Awakening Somatic Intelligence
The Art and Practice of Embodied Mindfulness
1st Edition
Published on 29. May 2012
408 pages
978-1-58394-506-3 (ISBN)
Description
Awakening Somatic Intelligence: The Art and Practice of Embodied Mindfulness-Transform Pain, Stress, Trauma, and Aging offers a guide to Somatic Learning, an innovative body-oriented approach that incorporates mindfulness, visualization, breathing exercises, postures, and stretches. Developed by author, psychotherapist, and award-winning songwriter and poet Risa Kaparo, PhD, Somatic Learning is based on leading-edge research demonstrating the power of the mind to activate physiological, mental, and emotional healing. Kaparo has successfully used her approach with patients suffering from chronic pain, high blood pressure, and mood disorders including depression and anxiety.
Recounting her own struggle with chronic pain, Kaparo begins with a moving description of her journey from crippling pain to renewed health and aliveness. Kaparo introduces the concepts and characteristics of Somatic Learning, a method that grew out of her personal healing experience. Incorporating the latest brain research in mindfulness and neuroplasticity, the book presents breathing exercises; postures and stretches for morning and bedtime; instructions for integrating mindfulness practice into one's daily life; and ways of deepening the practice through touch and caring interaction with others. Enhanced with over 100 detailed instructional photos and illustrations, the book includes inspiring case stories and the author's own expressive poetry that illuminate the healing power of this practice.
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05/2012
North Atlantic Books,U.S.
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A liscensed psychotherapist and award-winning poet and songwriter, Risa Kaparo, PhD, is the developer of Somatic Learning, a body-based approach that incorporates psychological, somatic, and meditative disciplines. She has developed training programs for health professionals and educators, and has taught Somatic Learning at MIT, John F. Kennedy University, the California Institute of Integral Studies, Dalian Medical University in China, and numerous other universities and professional institutions. The author of Embrace: Poems, Kaparo maintains a private practice in Richmond, California.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Acknowledgments
- Contents
- Foreword by Rick Hanson, PhD
- Foreword by James Oschman, PhD
- Introduction: Insights from the Ancients
- Part I. Somatic Intelligence Is Your Birthright
- Chapter 1. Dawn Begins in the Bones
- My Healing Journey: From Crippling Pain to Ever-Greater Freedom and Aliveness
- Led by the Blind
- The Healing Power of Presencing
- Chapter 2. Fundamental Principles of Somatic Learning: - The Science and Practice of Awakening Somatic Intelligence
- Neuroplasticity
- Embodied Mindfulness
- The Gift of Embodiment
- Proprioception
- The Primacy of Perception and Beliefs: A New Biology
- Presencing-Embodying the Infinite
- Differentiation
- Proprioceptive Illumination
- Chapter 3. Engaging the Natural Wisdom of Embodied Mindfulness
- Cycles of Learning and Habituation
- Autopoiesis
- A New Perspective on Healing, a New Way of Living
- Implications
- Somatic Meditations
- Transforming Your Relationship to Gravity and Aging
- Partnering with Gravity Will Lead You to a New Reality
- Chapter 4. The Embrace
- Fable
- Sovereignty
- Chapter 5. The Invitation: Birth Yourself Slowly
- The Practice as Chrysalis
- Effort
- Discipline as a Way of Loving
- Finding and Losing Yourself
- Developing an Ecology of Affect
- Differentiation
- How to Assess Your Practice
- Research on Wounding and Healing
- Engaging Somatic Intelligence in Non-local Healing
- All At Once
- Part II. Reorganizing Your Structure, Reorganizing Your Life
- Chapter 6. Gravity-Surfing on the Waves of Your Breath
- Breathing and Birthing
- The Pulse of Life
- Locating the Diaphragms
- The Myth of "Taking a Deep Breath"
- Activating the Peritoneum to Float the Organs and Skeleton
- Sensing the Lymph
- Differentiating the Diaphragms
- Gravity-Surfing and the Practice of Spinal Elongation
- Anchoring the Sacrum
- Anchoring the Base of the Skull and the Feet
- The Exhalation: Floating the Bones
- The Inhalation
- Variation: Snake Breathing
- Implications
- Chapter 7. Bedtime Practices
- Reallocating Internal Resources-Realigning Your Energy
- Evening/Bedtime Practices: 5-20 Minutes
- Gravity-Reference Scan
- Quick Spinal Release
- Shape-Shifting Practice with a Ball
- Sequence One: Upper Torso, Arm, and Head
- Sequence Two: Pelvis and Leg
- Sequence Three: Rib Cage, Shoulder, and Hip
- Sequence Four: Opening the Heart and Pelvis
- Morning Practice before You Rise
- Dreamtime Somatic Meditation
- Getting Out of Bed
- Implications
- Chapter 8. Morning Practices
- Set-Up for Morning Practice
- The Morning Practices, 20-40 Minutes
- Elongation Series
- Pelvic Position with Block
- Further Differentiations: Deepening Your Breathing
- Cultivating Sexual Energy for Self-Renewal
- Sensing the Omnidirectional Flow of Energy
- Strengthening the Organs
- Sitting Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
- Sitting Meditation
- Feeling the Wave: Introduction to the Scorpion Tail
- Child's Pose
- Sensing the Pelvic Organs
- LUV Sequence
- Implications
- Part III. The Art and Practice of Somatic Learning: Anytime Anywhere Practices
- Chapter 9. Anytime Anywhere Practices: Standing
- Transforming Your Relationship to Gravity
- Gravity-Reference Scan (Standing)
- Finding Neutral (Standing Position)
- Standard Weight-Shifting Reference
- Somatic Learning Weight-Shifting
- Calling through the Horizon from Standing Position
- Restoring Natural Breathing (Standing)
- Quick Spinal Release (Standing)
- Opening the Heart
- Spinal Elongation (Standing, without Knee Bend)
- Standing Pour Forward
- Chapter 10. Anytime Anywhere Practices: Walking
- Slow-Motion Walking
- Walking with Arm Wheel
- Natural Walking
- Walking Uphill
- Walking Downhill
- Ideokinetic Movement
- Running
- Chapter 11. Anytime Anywhere Practices: Sitting
- Chair Sitting
- Finding Neutral (Sitting)
- Calling Through the Horizon (from Sitting Position)
- Spinal Elongation (Sitting)
- Sitting Pour Forward
- Quick Spinal Release (Sitting)
- Awareness of Awareness Meditation
- Integrating Your Practice into Daily Life
- Eating
- Writing
- Computing and Playing a Keyboard
- Driving
- Chapter 12. Changing Planes/Changing Paradigms
- Spiral from Lying to Sitting
- Spiral from Sitting to Lying
- Scorpion Tail
- Half Spiral and Pour Up to Standing
- Pouring to the Ground from Standing
- Spiraling from Standing to Ground
- Sitting in a Chair from Standing
- Standing from Sitting in a Chair
- Part IV. Deepening Your Practice
- Chapter 13. Deepening the Dialogue
- Self-Facilitation through touch
- Integrating Other Modes of Perception
- Self-Facilitation from Lying Supine
- Self-Facilitation Using the Pelvic Position with Block (or Blanket) Elongation
- Flushing the Lymph and Breast Tissue
- Return to Lying Supine
- Embracing Your Lower Abdomen
- Facilitated Elongations: Quick Outline
- Facilitating Others
- Partner Facilitation from Upright Positions (Sitting and Standing)
- Healing from Trauma and Integrating Feelings through the Embrace
- In Summation
- Glossary
- Notes
- Acknowledgments II
- Permissions
- About the Author
