Releasing Common Neck Issues with Trauma Reflex

with Jeong Myung Gim

The Trauma reflex is a habituated contraction of the lateral flexors and rotators. This reflex is an involuntary muscular contraction that typically occurs in response to an accident and/or operation. It can also appear as compensation for Red Light or Green Light postures.

In this presentation, we will release core muscles such as latissimus dorsi, obliques and waist muscles and more, using interactive hands-on loading. Then we will release common neck muscle contractions that typically accompany the Trauma reflex pattern. The focus in this presentation will be on the connection between the core muscles and neck muscles.

Jeong Myung Gim, Ph.D, CHSE is Chair Professor of Seoul School of Integrated Science and Technology (aSSIST). He is also Professor Emeritus, Former Dean, and Athletic Director at the College of Arts and Physical Education at Myong Ji University in Korea. He received a Ph.D in Somatic Philosophy at the School of HPER of the Ohio State University in 1989. Professor Gim is an HSE® practitioner (Wave 19) certified by Novato Institute and the Director of Korea Somatics Institute.

What About Organs?

with Susan Koenig

In Hanna Somatic Education, we normally focus on the Musculo-skeletal system in relationship to the nervous system. However, we also talk about the “soma,” and that includes the whole of us, including our organs, fascia, blood and lymph, cranial structures, emotional states, energetic system, and more.

In this presentation we’ll focus our awareness and somatic movements on including some of our organs, especially the lungs. We often put our attention on the rib basket and diaphragm during somatic movement, but usually don’t include awareness of the organ of the lungs. We will also be exploring a few other organs as well, with some attention to fascia and our fluids.

Doing somatic movements with a change in focus and deeper understanding of our physiology can help us, as well as our clients, to further promote our well-being, freedom of movement, and somatic awareness and ability to respond intelligently to what we perceive.

Susan Koenig CHSE, was in Wave 1, Thomas Hanna’s, Hanna Somatic Education training in 1990. Since that time, she has been practicing, teaching a Saturday morning movement class (now monthly), and is part of the Novato Institute’s Teaching Team.

Releasing the Rotator Cuff and/or Scapula

with Gabriel Posner

We will explore the variety of angles and hand positions to assist clients in pandiculations to help them access the movements/muscles needed to balance and free this joint complex. As part of this, participants will also explore varying their feedback for clients who need more load and those who need less.

Gabriel Posner is a Certified Hanna Somatic Educator and Essential Somatics® Movement Teacher practicing in the Denver, Colorado area. He completed massage training in 2004, Somatics training in 2009, and received his Master of Science degree in Mind-Body Medicine in 2016. Gabriel became passionate about self-regulation after using Somatics to heal himself of debilitating pain and chronic digestive issues. He now uses Somatics to stay out of pain while enjoying trail running, cycling, weight lifting, and playing with his two young children. Gabriel offers group classes and private sessions in Somatics as well as biofeedback, focusing on chronic pain, complete injury recovery, and peak performance training.

Analyze and Improvise: releasing, activating and dynamic support 

with Lori Seymour

In this workshop we will go over various strategies Lori utilized working with a client who was in the later stages of MS. We will be looking at patterns, meeting them where they are at  then helping clients to engage muscles they may be loosing contact with, releasing muscles that are highly contracted or in spasm and utilizing dynamic support techniques. The workshop includes strategies and hands on for support, activation and release. These techniques can be applied for clients who have a wide range of abilities, environments and conditions. 

Lori Seymour, CHSE - Certified as a Pilates instructor in 1998, a GYROTONIC® Pre-trainer in 1999, and a Hanna Somatic Educator® in 2018, Lori has a background in teaching modern dance, dance improvisation, and swimming. Currently, she is leading in-person sessions at PhysioFit Physical Therapy in Los Altos and providing private virtual sessions.