The Art of Somatic Coaching: Embodying Skillful Action, Wisdom, and Compassion

When our awkwardness (a sure sign of learning), resistance, and impatience to learning arise we’re coached to see how this reaction is historically embodied. Becoming aware of the frustration that can accompany the learning process allows us to more easily deal with our shame, embarrassment, or striving as we travel this new ground. We’re encourage

When our energetic pattern is expressed over time it becomes a character trait, a fundamental aspect of our personality, a visible way of being in the world. As the rhythm of our energy shapes us an identity is formed that opens and closes possibilities.

Over the course of his work Geoffrey began to see that the question wasn’t “why” is something the way it is, but “how” is it the way it is? When we see how something is constructed we can see what it has served, but more importantly we can see how to dismantle it if we so choose. The how perspective gave him much more power in observing himself and

the sum total of our history lives in our body. This certainly is not a new idea in psychology or philosophy, but somatics reveals that this history literally resides in our tissues. It’s more than a philosophical concept; we can experience our history as it lives in our muscular, organ, and nervous systems, and how it becomes explicit in the world

Beneath the clever wit and trendy moves there’s a nagging doubt about who they are; they harbor a suspicion they’ll be found out. They’re afraid of the shadow that lurks beneath appearances and they work hard at keeping it out of sight. There’s an underlying shame about the limits they may find in themselves. Working through their body they begin t

Energy follows attention, so where we place our attention is critical. Where we put our attention increases our awareness and the power of this is that choice follows awareness. The more aware we are the more choice we have.

It’s important to remember that these moments that begin to define us are not disembodied thoughts or memories, but experiences that find a home in our musculature, voice, posture, in our very way of being.

Somatic practices allow insights to become muscular commitments to action. A practice is a conscious choice we make so our behavior and actions becomes part of who we are. Underlying the practice is a narrative we have about why we’re committing to this practice. In other words if someone asked us why we’re committed to a certain practice we would

The consequences of relying on hope without new practices lead to a downward spiral of frustration, resignation, and hopelessness.