What is the SomaLab?

Welcome to the first post of my SomaLab blog.

The SomaLab is year-long journey of exploration into the underlying principles of body-centred healing, and their integration into practical application. This version of the SomaLab is the latest manifestation in my 25 year study of the question, "What is it that makes body-centered practices work?", that I have pursued over the years through numerous learning environments. I'll make reference to them, and their contributions to my understanding of Somatic practice in future blogs.

This current version of the SomaLab is being sponsored as an inservice training under the kind auspices of Healing Connections, a holistic health clinic in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. The clinic provides services in a broad array of holistic practices including massage, myofascial release, light touch practices such as cranial-sacral and lymph drainage, acupuncture, Reiki and other energetic modalities, yoga, and somatic psychology. The wide range of healing approaches gives us the opportunity of working in a rich learning environment in which each paradigm and modality will share the outcome of their explorations, and the application of somatics principles into their practice.

Each monthly workshop in the series will introduce new conceptual information that will then be explored through both personal practice and clinical application. We will continually revisit core practices to deepen our understanding of them and strengthen the foundation of our personal and professional practice.

Over the next year I will be using this blog to journal the training process. I will be also interested in hearing from you in the form of comments to the blog. If you have questions or contributions please don't hesitate to post them.