"How good are you at getting the muscles to relax? Well ... that's what this is." - That line is beatutiful Eric! I'm going to try to remember that my somatic work is me practicing relaxation and release ... such a simple yet powerful concept.
Often, we believe that the system is mechanical and unteachable in certain ways. I wonder if this is because we just haven't seen that the aspect is functional, teachable, and changeable. The focus of your awareness is very powerful in this respect. The system needs a good lesson. How good a lesson can you give it that there can be the application of your will and your sovereignty over your muscle system. The great experiment is to see if being more in control of the muscles, that were out of control, leads to being more in control of how you are living your life.
Sometimes an easy lesson offers so much relief. Again, the root of it is breathing space. On my list of videos to make is a similar fanning of lines while lying front down, prone. With just a small lift of the shoulder off the mat.
@@ericcoopersomatics I am really starting to pay attention to the areas where the breath is not able to get to places.... this is a fascinating journey. Thank you so very much for all the information you share with us all 🙏
I think for me this might be a desert island movement! This is my second day adding it to the end of the basic sequence and I was more aware of my heart space all day today which turned out to be important due to some conflicts with coworkers. I was able to stay very calm throughout and not go into that tight/hard anger heartspace gripping. I checked in throughout the day to see how my breath was able to get up through my front ribs and under my collarbone just after one practice of developing that awareness. What a great movement! Thank you Eric
Thats a good question. They are subtly different. I think my version of The basic Flower ( *The Flower Practice Sequence 2022 Go right through every vector,* Red pattern 11m53s On UA-cam : ua-cam.com/video/81mwNldEhXw/v-deo.html ) is good and the movement has to originate more deeply from the center the way I teach it. The Simplified flower helps people not make the shoulder so so much of the work. There is more opportunity to find the power of the contraction of the front upper ribs. Really, the quality of the movement is defined by how well you are able to focus your awareness into the changing space of it. I see the Flower a fine tuning movement, sweeping up the little crumbs in the corner. It can be gentle for people who need gentle movements. Personally, I don't do it unless i have lots of time, on a long ride in a car, or cant' sleep in the middle of the night. Use it _as needed._ Thank you for your question. -Eric
Wonderful Eric! I think I read that your body was in a bad shape when you decided to do something about the problems...so, my question is - how did you start to repair yourself..so many helpful videos you have made but I feel I need to start with the basics ie how to lessen the pain, how to move easier.. thank you ..
Yes, I had a lot of pain at a time in my life. And a deep battle with depression. All that is gone, now. I started by exploring things that I thought would help, like advanced massage and osteo-articular osteopathic manipulation. They just trick the nervous system into temporarily relaxing them muscles. Soon enough, the tension returns. It would with a vengance. Then, I found (what I consider the incomplete method) of Traditional Somatics, also called Clinical Somatics and Hanna Somatics. Those simple views were beneficial but they did not exactly cover the ways that I was stuck. They fit people into 3 patterns. I see at least 9 strategies, that actually boil down into one single strategy that the nervous system does with our tension, one unifying thing that it gets us stuck in. The basics: *Start here. Begin your Somatics Experience Here playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html *Free Intro to Somatics Course Playlist, Where you're stuck is hidden.* 2h:28m Somatic Movement to reconnect to yourself. ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayhL0zxrFjrpw0ok2298dZEG.html&si=n1fYUY8YG_NGkvP0 The basics are powerful. Mostly, for my own maintenance, I do the basics. Most simply, front and back. Those are stress tensions. Then the side, that mediate between front and back. Going further, fan shaped diagonals of front back and sides which are involved in twisting and rotation. Then, the Inner-X lines of the inter-connnected relationships of tension through the body. I have playlists for all these focus areas/lines/ space. Traditional somatics looks at the body as surfaces. In many ways, it is. But the intention is to close lines through the body. upper chest to low back, or upper front ribs toward opposite back pocket. Work from the top the Begin Here playlist. Learn some of the basic sequences like these: (Front back sides, to start) *Quick Intermediate 3 Movement Practice Sequence to Feel Great* 6m:09s Elbows to the Sky, Side Bend, Wishbone + Yawn Your Wings from Costa Rica 2022 ua-cam.com/video/zVxbHgZvsuo/v-deo.html Basic Slow 3 Movement Sequence, *Slow and Careful Whoa, Nellie! Side Bend both sides* , Elbows to the Sky 26m:27s If any part requires forcing or straining, we need to go back to some basics to make it be easy. ua-cam.com/video/nQWs5lKHUNA/v-deo.html Think of it like changing the course of a big ship. It takes a while to navigate to safe waters. Please contact me if you have questions. An assessment session can be helpful. Then you can focus on your exact patterns.
@@ericcoopersomatics Thank you Eric...so grateful you have replied and sent me all this information... I'll digest this and try to start at the beginning of a healing journey instead of flitting from one thing to another...I think being kind to oneself amidst the pain is a good starting point. Bless you..
Yes, be kind and gentle. Give your system a loving lesson in how to begin to let it go. Let the holding go. Contract the places that don't know how to open. Go so slowly, in the relax, that your system feels safe all the way. Look to bigger movements for these lines, *Elbows to the Sky The Four Leaf Clover* *Sunrise Sunset + the X of the Front* --->>> *The Diagonal Layover* *The Bow* *The Rocking Chair* They are all in this playlist: *Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html
@ericcoopersomatics Eric, I love how detailed your responses are. I have enjoyed watching about 3 of your videos. I'm a yoga therapist in training and a colleague recommended you to me. Enjoying your content. I'm going to watch your begin here Playlist. I've already incorporated some of the things I've done with you into my group classes. Thanks for all of your work!
So nice to hear that you are finding the videos helpful. Some of the themes I work with are how the molecules of movement add up into the contraction and subtract away as the effort diminishes to test. What is the level of detail on can see. What is the level of control, and can that be increased? This video, from a few years ago, focus on initiating the movement from the center, the torso. I consistently see the root holdings, that people are stuck in, reside in the normalized limits to the accessibility of all the potentials of breathign space, including the back, the lines through the body (the Inner-X lines as seen in this playlist: *The Inner-X, Lines through the body playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayhNdAbmTKQbIS4MDkEKO41y.html Especially good to start with are Ribcage Un-caged parts 1 and 2 This is one of more recent videos that I am very happy with: *The Two Axis Rocking Chair -Focus the lesson for scoliosis and everyone* Relax the front where the stuckness is hidden. Address your asymmetrical hunch. 12m:44s This is now a cornerstone movement in my personal practice. ua-cam.com/video/jsIRiFbc5sU/v-deo.html And this one has a glimpse of the what I currently see as the best way to assess: *Can Gentle TWISTING Free Your BREATHING? Gentle Slow, Simplest Twisting Washrag Full Version* 17m:12s Detailed front and side breathing assessment combined with an easy, slow twisting Somatic movement exercise On UA-cam : ua-cam.com/video/lfbeq1is-ns/v-deo.html I have a this related video: *The Simplified Flower, treat yourself to EASIER upper front BREATHING* 21m:19s On UA-cam : ua-cam.com/video/lI-6lQn_-gU/v-deo.html Please let me know if you have any questions as you explore. Break the rules, experiment, make it your own. -Eric
My right shoulder has been giving me trouble, doing this i really understood the concept of being hard to find. I felt it release very little. I never felt that with this move before. Now hopefully more with the rib. Shoulder, hip line things in will keep releasing more, thank you
Yes, keep looking inward for the missing places. Look for the movements that are challenging to keep the awareness focused on. The breakthroughs, the discoveries, the new spaces, all add up.
Yes the mathematics of all of them adding up is getting to be more of challenge,of all theses figures (in my sense of humor) if you can understand my brains sense!? The more I do the more connections I find. I am still trying to make sense of it all, but, i am learning.
@@cinmac3 That's why I suggest breaking the big movements into smaller localized explorations. Learn each part. Then begin to put it together. Give your brain a lesson with the right amount of difficulty so it can have a success. Looking at the details make it a deeper learning.
Still a challange for me.! I cant even move my arm up off the floor and when I try the other arm it is hard to rest my hand on my chest or on my waist in other movements. I still don't know this hidden place!!!
Epic!
"How good are you at getting the muscles to relax? Well ... that's what this is." - That line is beatutiful Eric! I'm going to try to remember that my somatic work is me practicing relaxation and release ... such a simple yet powerful concept.
Often, we believe that the system is mechanical and unteachable in certain ways. I wonder if this is because we just haven't seen that the aspect is functional, teachable, and changeable. The focus of your awareness is very powerful in this respect. The system needs a good lesson. How good a lesson can you give it that there can be the application of your will and your sovereignty over your muscle system. The great experiment is to see if being more in control of the muscles, that were out of control, leads to being more in control of how you are living your life.
It felt really good to teach my shoulders to relax gently out of the contraction!
Sometimes an easy lesson offers so much relief. Again, the root of it is breathing space.
On my list of videos to make is a similar fanning of lines while lying front down, prone. With just a small lift of the shoulder off the mat.
@@ericcoopersomatics I am really starting to pay attention to the areas where the breath is not able to get to places.... this is a fascinating journey. Thank you so very much for all the information you share with us all 🙏
I think for me this might be a desert island movement! This is my second day adding it to the end of the basic sequence and I was more aware of my heart space all day today which turned out to be important due to some conflicts with coworkers. I was able to stay very calm throughout and not go into that tight/hard anger heartspace gripping. I checked in throughout the day to see how my breath was able to get up through my front ribs and under my collarbone just after one practice of developing that awareness. What a great movement! Thank you Eric
I like your creativity.
Maybe more fiber?😂
The swimming/in-the-water exploration adds many new possibilities. I like it.
Again, i happened to look at your comment. So glad you are able to look deeply, in this healing way.
Keep practicing. Letting it go, again and again.
Great video here! The lighting is good too
I have practiced the simple flower a number of times and like it. Woud it be better to do this one than the simple flower?
Thats a good question. They are subtly different.
I think my version of The basic Flower ( *The Flower Practice Sequence 2022 Go right through every vector,* Red pattern 11m53s
On UA-cam : ua-cam.com/video/81mwNldEhXw/v-deo.html ) is good and the movement has to originate more deeply from the center the way I teach it.
The Simplified flower helps people not make the shoulder so so much of the work. There is more opportunity to find the power of the contraction of the front upper ribs.
Really, the quality of the movement is defined by how well you are able to focus your awareness into the changing space of it.
I see the Flower a fine tuning movement, sweeping up the little crumbs in the corner. It can be gentle for people who need gentle movements. Personally, I don't do it unless i have lots of time, on a long ride in a car, or cant' sleep in the middle of the night.
Use it _as needed._
Thank you for your question.
-Eric
Wonderful Eric!
I think I read that your body was in a bad shape when you decided to do something about the problems...so, my question is - how did you start to repair yourself..so many helpful videos you have made but I feel I need to start with the basics ie how to lessen the pain, how to move easier.. thank you ..
Yes, I had a lot of pain at a time in my life. And a deep battle with depression. All that is gone, now. I started by exploring things that I thought would help, like advanced massage and osteo-articular osteopathic manipulation. They just trick the nervous system into temporarily relaxing them muscles. Soon enough, the tension returns. It would with a vengance. Then, I found (what I consider the incomplete method) of Traditional Somatics, also called Clinical Somatics and Hanna Somatics. Those simple views were beneficial but they did not exactly cover the ways that I was stuck. They fit people into 3 patterns. I see at least 9 strategies, that actually boil down into one single strategy that the nervous system does with our tension, one unifying thing that it gets us stuck in.
The basics:
*Start here. Begin your Somatics Experience Here playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html
*Free Intro to Somatics Course Playlist, Where you're stuck is hidden.* 2h:28m Somatic Movement to reconnect to yourself.
ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayhL0zxrFjrpw0ok2298dZEG.html&si=n1fYUY8YG_NGkvP0
The basics are powerful. Mostly, for my own maintenance, I do the basics.
Most simply, front and back. Those are stress tensions.
Then the side, that mediate between front and back.
Going further, fan shaped diagonals of front back and sides which are involved in twisting and rotation.
Then, the Inner-X lines of the inter-connnected relationships of tension through the body.
I have playlists for all these focus areas/lines/ space.
Traditional somatics looks at the body as surfaces. In many ways, it is. But the intention is to close lines through the body. upper chest to low back, or upper front ribs toward opposite back pocket.
Work from the top the Begin Here playlist.
Learn some of the basic sequences like these: (Front back sides, to start)
*Quick Intermediate 3 Movement Practice Sequence to Feel Great* 6m:09s
Elbows to the Sky, Side Bend, Wishbone + Yawn Your Wings from Costa Rica 2022 ua-cam.com/video/zVxbHgZvsuo/v-deo.html
Basic Slow 3 Movement Sequence,
*Slow and Careful Whoa, Nellie! Side Bend both sides* , Elbows to the Sky 26m:27s
If any part requires forcing or straining, we need to go back to some basics to make it be easy. ua-cam.com/video/nQWs5lKHUNA/v-deo.html
Think of it like changing the course of a big ship. It takes a while to navigate to safe waters. Please contact me if you have questions. An assessment session can be helpful. Then you can focus on your exact patterns.
@@ericcoopersomatics Thank you Eric...so grateful you have replied and sent me all this information... I'll digest this and try to start at the beginning of a healing journey instead of flitting from one thing to another...I think being kind to oneself amidst the pain is a good starting point. Bless you..
Yes, be kind and gentle. Give your system a loving lesson in how to begin to let it go. Let the holding go. Contract the places that don't know how to open. Go so slowly, in the relax, that your system feels safe all the way.
Look to bigger movements for these lines,
*Elbows to the Sky
The Four Leaf Clover*
*Sunrise Sunset + the X of the Front*
--->>> *The Diagonal Layover*
*The Bow*
*The Rocking Chair*
They are all in this playlist:
*Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html
@ericcoopersomatics Eric, I love how detailed your responses are. I have enjoyed watching about 3 of your videos. I'm a yoga therapist in training and a colleague recommended you to me. Enjoying your content. I'm going to watch your begin here Playlist. I've already incorporated some of the things I've done with you into my group classes. Thanks for all of your work!
So nice to hear that you are finding the videos helpful. Some of the themes I work with are how the molecules of movement add up into the contraction and subtract away as the effort diminishes to test. What is the level of detail on can see. What is the level of control, and can that be increased?
This video, from a few years ago, focus on initiating the movement from the center, the torso.
I consistently see the root holdings, that people are stuck in, reside in the normalized limits to the accessibility of all the potentials of breathign space, including the back, the lines through the body (the Inner-X lines as seen in this playlist:
*The Inner-X, Lines through the body playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayhNdAbmTKQbIS4MDkEKO41y.html
Especially good to start with are Ribcage Un-caged parts 1 and 2
This is one of more recent videos that I am very happy with:
*The Two Axis Rocking Chair -Focus the lesson for scoliosis and everyone*
Relax the front where the stuckness is hidden. Address your asymmetrical hunch. 12m:44s
This is now a cornerstone movement in my personal practice. ua-cam.com/video/jsIRiFbc5sU/v-deo.html
And this one has a glimpse of the what I currently see as the best way to assess:
*Can Gentle TWISTING Free Your BREATHING? Gentle Slow, Simplest Twisting Washrag Full Version* 17m:12s Detailed front and side breathing assessment combined with an easy, slow twisting Somatic movement exercise On UA-cam : ua-cam.com/video/lfbeq1is-ns/v-deo.html
I have a this related video:
*The Simplified Flower, treat yourself to EASIER upper front BREATHING* 21m:19s
On UA-cam : ua-cam.com/video/lI-6lQn_-gU/v-deo.html
Please let me know if you have any questions as you explore.
Break the rules, experiment, make it your own.
-Eric
My right shoulder has been giving me trouble, doing this i really understood the concept of being hard to find.
I felt it release very little.
I never felt that with this move before.
Now hopefully more with the rib. Shoulder, hip line things in will keep releasing more, thank you
Yes, keep looking inward for the missing places. Look for the movements that are challenging to keep the awareness focused on.
The breakthroughs, the discoveries, the new spaces, all add up.
Yes the mathematics of all of them adding up is getting to be more of challenge,of all theses figures (in my sense of humor) if you can understand my brains sense!?
The more I do the more connections I find.
I am still trying to make sense of it all, but, i am learning.
@@cinmac3 That's why I suggest breaking the big movements into smaller localized explorations. Learn each part. Then begin to put it together. Give your brain a lesson with the right amount of difficulty so it can have a success. Looking at the details make it a deeper learning.
Still a challange for me.!
I cant even move my arm up off the floor and when I try the other arm it is hard to rest my hand on my chest or on my waist in other movements.
I still don't know this hidden place!!!
As said....
It could be the neck, it doesn't hurt,but,this time after doing this movement, a loud click.