Changing Scoliosis
“… When I started taking Hanna Somatic workshops, I discovered that no matter what the sequence or concentration of movement patterns we practiced, my outcome was an improvement in my posture and alignment.
… I have also been lucky enough to work with Laura in one-on-one personal Hanna Somatic sessions in which the hands-on work gives the body distinct and strong messages on deep shifts the body has the potential to make. The combination of the hands-on work and the regular practice of the exercises has made a real difference in the degree of curvature in my spine…definitely prevented me from further deterioration… No other practice or bodywork promises such potential change in your back. Hanna Somatics gives me power over my curve.”
-Sophia Fatouros April 2010, Ballet teacher, Arts Administrator
(scroll down to see ”A non invasive approach to Scoliosis” my own story)
Improving Sciatica
“The Hanna Somatics work has been revolutionary for me, re-educating my body so that I am now pain-free from a debilitating case of sciatica…After several months of Hanna Somatics, I am pain free and no longer taking Advil. … I’m starting a modern dance class tonight, my first dance class in many years.”
-Karen Masaki, former (and future) dancer
“…I had severe sciatica, limited mobility, and took an average of 5 Advils per day or more for the pain due to complications of stenosis, arthritis, muscle spasms. With regular sessions, and doing the somatic exercises on my own, I now take only a few Advils per month, and have much improved mobility, and much less pain. Her care and expertise and these wonderful techniques are so helpful!”
-Judith Akullian, PhD, psychoanalyst, NYC
“…Somatics obviously takes one beyond fixing any immediate difficulty into new awareness of what I need to do to tune my body with my mind toward an overall condition of health without stress.”
-Wayne Adams, actor, producer, designer, age 77, NYC
Professional Dancers Story
“I have found the Hanna Somatics work to be an exceptional tool for finding more mobility, fluidity, and ease in my body. Both through Laura Gates’ group workshops and her private hands on sessions, I have learned valuable techniques that I have been able to incorporate into my daily preparations for rehearsals and performance. I love both the meditative quality of the work and its tangible results. Laura brings enormous expertise and knowledge to her teaching as well as deep sensitivity and abounding positive energy.”
-Myrna Packer, dancer and choreographer, Bridgman/Packer Dance
“Hanna Somatics with Laura Gates will send your body to heaven. I love the new mobility, balance and relaxation Laura and Hanna Somatics gives my body. Laura is such a passionate and dedicated teacher.”
-Lesley Powell, director Movements Afoot, Pilates and wellness center, NYC
Plantar Fasciitis
(following a weekend emersion in Somatic Education in the tradition of Thomas Hanna, Madrid, Spain April 2011)
“Yesterday I could not believe my eyes, my foot was not so painful as on the days before. At first I thought it was only a momentary “sensation”. But during the day I realized that I was feeling “it” in a different way. This morning I made a few movements with my foot before setting it on the floor and it was better. Only a dancer like you could understand painful feet so well and create such a specific and original set of exercises. I’m planning to practice your dvd exercises every afternoon … today.”
-Susana Milerud, translator, Madrid
Hanna Somatic Education is great for anyone who experiences pain that will never go away. I was suffering from a pelvic pain for about 2 years that prevented me from dancing. After a few sessions with Ms. Gates the pain was gone…. I love being pain free and I’m thankful for the knowledge and exercises given to me…. I will recommend Laura Gates to anyone. She is very patient, loving and caring. She understands the body very well and is a wonderful person to work with.
Rishma Dhanraj.
“Laura is a human being full of joy, wisdom, courage, energy and compassion…with her eye set squarely on understanding and aiding. She continually reaches deeper to challenge herself to think in new and creative ways.” -Susan Alancraig, co-counselor, Peace Corps worker
“Laura’s Somatic class … helped me to discover how to end “pent up” stiffness and pain. I use it almost every day!” -Jackie Walker, age 53
“To say Laura Gates changed my life sounds pretty dramatic but it’s nonetheless true. …the lessons she taught me stay with me, and I’m immensely grateful for them and for her.”
-Rebecca Godwin, author, professor, Bennington College
“As a Hanna Somatics practitioner, Laura is meticulous in her work. I would hold no reservations in recommending her as an HSE provider for those in need.”
-John Loupos, author, director of Jade Forest Martial Arts School, Cohasset, MA
A Noninvasive Approach to Scoliosis
Here is my own story. For decades I suffered substantial chronic pain from a scoliosis condition during careers as a professional dancer and then a dance teacher and body worker. Prior to encountering Hanna Somatic Education (HSE), I had tried many modalities, including deep tissue and other types of massage, acupressure and acupuncture, yoga, chiropractic techniques to relieve the chronic pain. Those treatments sometimes helped temporarily, but the same symptoms would always return quickly, and I could expect my back to go into crisis from time to time. When I discovered this work, I realized that it offered a very different approach to pain relief. The key is changing the mapping in the brain that governs the muscle function.
Presently my scoliosis is greatly improved both visually, (my L shoulder used to be nearly 2” lower and is now almost even with the R) and most important in terms of function. I have 80% less pain in my back and more range of motion. I consider this work a first resort for scoliosis symptoms and the most helpful modality I have found.
The optimum way to use this work and the re-patterning methods it offers is as follows: hands on private sessions to accelerate the changes to posture, and as preventive medicine, i.e. a daily solo somatic movement practice that actualizes the new neuro habits relative to the muscles’ function, and replaces the old neuro habits of pain and contraction. The treatment requires some diligence, but the somatic movements are very pleasurable, gentle, slow motion, and leave the whole body more pain free, de-stressed, and “smarter” physically. Mobilizing the body has positive affects all systems. I have noticed marked improvement to my health. Additionally, I am a much calmer person than I used to be.
I was so impressed with this work that I became a certified practitioner in ’07 and continue to get great results with my clients and students via these unique and excellent techniques.
Laura M. Gates, certified in Hanna Somatic Education and Clinical Somatic Education. NYC
