The founder of the field of Somatics, Thomas Hanna, defines
soma from the Greek word somat meaning living body which
refers to the living body or soma as experienced from within.
Inspiration for his definition comes from Husserl’s “somatology”
which refers to a study of the relationship between direct bodily
knowing as subjectively experienced and objective scientific
knowledge about the body. A broad definition or encompassing
metaphor of the soma might be the body/mind experienced as a
whole entity embracing all of experience from within a personal
internal subjective and experientially whole awareness.
soma from the Greek word somat meaning living body which
refers to the living body or soma as experienced from within.
Inspiration for his definition comes from Husserl’s “somatology”
which refers to a study of the relationship between direct bodily
knowing as subjectively experienced and objective scientific
knowledge about the body. A broad definition or encompassing
metaphor of the soma might be the body/mind experienced as a
whole entity embracing all of experience from within a personal
internal subjective and experientially whole awareness.
A somatic paradigm is essentially holistic. A somatic
paradigm understands the biological function of life and
cultivates subjective inner awareness. Subjective inner
awareness of moving from within our multi-sensory
bodies, minds and environments is understood as an
indivisible, interwoven, synergistic whole, embracing
intellectually and experientially the integral wholeness of
the inside and outside worlds and the essential unity of
our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.
paradigm understands the biological function of life and
cultivates subjective inner awareness. Subjective inner
awareness of moving from within our multi-sensory
bodies, minds and environments is understood as an
indivisible, interwoven, synergistic whole, embracing
intellectually and experientially the integral wholeness of
the inside and outside worlds and the essential unity of
our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.
1 soma: \so-me\ n [Skt; akin to Av haoma, a Zoroastrian ritual drink, Gk hyein
to rain - more at SUCK] 1 : an East Indian leafless vine (Sarcostemma
acidum) of the mildweek family with a milky acid juice 2 : an intoxicating plant
juice of ancient India used as an offering to the gods and as a drink of
immortality by worshipers in Vedic ritual.
to rain - more at SUCK] 1 : an East Indian leafless vine (Sarcostemma
acidum) of the mildweek family with a milky acid juice 2 : an intoxicating plant
juice of ancient India used as an offering to the gods and as a drink of
immortality by worshipers in Vedic ritual.
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The soma is the root of the term somatic which refers
to the whole body and all its myriad experiential
mechanisms and organic processes. Today the soma
is a field of study on college campuses all across
America. Every day this field continues to grow and
inspire newcomers probing unexplored avenues of
somatic awareness offering new insights into who we
are holistically as individuals and as communal
citizens of the world, unearthing token gems that reflect
the essential nature of our humanity.
to the whole body and all its myriad experiential
mechanisms and organic processes. Today the soma
is a field of study on college campuses all across
America. Every day this field continues to grow and
inspire newcomers probing unexplored avenues of
somatic awareness offering new insights into who we
are holistically as individuals and as communal
citizens of the world, unearthing token gems that reflect
the essential nature of our humanity.
2 soma: n [NL somat-, soma, fr. Gk somat-, soma body] 1: all of an organism
except the germ cells 2: the body of an organism.
except the germ cells 2: the body of an organism.
The soma is the essential underpinning root of our whole moving,
desiring, living, breathing, bodies, minds, hearts, and souls, however
that may be or manifest.
desiring, living, breathing, bodies, minds, hearts, and souls, however
that may be or manifest.
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From a somatic perspective, phenomena traditionally
regarded as separate are perceived as indivisible or whole
and therefore today the epistemology of the physical and
psychological are understood as functionally and spiritually
identical or one and the same.
regarded as separate are perceived as indivisible or whole
and therefore today the epistemology of the physical and
psychological are understood as functionally and spiritually
identical or one and the same.
Rene Decartes did not have it quite right. It is actually;
I move therefore I am. And from there we can assume
as well, I am therefore I move.
I move therefore I am. And from there we can assume
as well, I am therefore I move.
feel how you move & move how you feel . . .
| Ah the Soma! |
| The Soma |