Somatic Movement Therapy

Working primarily with Somatic Movement techniques but also calling on experience and qualifications in dance, gymnastics coaching, fitness instructing and yoga teaching, Jeni provides comprehensive one-to-one sessions working on pain relief and postural alignment. 

What kind of issues can Somatic Movement help?

One-to-one personalised Somatic Movement sessions can help you to live pain free and can assist with issues including:

       Sports injuries
       Symptoms of physical traumas, injuries and operations
       Back and neck pain
       Other physical tension and pains
       Symptoms of MS, Parkinson's and other conditions that
       affect muscular control and reflexes
       Increasing sporting performance

What is Somatic Movement?

Somatic Movement, also known as Hanna Somatics, is a system of neuro muscular reprogramming based on the theory of Sensory Motor Amnesia - SMA. SMA occurs when conscious and controlled movement becomes habitual movement patterns. As our sensory motor system responds to daily stresses and traumas, our muscles respond with specific muscular reflex patterns. Over time, if these reflexes are continuously triggered, we can develop habitual movement patterns which we cease to be able to consciously control, hence "amnesia" of the sensory motor system. SMA can be caused by this repetition of muscular reflex or it can occur as a result of physical injury or trauma or as a result of structural misalignments. In any case, Hanna Somatics is the system whereby you can learn to regain regain control of your mobility, enabling you to release held muscular contractions, recognise your tendency to muscular reflex patterns and thus relieve pain and tension throughout the body.

What can I expect from Postural Rehabilitation and Somatic Movement sessions with Jeni?

In an initial session Jeni will check your current natural reflex patterns and gather information about target areas with pain, discomfort or less mobility. You will be guided through some gentle physical exercises and you will be given "homework" exercises to practice daily.

Over a series of sessions, Jeni will re-evaluate your pain/discomfort/mobility levels and your conscious mobility and tailor the exercises accordingly.

How many sessions will I need?

A minimum of 4 sessions on a weekly or fortnightly basis is recommended. After that you will be advised on an individual basis according to what you require and what conditions or targets you are working with.

Jeni's Somatic Movement sessions teach mindful motion in order to transform painful muscular tension, enabling you to become and remain pain-free. 

When we learn a new movement, the brain creates a Movement Pattern and, through repetition, is able to program this Movement Pattern into the muscle memory. But what if, when we learn a movement, we use our muscles and joints in an inefficient way? This is a common cause of muscular tension that, over time, can lead to debilitating pain and injury. This can occur when playing sport or in daily life when we program simple Movement Patterns such as how we use a computer mouse, carry a bag or hold a phone.

Individual Personalised Somatic Movement sessions will teach you to use your muscles in a more beneficial way, increasing efficient capacity for building strength and eliminating muscular tension and pain. 

Contact Jeni to enquire or to book a session
jeni@jenihowland.com

Jeni Howland has studied Somatic Movement Therapy and Gentle Somatic Yoga with Tanya Fitzpatrick of Align Somatics and James Knight and has been practicing this method of movement therapy since 2013. 

Testimonials