Bodywork for Somatic Guides

Overview

Bodywork and touch skills are considered a primary skills offering for somatic guides of all varieties. This comprehensive series offers a complete introduction to the powerful somatic skills of osteopathic touch, movement, and somatic therapy within a broader container.

Built around universal principles and processes derived from osteopathic bodywork and somatic therapy, each course focuses upon particular themes in quality of touch, technique, and movement. Presented via experiential learning for practical and on-going development of skill in the therapist, the series is intended for new and advanced students alike.

Course material is appropriate for anyone with an interest in somatically focused training: one-on-one guides, ceremony leaders, body workers, and therapists.

We address the differing context of application within the various settings somatic work is currently occurring. Particularly, the need for skillful touch by mental health care professionals within the boundaries of licensure is a welcome invitation to advance the quality and effectiveness of care within the field.

Techniques featured are safe, simple to learn, and fun to apply. These include a variety of direct and indirect bodywork techniques within and guidance on applications of use in all stages of ordinary and non-ordinary consciousness. The interplay of somatic therapy, touch, movement, and awareness as they manifest in journeys are explored throughout the themes of the series.

The therapist’s embodied presence is held as an ongoing exploration of their State of Being and relationship within the nonverbal dialogue of touch.

A different range of somatic movement exercises selected to fit the theme of each course accompany the hands on learning.

Setting and Intent of Training

The intention of these training is to support skill development and growth within an intimate small group environment. Instruction will be attuned to the individual needs and working styles of each student in the course.

We hold courses as an invitation for fostering connection within the developing community. We prioritize a nourishing safe environment for participants, and opportunities for building connection.

Courses have no pre-requisites, stand alone, and can be taken in any order desired.
In class practice, feedback, and follow up exercises are provided for continued learning beyond the course.

“I’ve attended two of the weekend trainings. The days were full, rich, and Trevor’s range of know-how is extensive; his teachings, very thorough. I review my notes from this training, and remark at how often I still employ what J learned. His teachings have become integrated into my own skillset, a know-how that has become intuitive to me. Trevor is indeed a capable teacher, and I honor what I learned a part of a multitude of lineages I incorporate in my work as a guide.”

Chad Charles
Guide and Educator

Structure: Direct Release and Physical Embodiment

Explore the myofascial system and embodiment of physical movement in space. Somatic movement explorations emphasize the physical body’s relationship with gravity, space, and transmission of power. Hands on skills focus upon direct lengthening soft tissue techniques derived from Thai massage, positional and myofascial release.

Principals of inducing direct tissue release with osteopathic touch
Foundations of therapist body mechanics and positioning
Touch as direct nervous system communication
Internal embodiment and resourcing when working with touch
Basic anatomy, contraindications and health evaluations
Direct tissue techniques for the entire body

Flow: Indirect Release and Organic Movement

In deep listening and bringing together of the body, the innate intelligence of unwinding tissue can manifest. The hands on skills focus upon indirect release techniques from cranial sacral, visceral manipulation, and myofascial release. Movement explorations emphasize discovery, organic intelligence, and softening to compliment the hands on portion of the course.

Principles of inducing indirect release with osteopathic touch
Body mechanics and positioning for building sensitivity with touch
“Listening” and following the innate intelligence of the nervous system
Somatic movement exploring organic unwinding, awareness, and novelty
Resourcing in fluidity, stillness, and softening
Techniques focus on the head, spine, and core

Flow: Indirect Release and Organic Movement

In deep listening and bringing together of the body, the innate intelligence of unwinding tissue can manifest. The hands on skills focus upon indirect release techniques from cranial sacral, visceral manipulation, and myofascial release. Movement explorations emphasize discovery, organic intelligence, and softening to compliment the hands on portion of the course.

Principles of inducing indirect release with osteopathic touch
Body mechanics and positioning for building sensitivity with touch
“Listening” and following the innate intelligence of the nervous system
Somatic movement exploring organic unwinding, awareness, and novelty
Resourcing in fluidity, stillness, and softening
Techniques focus on the head, spine, and core

Awareness: Somatic Therapy and Attunement

In this course we blend the use of touch with the lens of commonly encountered somatic psychological material during therapy. Attuned touch is an essential tool for the success of somatic therapists. Childhood development, trauma, attachment, and other psychobiology based behaviors manifest within journeys, often requiring more then words to attend too effectively.

Blending osteopathic touch with somatic therapy
Somatic resourcing for client and therapist
Riding the rapids of trauma with touch
Attachment work and the feltness of connection
Childhood developmental core structures and journey’s (Character)
Wholeness: working with Self, fragmentation, and embodiment
Managing crisis: non-violent restraint for harm reduction