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

by Thomas Hanna (Author) "Barney, an insurance executive, was in his forties..." (more)
Key Phrases: somatic exercises, somatic viewpoint, trauma reflex, Red Light, Green Light, Somatic Exercises (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This is a truly important book. Thomas Hanna makes clear that there is a major category of human health problems--amounting to possibly half of all human health complaints--[that] can be understood and dealt with only by means of sensory reeducation." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
A gentle program that reverses or avoids many of the effects associated with aging. Once mastered, the benefit of Somatics--Sensory Motor Awareness--can be maintained by a simple, five-minute routine once a day.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (January 21, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201079798
• ISBN-13: 978-0201079791
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,230 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

131 of 131 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Use awareness to take control of your muscular health, April 23, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Maine) - See all my reviews

This book really changed my life. I used to suffer from shoulder tendinitis and other muscular ailments, but by using the material in this book I'm now 99% pain free. In addition, "Somatics" taught me about the causes and cures of muscular tension, "aging", and poor posture. By applying what I learned in "Somatics", my body has become much more supple and relaxed, making activities from walking to playing tennis to doing the dishes much more enjoyable.

But what is the catch? As Thomas Hanna explains, once you learn how your body really works, its up to you to learn how to improve its function. The bad news is that it takes time and persistance to effectively apply the knowledge in "Somatics" to your own body. The good news, however, is that by applying this knowledge you'll gain control over your own muscular (and thereby skeletal) health, now and for the rest of your life!

I also like this book because even though the material is fairly scientific, the book's occasional humor and its case study format make it an enjoyable read.

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delivers the goods in 10 easy minutes a day!, May 31, 2005

By	Bonnie MacBird (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Somatics: Reawakening The Mind's Control Of Movement, Flexibility, And Health (Paperback)

A wise Pilates/Feldenkrais teacher introduced me to this book. Using "Somatics" I personally found relief from chronic lower lumbar pain, and got help retraining my gait and balance after a severe ankle injury.The book is simple to understand with sections for various problems.

Somatics are a system of gentle movements - while breathing and mildly focusing (and sometimes simple "looking" in certain directions)- which through a combination of neuromuscular stimulation and the gentlest of stretches (no pain!) manages to to roll back years of stiffness, aid injury recovery, and significantly relieve some of the stresses of aging.

Somatics is based on sound science, and Feldenkrais, yoga, and Pilates are related. But Somatics exercises - movements really - are even gentler, and smarter, No equipment but a towel or mat is needed. Any level of fitness can benefit, even someone in a wheelchair or bedridden can do some of the movements.

If you have the patience and interest, I suggest reading the book and working through every single exercise presented, which is what I did coming back from traumatic injury. Some will "speak to you", and you'll incorporate them later into daily practice.

If you lack the patience or the time for this, the book is still valuable for its simple "CAT STRETCH" a five minute series of gentle movements which gently moves the whole body and seem to me like "the fountain of youth" . I do the cat stretch twice a day - on arising and before bed.

I could not recommend this book and Somatics in general more highly. Your back, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and neck will thank you!!!! And so will your friends when you pass this book along!

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars brain reprogramming, January 2, 2002

By	Daniel Vasquez "silverbug" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a massage therapist and use elements of Hanna's work daily.
Most people don't understand that their posture and how they use their body comes from how they have unwittingly programmed their
bodies. Their bodies are on "auto-pilot". Hanna makes this clear to the reader and then discusses how the reader can re-awaken their brain circuits and change their body programming, releasing
muscular tension, using the exercises in the back of the book. Granted that the wooden figures showing the exercises can be difficult to discern, it is worth your patience to work it out.
Your body will thank you. I have adapted many of the movements to my table work sessions and always assign one or two movements as homework. You can do much on your own. I have given away many copies of this book to clients who showed great interst in Hanna's work and in taking care of themselves.