somatic therapy (somatic disciplines, somatic methods, somatics, somatic techniques, somatic therapies): Field that encompasses aikido, the Alexander Technique, applied kinesiology, Arica, Aston-Patterning, Awareness Through Movement, bioenergetics, Body-Mind Centering, Capoeria, Continuum, CranioSacral Therapy, Eutony, Focusing, Functional Integration, Hakomi, Hellerwork, judo, karate, kundalini yoga, kung fu, Lomi (see lomi-lomi and Lomi work), Oki yoga (see Oki-Do), Process-Oriented Psychotherapy (process psychology), rebirthing, reflexology, Resonant Kinesiology, Rolfing, Rosen work (see Rosen Method), sensory awareness, SHEN, somasynthesis, tai chi, Touch for Health, Trager, Trans Fiber, yoga therapy, and Zero Balancing.

Subtle-energy elements are a commonality of somatic therapies. Thomas Hanna, founder of the journal Somatics, coined the word somatics.

(See also: Somatic therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

somatic emotional therapy: Synthesis of bioenergetics, rebirthing, and somatic therapy forged by certified social worker Jerry Josepher.

(See also: Somatic emotional therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

confluent somatic therapy: Form of psychotherapy that involves subtle energy manipulation.

(See also: Confluent somatic therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

MASSAGE, BODYWORK AND SOMATIC THERAPIES

Massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies is the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the human body.

The application of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapy techniques may include, but is not limited to, stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, vibration, rocking, friction, pressure, and those techniques based on manipulation or the application of pressure to the muscular structure or soft tissues of the human body.

This may also include non-forceful passive or active movement and/or application of techniques intended to affect the energetic systems of the body. The use of oils, lotions, powders, or other lubricants may also be included.

Massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies specifically exclude diagnosis, prescription, manipulation, or adjustments of the human skeletal structure, or any other service, procedure, or therapy that requires a license to practice orthopedics, physical therapy, podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, or any other profession or branch of medicine.

(See also: MASSAGE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Gestalt Somatic method (Gestalt Somatics): Apparent combination of Gestalt therapy and bodywork.

(See also: Gestalt Somatic method, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

HAKOMI INTEGRATIVE SOMATICS

Using hands-on bodywork, body awareness and movement, Hakomi integrative somatics enables people to discover the habitual, automatic attitudes (both physical and psychological), by which they generate patterns of experience. Particularly helpful in working with the effects of trauma and abuse, emotional pain and limiting belief systems, this gentle therapy teaches clients to follow the inherently intelligent processes of the body and mind.

Clients are educated in the nuances of inner body sensations and learning to track the ever-changing flow of wordless information that is the language of the body. It is precisely this awareness that becomes a powerful healing tool, as it naturally expands the "somatic sense of self," and heals the various forms of dissociation from the body.

Hands-on bodywork is used experimentally to help clients gain awareness of inner experience, specifically inner body sensation and patterns, emotions, images, memories or thoughts. Unconscious attitudes are brought to consciousness where they can be examined, understood and changed. By working physically and psychologically, the transformative shift can take root on both levels simultaneously.

(See also: HAKOMI INTEGRATIVE SOMATICS, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

SOMATIC EDUCATION

Somatic Education is a healthcare modality based on co-creative science. It is therefore taught and practiced in a co-creative partnership with nature.

Somatic Education considers the body as one of nature’s gardens and facilitates self-healing by working with flower essences; MAP and calibration; and environmental, energy, and other processes.

(See also: SOMATIC EDUCATION, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

SOMATIC EXPERIENCING

A naturalistic approach to the healing of trauma, based on the understanding that animals in the wild, though constantly threatened by predators, are rarely traumatized.

This approach uses education about and awareness of body sensation as a primary tool. Appropriate, gentle manipulation of the muscles, joints, and viscera is employed.

Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, somatic experiencing offers a safe, gradual way to help trauma survivors develop their own natural ability to eliminate the excess energy caused by overwhelming events.

(See also: SOMATIC EXPERIENCING, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

SOMATIC PSYCHOLOGY

This is a body-based orientation that facilitates the client’s therapeutic process.

A client session is directed to the body experience that references the body as a resource.

The therapist shifts the content of the session to the here and now process of the client, which opens the client’s awareness of her own experience of sensation, tension, relaxation, breath, response, and evoked thoughts.

(See also: SOMATIC PSYCHOLOGY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

HANNA SOMATIC EDUCATION

A system of neuromuscular education which requires the client to recognize, release, and reverse chronic pain patterns resulting from injury, stress, repetitive motion, or habituated postures.

A hands-on method teaches how to relieve tension quickly, lengthen and relax muscles, reduce pain, and regain comfort. Combining Hanna Somatic Education with somatic exercises will expand the benefits.

(See also: HANNA SOMATIC EDUCATION, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Somatic Dialogue: Mode of bodywork promoted by BodyMind Therapist Chuck Ruland (see Structural Alignment and Structural Bodywork). It borrows from Hakomi, postural integration, and Zero Balancing. Its theory posits: (a) dischargeable imprints of the past, and (b) physical, emotional, and energetic bodies.

(See also: Somatic Dialogue, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Hakomi Integrative Somatics (formerly Hakomi Bodywork): Form of body-centered psychotherapy originated by Pat Ogden. It includes energy work. Its theory posits wisdom of body, mind, and spirit.

(See also: Hakomi Integrative Somatics, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Structural Bodywork: System of deep tissue therapy promoted by Charles (Chuck) Ruland (see Somatic Dialogue and Structural Alignment). it can effect energetic Alignment, a body felt sense of Spirit, and the release of old habits and old trauma. Structural Bodywork appears identical to, or a variation of, Structural Alignment.

(See also: Structural Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

somasynthesis: Form of somatic therapy developed by Clyde W. Ford, D.C. Somasynthesis borrows from theories developed by Roberto Assagioli (see psychosynthesis), Milton Erickson (see Ericksonian Hypnosis), Carl Jung (see Jungian psychology), Daniel Palmer (the founder of chiropractic), and Wilhelm Reich (see orgone therapy and Reichian Therapy). Its design is to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

(See also: Somasynthesis, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Panchakarma Basic Principles

Panchakarma consists of medicated emesis (vamana) to remove excess kapha, therapeutic purgation (viracana) to clear excess pitta, medicated enema (vasti) to eject excess vata, nasal drops or snuffs (nasya) for diseases of the head & neck and bloodletting (raktamokshana) in case of blood disorders. Five purification procedures for removing accumulated toxins and other waste material in the body.

As the humors and tissues are related closely to each other, this discharge procedure affects the tissues indirectly by the strong elimination of related humor. For example, the pronounced elimination of kapha by herb induced emesis causes an effect on the nutrient tissue fluid pool, containing water and electrolytes, plasma, muscle, fat. Or the large release of pitta by selective purgation similarly causes an indirect effect on the total colouring material in the body or blood. Vasti is somewhat different, as it is meant to nullify excess vata and contains warm oleation substances. During its long contact with the membrane of the large intestine, it separates layers of faecal matter and thus enhances better absorption, which is responsible for the ultimate nourishment of all tissues. Nasya in turn cleans the sinus and thereby improves the function of sense organs.

Physical and mental diseases occur due to the vitation of somatic doshas vata, pitta and kapha and due to mental doshas Rajas and Tamas. Volitional transgression, effect of time and senses are the three primary causes responsible for vitation of biological and mental doshas. Food, drinks & environmental factors with similar properties to the doshas vitiates them and cause disease. Panchakarma's purificatory therapies balance out the three doshas, acting both as a curative and a preventive measure.

(See also: Panchakarma, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Panchkarma Basic Principles

Panchakarma consists of medicated emesis (vamana) to remove excess kapha, therapeutic purgation (viracana) to clear excess pitta, medicated enema (vasti) to eject excess vata, nasal drops or snuffs (nasya) for diseases of the head & neck and bloodletting (raktamokshana) in case of blood disorders. Five purification procedures for removing accumulated toxins and other waste material in the body.

As the humors and tissues are related closely to each other, this discharge procedure affects the tissues indirectly by the strong elimination of related humor. For example, the pronounced elimination of kapha by herb induced emesis causes an effect on the nutrient tissue fluid pool, containing water and electrolytes, plasma, muscle, fat. Or the large release of pitta by selective purgation similarly causes an indirect effect on the total colouring material in the body or blood. Vasti is somewhat different, as it is meant to nullify excess vata and contains warm oleation substances. During its long contact with the membrane of the large intestine, it separates layers of faecal matter and thus enhances better absorption, which is responsible for the ultimate nourishment of all tissues. Nasya in turn cleans the sinus and thereby improves the function of sense organs.

Physical and mental diseases occur due to the vitation of somatic doshas vata, pitta and kapha and due to mental doshas Rajas and Tamas. Volitional transgression, effect of time and senses are the three primary causes responsible for vitation of biological and mental doshas. Food, drinks & environmental factors with similar properties to the doshas vitiates them and cause disease. Panchakarma's purificatory therapies balance out the three doshas, acting both as a curative and a preventive measure.

(See also: Panchkarma, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Diagnosis

Indian medicine names three main causes of disease – 'overuse', 'disuse' or 'misuse’ of faculties; 'errors in judgement'; and influence of seasonal changes. According to Ayurveda all human diseases can be classified into the seven broad categories, namely:

1. Genetic (Adibalapravritta)

·      Consists of ailments as obstinate skin diseases, hemorrhoids, diabetes, tuberculosis and asthma that arise primarily due to defects in the sperm (sukra) of the father – when it is called pitrija or the ovum (sonita) of the mother – when it is termed matrja.

·      Undigested food, abnormal behaviour, addiction of any type and stressful situations affect the reproductive elements of both the male and female, resulting in a defective foetus.

2. Congenital (Janmabalapravritta)

·      Caused essentially due to nutritional disorder (rasakrita) and unfulfilled cravings of the mother during pregnancy (dauhrdya)

·      If diet and / or conduct of the mother aggravates vata, the foetus might end up with deformities as kyphosis (hunchback), blindness and dwarfism; increased pitta may cause alopecia and yellowish pigmentation of skin; and enhanced kapha might result in albinism.

3. Constitutional (Doshabalapravritta)

·      Arise out of any dietary or behavioural disturbance brought about by an imbalance in any one of the three vital physical energies (Tridoshas) or the three vital mental energies (Trigunas).

·      Thus constitutional disorders are of two types: somatic (Sharirika) & psychic (Manasika).

4. Traumatic (Sanghatabalapravritta)

·      Undergoing any trauma causing experience – external or internal – leads to this.

·      External trauma is induced by injuries inflicted by sharp instruments and bites of animals or venomous insects.

·      Stress and overstrain lead to internal trauma.

5. Seasonal (Klabalapravritta)

·      Brought about by changes in the nuances of seasonality.

·      Sometimes the body fails to adjust itself to the sudden and abnormal climatic changes – extreme cold might lead to frostbite and rheumatic disease. While extreme heat may cause sunstroke or fever.

6. Infectious and Spiritual (Daivabalapravritta)

·      Either born out of natural calamities as lightning, earthquakes, floods and the invisible, malignant forces of nature.

·      Or contacted through sexual & physical intimacy and sharing of food, plates, bed, clothes, towels and cosmetics with effected friends & relatives.

·      Or as a result of sheer jealousy.

7. Natural (Swabhavbalapravritta)

·      Even the healthiest of people are struck by hunger, thirst, sleep, death or senility.

·      Brought about by functional, organic and natural changes in the body.

In Ayurveda, physicians try to assess the symptoms of these diseases as much as the nature of ailment and its root causes (nidana). This is of utmost importance in ensuring correct choice of remedial & preventive measures for treatment of the disease. For otherwise, even after therapy, one might not get the desired response and there would remain a chance of recurrence.

The early signs and symptoms (purvaroopa) provide useful warnings and the opportunity for taking necessary action before a disease can assume dangerous magnitudes. The main signs and symptoms (roopa) reflect the true nature and intensity of the disease. Another oft used method of diagnosis is exploratory therapy (upasaya) which uses diet, medicines and routines to detect diseases otherwise difficult to diagnose. Acting either against the cause of disease or the disease itself or producing relief. For example a swelling that is alleviated by an oily & hot massage, is obviously caused by an imbalance of vata.

(See also: Diagnosis, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

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