’re creating is going to help us learn about all of these different pieces of the nervous system, what they do, and how they communicate with each other. It turns out that when we say “the” nervous system, we’re really referring to one entity that has a bunch of different divisions that work together to achieve a common goal (keeping you alive). Well, if you’re feeling lost among the branches, never fear! The easiest way to get un-lost is to make a map, and that’s what we’re going to do today. Autonomic, parasympathetic, somatic, peripheral.how many nervous systems can one person have?! If you’re ready to learn Clinical Somatics exercises, a great place to start is the Level One Course.Navigating the Nervous System Part I: The CNS, PNS, and Somatic Motor ControlĪll the terminology that gets thrown around when you’re studying the nervous system can be a little overwhelming. The role of a somatic educator is to empower students to take care of themselves by teaching them the tools they need to stay out of pain and continue to improve their posture, movement, and function throughout their lives. One of the tenets of all forms of somatic education is that students should be responsible for their own health and learning. Many methods of somatic education use both hands-on movements, guided by a certified educator, and self-care movements, which are practiced by the student on a regular basis at home. Click here to read more about how these methods were developed. Well-known methods of somatic education include Clinical Somatic Education (also known as Hanna Somatic Education), the Feldenkrais Method, and the Alexander Technique. Methods of somatic education teach specialized somatic movement techniques in systematized ways that are specific to each method. In a general sense, any movement can be a somatic movement if it is performed slowly, consciously, and with the intention of focusing on the internal experience of the movement. Practicing somatic movements is quite different than doing situps or pushups it’s not about the quantity, it’s about the quality. If we practice a movement as if it is the first time we have done it, we will notice something new and learn something new each time, and the learning process will be most efficient and effective. It comes back to how our nervous system learns new things. Even when we practice a somatic movement with the intention of improving our posture or movement in a specific way, we still need to be focused on the internal experience of the movement rather than on the end result.įocusing on the experience and process rather than the end result can be a difficult concept for many people to grasp. Somatic movement is exploratory in nature. Conscious attention is key to the learning process we can’t learn something new if we aren’t aware of what we’re doing. When we do movements quickly, we are not learning anything new-we are simply reinforcing existing learned patterns.Ī somatic movement must also be performed consciously, with our complete internal focus and attention. With practice, we are able to gradually speed up and perform movements more quickly while still maintaining form and control. The human nervous system, which controls our posture and movement, must learn new things very slowly. In order to be most effective, a somatic movement should be performed as slowly as possible. Many people find somatic movement education methods to be highly effective in relieving chronic pain, improving bodily function, and recovering from common musculoskeletal conditions. Hanna used the term somatic education to describe methods of sensory-motor education that use somatic movement to improve motor control and sensation and change learned muscular patterns. The term somatic education was coined by Thomas Hanna. You may have even heard of somatic education! You may have heard of somatic yoga, somatic experiencing, somatic psychology, somatic therapy, or somatic dance therapy. The word somatic means “of or relating to the living body,” and it has long been used in medical terminology like somatic cell, somatic nervous system, somatic disorder, and somatic pain.ĭue to its generic definition, the term somatic can be used to describe a variety of forms of movement and healing modalities. The term somatic has become a bit of a buzzword in the health and wellness industry. A somatic movement, generally speaking, is one which is performed consciously with the intention of focusing on the internal experience of the movement rather than the external appearance or result of the movement.
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