Hanna Somatic Education:
A Revolutionary Approach to Pain Relief and Mobility
Biographies
Thomas Hanna, PhD
The late Thomas Hanna, PhD, was founder of the field of Somatics, director of the Novato Institute for Somatic Research and Training in Novato, CA, and editor of "Somatics: Magazine-Journal of the Bodily Arts and Sciences." He authored seven books, perhaps best know for "Bodies in Revolt: A Primer in Somatic Thinking" (1970) and "Somatics: Reawakening the Mind's Control of Movement, Flexibility, and Health" (1989).
Hanna often referred to F.M. Alexander and Moshe Feldenkrais as important teachers who influenced him. Many aspects of the Feldenkrais technique can be found inside Hanna Somatics but Hanna continued on to develop some innovative methods for brain/body recalibration that are unique to HSE. Feldenkrais had said, and Hanna reiterated, that there is no limit to human learning potential.
Hanna considered himself a writer, philosopher and teacher, not a body worker. He called his hands-on work Clinical Somatic Education (later named Hanna Somatic Education). He strongly believed that real change can only occur from within and cannot be imposed on someone from the outside. It is the difference between working on someone and working with someone on the goal of restoring awareness and voluntary control over the sensory-motor system.
The late Thomas Hanna, PhD, was founder of the field of Somatics, director of the Novato Institute for Somatic Research and Training in Novato, CA, and editor of "Somatics: Magazine-Journal of the Bodily Arts and Sciences." He authored seven books, perhaps best know for "Bodies in Revolt: A Primer in Somatic Thinking" (1970) and "Somatics: Reawakening the Mind's Control of Movement, Flexibility, and Health" (1989).
Hanna often referred to F.M. Alexander and Moshe Feldenkrais as important teachers who influenced him. Many aspects of the Feldenkrais technique can be found inside Hanna Somatics but Hanna continued on to develop some innovative methods for brain/body recalibration that are unique to HSE. Feldenkrais had said, and Hanna reiterated, that there is no limit to human learning potential.
Hanna considered himself a writer, philosopher and teacher, not a body worker. He called his hands-on work Clinical Somatic Education (later named Hanna Somatic Education). He strongly believed that real change can only occur from within and cannot be imposed on someone from the outside. It is the difference between working on someone and working with someone on the goal of restoring awareness and voluntary control over the sensory-motor system.
Additional Information:
For questions regarding HSE, training schedules, practitioners in your area, tapes and cd's of
Thomas Hanna teaching, his books and other products, contact
Somatic
Systems Institute www.somatics.org
Laura M Gates, CHSE
Laura Gates is a Certified Hanna Somatic Educator (CHSE) and practitioner living in New York City. As a former professional dancer, she toured internationally with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Co in the 70s and 80s and earned an MFA degree in dance from Bennington College. She brings 30 years experience as a movement educator to her work and has training in deep tissue body work with Tyr Throne, anatomy with Irene Dowd, and Clinical Somatic Education at Somatic Systems Institute, Northampton, MA. She is also certified by Novato Institute, CA.Ms. Gates has worked with people from all walks of life, including dancers, athletes, musicians, and actors. She was movement coach for Harvey Keitel on the set of "A Crime," filmed in 2006.
Contact Laura at 718 350 0637 or Laura@fullmovementpotential.com with questions or to schedule a session.
For HSE in NJ contact:
| I highly recommend my colleagues in the Maplewood, NJ area, Martha Peterson and Carrie Day. They both bring dance and athletic expertise to their somatic practices, and I can say first hand that they do excellent work! They offer hands on work/private sessions in both NJ and NYC, and regular group classes in NJ. |
Carrie Day, CCSE