Q: What kinds of conditions are best addressed by HSE/CSE? (Hanna Somatic Education, also known as Clinical Somatic Education)
A: Many people have enjoyed relief from chronic pain and stiffness caused by stress, repetitive movement, traumas, accidents, surgery, including the symptoms of Sciatica, Scoliosis, and Fibromyalgia, to name a few.
Q: How is HSE/CSE different from other modalities?
A: There are three major factors that set this work apart:
1) Rapid Progress. In many cases, HSE gives faster results due to the techniques Thomas Hanna developed that apply neuroscience in some very unique ways. Many conditions can be changed in 4-8 sessions.
2) We put the tools in your hands. In a somatic movement class or in a private session, you learn sequences and principals that become part of your daily self-care effort. Once you learn them and get good results, you will be inspired to continue using the techniques so that your body remains pain free.
3) HSE/CSE targets Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA). Hanna identified SMA: the response of the brain to traumas and stresses, which is a habituation of the muscle in a contracted state, and loss of some of the voluntary control of and sensation in the muscle. The techniques of this work recalibrate the brain with the tissue to restore range of motion and intelligence to the body.
Q: How does HSE/CSE impact the rest of the body and overall health?
A: If a body is locked down due to SMA (see above) and has lost its mobility, then many systems within it are compromised such as digestion, cardiovascular issues, lymphatic function, oxygen intake, or any organ system within. Restoring motion to the spine and all the joints of the body can have substantial positive effects on all the other systems. In addition, the movement practice calms the nervous system and tends to lower blood pressure, making it an excellent adversary to stress and an ally for promoting better quality sleep.
Q: Is HSE/CSE useful for psychological issues?
A: If you are engaged in a psychological counseling process, HSE may be a positive addition. Since the brain responds to emotional trauma with muscular habituation (see SMA above), this work can help to change the muscular and brain level “blueprint” of the trauma and potentially accelerate your recovery process.
Q: Are somatic movement classes and the hands-on work safe for older bodies or people recovering from injury?
A: Both the movement practice and the hands-on work of HSE/CSE are very gentle and the activity involved is in very slow motion. The somatic educator helps the student or client to sense the limitations that the body presents, stay within his/her comfort zone, and avoids pain, deep stretching, or intense muscle contraction. If you have a very recent injury or surgery, please consult the teacher as to the appropriate time to begin your somatic educational process.
Q: Can this work improve function for clients with degenerative diseases such as MS, ALS, Parkinson’s?
A: All around a compromised nerve pathway and the muscles affected are healthy nerves and muscles that have become amnesic due to proximity to trauma and/or lack of activity. Those healthy nerves/muscles can be restored bringing increased circulation, motion, and improve overall function. It gives the client empowering tools for improvement that they can use on a daily basis.
