This describes the class "Introduction to Somatic Awareness and Relating", offered through the Second Life group Deeper Relating, which was created by Calvino Rabeni and Susan Aloix to popularize body-oriented awareness studies and techniques to a general audience.
What is Somatic Awareness?
The word Somatic, as used here, refers to the human body/mind, considered as a whole, and experienced from the first person perspective. Body awareness and intelligence, and holistic mind/body practices, of course, are a basic fact of human existence and are used in a very large number of traditions and field. The term "somatic" however, dates from the 1980's, which may have been the first time this was given a unified treatment as a philosophy and area of study.
Who is this class for?
This class is open to the general public. If you are interested in enhancing and deeping your relationship with yourself, intimate partners, spiritual friends, or Nature, than this is for you.
What will be covered?
This introductory class has an experiential emphasis and will start with basic awareness practices and a minimal amount of "theory".
Are there followup activities?
Somatic awareness and practice is a huge field. If there is sufficient interest and energy we hope to follow up with additional classes that go into each area in more depth. These will include both a study and a pratice component.
Introducing the basic concept of the body/mind unity (bodymind) as a field of direct experience.
Exercise 1: Body Scan
We will start with the fundamental practice is "body sensing", which is to move attention throughout one's body in a thorough and systematic way.
Exercise 2: Awareness of Centers
Different areas or "centers" of the bodymind have distinct qualities and "functions", including thinking, feeling, and sensing/moving.
Exercise 3: Space and Focus
We tune into space-like experiences, including containment, boundaries, surrounding, location, and the presence of objects.
Exercise 4: Open Awareness
Key Ideas
Exercise 5: Objects
Exercise 6: Others
Exercise 7: A Shared Object
Exercise 8: The Field
Key Ideas
Exercise 9:
Exercise 10: Reflection
Key Ideas