somatics

Not Only But Then is a handbook by Claus Haxholm that explores the temporal boundaries of body and space. While not focusing on any specific body or room, it offers instructions-like snippets that encourage readers to engage in body movements or manipulations within a given space.

Mashup of some Alexander Lowen’s clips talking about energy, feelings and breath.

For you to feel your body, something has to move. Something that doesn’t move cannot feel - it isn’t alive. it’s dead. 

First, you gotta get your body alive, then sense what you feel.

You can talk about feelings all day long, but it’s an idea (in the mind) not a feeling. 

Feeling is a very simple thing - it’s a sensation in the body that comes when you can sense what’s going on. 

You can have good and bad feelings, but if you don’t sense you’re body you’re just a ‘disenchanted spirit’ that’s wandering around, with nowhere to go.

If you put the spirit back into the body, the body becomes more alive, and the spirit becomes more uplifted and fulfilled.

Culture is not a body culture - it’s head oriented, emphasising thinking, power and not feeling. Feeling is the last thing that enters the picture in modern life.

‘Was in therapy for 3 years - we didn’t do much talking, we did body therapy and breath’

Insanity is losing touch with your body and senses

a healthy person is really characterised by a body that’s alive, and vital. Eyes that shine, a voice that’s resonant, a manner that’s soft, a sense of grace, a courage that’s dignified, and not dominated by his ego, with a sense of humility when he talks about things.

Energy through the breath

Feelings are movement

feel an internal movement

in order for it to move there has to be energy - energy creates movement (that’s the nature of energy)

if we make the energy strong enough the movement reaches the surface, and you’re gonna have a feeling.

How do we get the energy?

You have to eat

You have to breathe - you cut of feelings by stopping the energetic process by holding your breath or diminishing your breathing

if your breathing is free and full, your energy is strong, you have strong feelings and you have to deal with them

cutting off your breathing is like slowly putting out a fire, because there’s no oxygen - now that things are cool, and calm, your mind can think.

Dance of the senses

- District Vision

Do all of these before moving to talking therapy.

1.     Basic health stuff. Regular exercise, healthy diet. That stuff. (That alone doesn't do much, but you need vitamins and proteins and stuff to repair the cellular damage done by nervous system dysregulation)

2.     Neurostimulation (thoughts, yoga, nature, Feldenkrais, and stuff. Basically letting the brain and and know you are going to learn something soon, get ready, wake up

3.     Neuromodulation (Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Practice, and stuff, letting out all the trauma)

4.     Neurorelaxation (a lot of sleep and downtime after you release trauma – you can now be regulated)

5.     Neurodifferentiation/ Learning (Which is basically where talk therapy would belong)