Reddit reviews Somatics: Reawakening The Mind's Control Of Movement, Flexibility, And Health

They're inseperable, imo. I've been thinking about this for years now. Many cultures (Chinese, India, African, Native American, Aboriginal etc) have long traditions about the body being affected by thoughts/feelings. Only in "Western" culture have we largely severed our body from our mind and heart. Descartes is famous for his, "I think, therefore I am," but I'm sure it goes back much further than him (I'm no history expert.) I do know that Socrates had quite a holistic view of being human that included a body/mind/heart unity, though I think he used different words.

For a modern Western read on it, check out the writings of Thomas Hanna. Namely, his book "Somatics". Hanna does not dwell deeply on psychology, but he does admit that our life experiences (traumas, wounds (physical and emotional), imprinting from parents/adults, etc) are the main cause of our postural deviations and pain. He provides a solution to regain bodily control via his physical exercises. They are slow, gentle and grow increasingly and organically in their difficulty. I use them myself and with clients with wonderful results.

Check out this book:

Somatics: Reawakening The Mind's Control Of Movement, Flexibility, And Health

https://www.amazon.com/Somatics-Reawakening-Control-Movement-Flexibility/dp/0738209570/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WKSF35QDEYM4V0DE3HB4

Did wonders for me. Has some movements/stretches that re-teaches your body how to relax the back muscles, which are basically overworked and never turn off, so they get tight and painful. Has made a huge difference for me in just a month so far.

> First, you need to commit to spending some time addressing these issues

This is so important, I think. A little each day is leaps and bounds better than trying to make up for it with occasional long/intense sessions of stretching/yoga/etc...

I can't speak much about the Fedlenkrais method, but my massage therapist recommended [this book] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738209570/) to me after I tweaked my back pretty badly and was taking a long time to recover since sitting at work kept hindering my recovery. The author was a student of Feldenkrais (I think?).

It's an easy read and the exercises are really basic and not at all intimidating, so it'd be a great place to start!

It focuses on learning how to become more aware of your your body and muscles and get back to a healthy steady state, and teaches a simple 10 minute daily exercise meant to engage and bring awareness key muscle groups. I can feel myself get more tight and achey when I don't do it regularly, even if I still manage to do one or two sessions of yoga a week.

I think yoga would help, but for what you've described, I think a somatic routine would be more effective. This book has tons of great stretches, and stories of people overcoming exactly what you have with them.

"Somatics" by Thomas Hanna

http://www.amazon.com/Somatics-Reawakening-Control-Movement-Flexibility/dp/0738209570/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370533589&sr=8-1&keywords=somatics

http://hannasomatics.com/index.php/about_somatics/what_is_somatics/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Somatics-Reawakening-Control-Movement-Flexibility/dp/0738209570

I subscribed to this channel -
https://youtu.be/iI2LRBdPvvg and signed up to her web course which provides really detailed step by step videos. I found that the above book and her ^ video course covered everything to control/release back, stomach, hip etc tension and to regain postural health and movement

There are some additional posts about hanna somatics on this sub. Buy the book, google hanna somatics and watch and do the exercises on youtube.

It works.

Good luck