finally, a WAY TO START GETTING RID OF PAIN FOR GOOD, SO YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH LIFE WITH GREATER EASE
combat chronic pain and tension, improve your posture, move with more suppleness and ease
Do you have pain that just won't go away - even though you've tried everything?
Like many people with chronic pain & tightness, are you perhaps lacking a helpful diagnosis or clear medical explanation of why you're in pain (even though you know something's really wrong)?
And, as with so many clients I see, do you find the frustrating inability to resolve your pain makes everything so much worse?
Like most of my clients, you may also suffer with posture, flexibility, or mobility issues.
And none of the medications, therapies or other approaches you've tried have ever fully explained, or really helped your pain and other symptoms.
Maybe you’ve been told your symptoms are “medically unexplained“?
Maybe you have pain that's still there even though the injury or trauma that caused it has healed, so doctors can't really explain why the pain hasn't gone away?
As with so many people I see, have you been told “it’s just your age”?
If your experience is anything like mine and my clients', you might have found various therapies and medications (or even surgery) that help in the short term, but nothing that's created lasting relief, or resolved your pain...
You might feel optimistic about trying a new approach.
Or, perhaps by now you feel like giving up, because you’ve “tried everything,” and nothing's really helped?
BUT YOU CAN GET RID OF YOUR PAIN. You can improve your posture & suppleness. And you can move through life with greater comfort in your body, and in yourself.
I got out of chronic pain after years of suffering, and I see my clients have similar, life-changing experiences, time after time.
Using my learning about the real causes of pain, and my professional experience working with emotions, Hanna Somatics, and the importance of the nervous system and neuroscience to understand pain, posture, & flexibility, I’ve created the only foundational program you need to help you find the ‘missing link’ to ease your pain & live the life you want – free from pain.
Take control of your brain,
your pain,
and your future
The approach I teach can be effective in helping with - and has helped very many clients who've come to me with - a wide range of complaints, conditions, and concerns. Including (but not limited to):
Back pain
Tension headaches
Neck pain, shoulder pain
Shallow breathing
Sleeplessness
Chronic muscle tension
Sciatica, SI joint pain
Scoliosis (structural or functional)
Hip pain, leg pain
TMJ/TMD pain
Relief for arthritic pains
Relief from bursitis pain
Stress, Anxiety
RSI, carpal tunnel, wrist pain
Posture, gait
Flexibility & mobility
Stroke recovery
Moving with more ease
Fibromyalgia, ME, CRPS, 'MUS' & more
Hip pain, leg pain
Knee pain, foot pain
Leg-length discrepancy
Recovery from whiplash
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Sign Up By 20th September 2022 to get Special Offer & Bonuses
John took my online classes and finally found effective relief from back pain...
*Just a note to clarify: I don't use photos in any client testimonials, to preserve privacy for those who don't want their image shared online
Most people think the problem's with a misdiagnosis, a failure to find the real cause of their pain, or not having their pain taken seriously enough.
Maybe, like many of my clients when they first come to me for help, you're frustrated that because of this, you're not being offered the right treatment?
You're disappointed that what you have been offered, and have tried, hasn't worked...
Perhaps, even worse, you've started to believe (as I did, after years of struggling to find relief) that there's something so wrong, so broken in you, that nothing can help...?
BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT MOST PEOPLE (including doctors) DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CHRONIC PAIN IS, AND HOW IT'S CAUSED
... and if you don't understand a problem, you're never gonna fix it, don't you think?
Our culture tells us all sorts of myths about pain, where it comes from, and how to deal with it.
As a result, most of us just don’t appreciate what pain actually is and what creates it - nor what causes problems with posture & flexibility.
Maybe you've tried or still take painkillers, and don't understand why they don't really work, even while believing they would, if only you could find the right one? Maybe you believe that you can be diagnosed & fixed by someone else?
BUT: The same 'abnormalities' and 'defects' of the spine will show up on the MRI scan of someone in their 30s who doesn't have back pain, as on an MRI scan of someone in their 30s who does suffer from terrible chronic back pain.
And, someone with chronic back pain may NOT have any abnormalities on their scan!
So-called defects or abnormalities - a slipped or herniated disc, a torn ligament - only very rarely cause stiffness or pain. And they're not abnormal: they're normal in everyone over 20!
Spine surgeons now recognise this. But it's hard to make those of us in pain (and those trying to help us) understand that obvious 'defects' in our bodies that show up on scans and in bloodwork, most often aren't the cause of chronic pain and posture problems...
The good news: As well as being complex, we humans are pretty amazing, right?
The most important resources you need to get rid of chronic pain & tension are in you already – in your brain, your nervous system, and your inbuilt human capacity to create change in those powerful parts of yourself.
And those resources are what Hanna Somatics activates, through very specific movement and awareness techniques designed to gently but effectively change the way your brain and nervous system communicate.
With exercises that literally get rid of bad habits 'stuck' in your body that cause your pain, and create new, pain-free habits instead... and that is what I teach in SoMA Essentials.
This approach to pain, called Hanna Somatics, is not about "positive thinking" (because that alone won't get rid of chronic pain - however hard you try).
How is Hanna Somatics different from other 'somatics'?
It's based on neuroscience, and the insights of philosopher and practitioner, Thomas Hanna. Together, these show that we humans have evolved to go into very specific, full-body patterns in response to stress.
When we get "stuck" in these patterns (for various reasons), this causes pain, tightness, and other problems.
Hanna figured out the way to get rid of the pain that "getting stuck" causes: that's what I teach in SoMA Essentials!
Neuroscience shows that YOU are the one who can truly transform your life. That you CAN literally ease yourself away from pain, by making changes in your nervous system...
BUT HOW?
By using specific movements plus conscious awareness of what you're sensing and doing as you move, so that you send new information to your brain & nervous system.
WHY CAN'T SOMEONE ELSE FIX ME?
The movements that only you can make, from the inside, are the only truly effective way to overcome and make lasting change to the stress & "bad habits" literally stuck in your body, causing your pain. This can't be fixed "from the outside," by someone else.
Dawn rediscovered movement in her shoulders, and so relieved tension...
It’s proven that trauma & chronic stress can have a significant physiological impact on the brain, especially in childhood. And trauma, chronic stress and everyday stresses & strains have a big impact on you, all through your life.
But by activating your nervous system’s natural capacity for healing, you can get rid of pain, posture problems, waning flexibility, & more... You can create new, more helpful pathways in your brain, to get rid of pain "from the inside."
To effectively re-wire your brain to move with greater ease, though, you have to change what your brain sees as your "normal" level of pain; to do that, you need to know
Specific ways that human bodies respond to stress,
What specific movements can get you out of those patterns of chronic muscle tightness, and
How to apply this information to YOUR pain, to YOUR body...
That's what Hanna Somatics does. That's why it works.
And that's why I teach it in my programs to help people in pain.
Julie relieved her scoliosis pain and experienced comfort while lying on the floor... for the first time!
DO YOU WANT STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE through the fundamental Hanna Somatics movements that can make real, positive changes in your nervous system and your body, so you can live the pain-free life you crave?
Of course you do, right?!
So, let me introduce you to...
SoMA ESSENTIALS
When you join SoMA Essentials, you get online access to everything you need to learn the foundational movements that can transform your pain from the inside, step by step, so you can start moving through life with greater suppleness & ease
SoMA Essentials uses a unique approach - one grounded in neuroscience, that helps you experience and learn why it is that stretching, strengthening, and therapies or treatments done TO you by someone else are NOT what will get you out of pain, nor will they improve your posture and mobility or flexibility - at least not in the long term.
Instead, movement and flow created by you - in your nervous system, as well as in your muscles and joints - is what will enable you to move with greater ease, more fluidity, and out of pain.
Focusing on the single technique for getting rid of pain and improving ease of movement that humans evolved to use, the SoMA Essentials' techniques, lessons, and classes all work with your body, never against it.
Let me outline what you get when you sign up . . .
SoMA Essentials Modules
There are 3 Modules in SoMA Essentials - a welcome module (which has important information AND movement classes), and 2 foundational Modules taken from my full online program, the SoMA Program: these are designed to give you full foundations for an effective Hanna Somatics practice, to get rid of pain, and address problems with posture, flexibility, & mobility.
Across the Modules, you get 4 core full-length movement and awareness classes, 15+ shorter video lessons (to go over and troubleshoot the movements for you, and provide variations), written materials outlining the core concepts of Hanna Somatics, a library of audio-recorded live classes, and more.
Your WELCOME MODULE ensures you know how to practice safely and effectively, providing you with essential information and advice. (This is also where you might find some added extras - and information about the live classes and Q&A sessions!)
Much more effective than stretching for aches, pains, and bad habits that build up working at a desk all day...
Like most people suffering from posture and flexibility issues, and ongoing pain (as I once did) you could spend years - decades, even - trying multiple treatments and practices to get out of pain, and to move with more ease. You may well experience relief from some of those. You may not.
So... let's consider the investment for this approach, compared to your other options.
Think about it... How much do you spend on painkillers, other medications, even equipment to help you?
How much do monthly or weekly massage sessions cost? Or Pilates classes, perhaps, or another kind of therapy?
Regular visits to healthcare professionals, for treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy...?
How many hundreds, even thousands of pounds or dollars have you spent (and might you spend in the future), to feel some relief?
Are the things you've spent all that money and time and hope on, getting rid of your chronic pain? Improving your posture? Helping with flexibility, mobility, and stress levels? Is it cost-effective?
How's that working out for you..?
Hanna Somatics is the most focused, and the most effective somatic approach, when it comes to reducing pain, easing tension, and overcoming problems with posture, mobility, and flexibility.
Why do I make that claim? Because, uniquely, Hanna Somatics works with the one specific technique we need to release muscle tension from the inside, and with the three, specific full-body patterns of tension that cause so much human pain.
This also makes Hanna Somatics the most cost-effective approach!
So... WHAT'S THE INVESTMENT, to GET RID OF PAIN & MOVE WITH GREATER EASE?
Even though Hanna Somatics IS cost-effective, a workshop, class series, weekend course or similar in Hanna Somatics (as with Feldenkrais, yoga, & more) typically costs anywhere between £40 and £500+, while one-to-one clinical sessions typically cost from £50 to £130+ per session... If you sign up for a monthly or annual membership for classes, it'll cost you at least £35 to £60 per month (so, around £420 to £720 per year)... whether or not you attend classes regularly.
Register for SoMA Essentials and you get:
A welcome module that clarifies how to use the programme, and how to practice safely and comfortably (including using props to make sure you're working in ease), plus additional materials outlining basic core terms and concepts (Value £75)
Four core movement classes (around 60 minutes each) to provide you with the fundamental movements you need to address pain, posture and mobility issues using Hanna Somatics (Value £75)
15+ short video lessons to help you get the most out of the lessons and your learning, including 'troubleshooting' movements you might find challenging, and providing step-by-step guidance in the movements and variations of them (Value £250+)
Monthly LIVE Q&A/workshop sessions (plus access to the SoMA Program Facebook group) for 6 months (Value £150) to get feedback on your practice and queries (priceless!)
ALL THIS has a value of well over £500
But... sign up by 20th September and SoMA Essentials is just
£40 x 3 months!
Or pay in full & save: get SoMA Essentials for £109
This is exceptionally good value! (Why? Because I'm committed to making this amazing practice widely accessible)
And there's more!
You get fantastic BONUS content, too!
BONUS no. 1
9 Months Access to SoMA Essentials
This means you really can learn at the pace that suits you, AND you can revisit the classes that help you the most, whenever you need them! (Added value: £131+)
BONUS no. 2
6 LIVE CLASSES INCLUDED when you sign up by 4th July 2022!
My gift to you of 6 live classes gets you the opportunity for live feedback and being part of a group. Extra valuable if a live class commitment will keep you motivated! (Value £75)
BONUS no. 3
An EXTRA SPECIAL Founding Member Bonus!
If you sign up by 4th July, you get to request a short class, daily sequence 'playlist', or troubleshooting lesson to help with your area of pain or troublesome condition. I will create new content from YOUR request. (Value £30++)
Here's a quick outline of what you get when you sign up!
You can compare SoMA Essentials here to my full online programme, the SoMA Program
ADDED BONUS: IF YOU SIGN UP FOR SoMA ESSENTIALS & DECIDE LATER TO REGISTER FOR THE SoMA Program, YOU CAN APPLY £100 OF WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY INVESTED TO GET A £100 REDUCTION on the SoMA Program!
PLEASE NOTE: To ensure you can experience what changes SoMA Essentials can make for you - and to allow it to work (without working against it) - you are STRONGLY encouraged to stop other treatments and practices (such as yoga, PT, massage, pilates, chiropractic) - and/or any pain medication (where possible) for a week or two at least (unless doing so would go against medical directives), while you start SoMA Essentials.
This does NOT mean you're expected or encouraged to "give up" any therapies or practices you love or find beneficial, after you've spent a week or more focusing on Hanna Somatics! What it does, though, is give you the opportunity you need to experience and assess the effects of Somatics on you.
Some people do give up other practices and focus on Hanna Somatics. But many more use their regular Somatics practice and awareness to increase not just their comfort in everyday life, but their ability to benefit more from therapies such as massage, Bowen, and more, and to enjoy and "perform" better in activities from yoga, walking and dancing to running, cycling and singing!
My GUARANTEE to You
When you register for SoMA Essentials, you'll be amazed at how soon you start feeling changes - even small ones - that give you greater ease in your body, some release of tension. It might be a noticeable improvement in your ease or fullness of breath, your posture, or your mobility. If that doesn’t happen for you after completing Modules 1 and 2 within 60 days of signing up, even when you've shown up for live sessions and not continued a therapy or other practice that counteracts Hanna Somatics in that time, then you can ask for your money back.
This is a "do the work" guarantee. Why? Because for SoMA Essentials to work, YOU need to commit some time and focus to doing the basics. I don't want to work with anyone who purchases online courses, gives them a go for a few days, and then requests a refund!
SoMA Essentials is for you if you're committed to working gently to ease yourself away from pain - at your own pace, & with my guidance and support. (I'll absolutely help if it's really not working for you - we can work together to find out why.) If you practice what's taught in the Modules, results are guaranteed!
STILL WONDERING IF SoMA ESSENTIALS IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
IT'S A GREAT FIT FOR YOU IF...
You want to learn how to combat pain without popping painkillers, & without resorting to surgery - but either haven't been given any other options, or none of them have really worked
You're frustrated that aches & pains, stiffness & tension, interfere with doing the things you love - from hillwalking to gardening, from singing to travelling, and from playing with your grandkids to practising yoga... You want to find a way to get back your enjoyment & ability to do those things again (or, perhaps, to help maintain your abilities into the future)
You suffer from a specific problem - maybe back pain, hip pain, sciatica, RSI, tension headaches, or planta fasciitis - & despite having a diagnosis or "name" for your condition, nothing you try really seems to help, or not for more than few days, & despite the feeling you've "tried everything"
You feel stiff & tense much of the time, & your flexibility - your mobility, even - is declining. This might be, you think, from an injury, a trauma, or just "your age"
Whether or not it's painful, you're worried about your posture - you're stooping, slouching, or just don't feel "right" or comfortable in your own skin
You suffer from an exhausting condition such as fibro, CRPS, or ME, & are searching for how to address the pain, brain fog, & utter exhaustion you experience
You're trying to recover after an injury or surgery, & want to make the best recovery possible - even after your bone & tissue heals
You want to explore ways to be more in control of how you move, to keep pain away, & to move with freedom & ease; you're looking to smash the myth of ageing & live your life to the full!
You know the importance of self-care, & want to learn more about the myths about pain, posture and stretching, to keep yourself mobile & free from pain now & into the future
But... THIS PROGRAM IS NOT A GREAT FIT FOR YOU IF
You're content to carry on dealing with your pain by popping painkillers, using regular massage/physio/chiropractic or other treatments for a temporary fix, or having surgery or other intervention - and you believe that will work for you, or are willing to give it a try rather than commit to a movement practice
You're not ready for change: it may be you feel your pain is a big part of your identity, and you're happy being where you are: if you follow this program, you do need to be ready for real change!
You're determined to maintain another treatment regime despite starting this program. Remember: unless it would go against medical advice to do so, you should be willing to stop other practices and treatments (such as stretching regimes, yoga, chiropractic, physio) and pain medications (where possible) for at least a week or two when starting SoMA Essentials. This is both to enable it to work effectively, and to enable you to experience and assess what's happening!
You're not willing to put in the time and commitment to make changes in yourself: it does take commitment of time and focus to create change. And even though the time you spend on SoMA Essentials can be as little as an hour a month, plus 10 or 20 minutes a few times a week, the neurophysiological bases of the practice does require active engagement to create change in your brain and nervous system. Hanna Somatics is not something that is done to you - it's something you're guided to do for yourself
Lastly: There are some, limited but specific health conditions that will affect whether or not SoMA Essentials is the best fit for you. In particular:
Remember that if your pain is acute (so, likely from a clearly diagnosed source such as cancer, a recently broken and unhealed bone or unhealed wound), Hanna Somatics cannot address it directly (even though what you learn may well be of benefit for you in managing your pain, and at times when the acute pain is not an issue).
There are some conditions (such as MS and Parkinsons) that simply cannot be eradicated by Hanna Somatics, because of the specific neurological deficits involved in such conditions. Many people with such conditions, though, do find this practice helps them.
Get in touch if this applies to you and we can talk about your needs and expectations.
So, you have a choice to make...
Option 1:
You can choose to DO NOTHING
Doing nothing simply means that nothing will really change for you. You can continue hoping pain meds, or physical therapies, or even surgery, will give you the relief you crave. If that's what you choose, even though keeping on doing what hasn't worked for you before isn't likely to create change... And if it's what you choose even though you now perhaps better understand why those approaches can't address your pain... That's okay! It's your choice to make.
Option 2:
Start GETTING RID of your PAIN!
If you understand that to create change - to get rid of pain, tension, posture and mobility issues, and more - YOU need to create change from within, then the choice is perhaps easier to make. If you now realise why trying more of what you've tried before is unlikely to help... And that learning to use your natural ability to use movement to re-train your nervous system away from pain is a different approach - an approach that makes sense... Then choose SoMA Essentials!
Your Instructor:
Samantha Holland, PhD.
I'm a Certified Clinical Somatic Educator & Certified Essential Somatics® Movement Teacher (and RSME) with an eclectic academic background in philosophy, cultural studies, and anthrozoology. Before training as a psychotherapist I was a practising barrister then did voluntary work overseas for several years. I changed my path quite radically, on discovering Hanna Somatics and what I could achieve as a Clinical Somatic Educator. This amazing approach to pain and movement resolved my 10+ years of chronic neck, wrist, and hip pain, and also changed my elderly mother's life for the better, in her last few years.
I'm passionate about Hanna Somatics because it works! And its bases in philosophy and neuroscience make perfect sense.
I'm also passionate about teaching and problem-solving (as you can probably tell from my previous roles in life!).
This is why I love teaching Hanna Somatics. It's so much more than "movements" & "exercises". Seeing my clients combat their own pain & problems fills me with joy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CAN I DO THIS COURSE IF I HAVE AN INJURY?
Listen to your body, and follow the advice of your healthcare providers. In particular, if you have a broken bone, or are not ‘cleared for movement’ after an injury, you’ll want to wait till the bone’s healed - and you’re ‘cleared for movement’ - before starting this course.
However, other than that, you can start this course even if you have an injury or pain - after all, you may well be signing up BECAUSE you are in pain, so it’s no good if you’re then told to wait till your pain’s eased!
You are in charge of what you do, and taking care of yourself. You can absolutely work with tight muscles (one of the main aims of the course is to ease them) and sore spots, and discomfort. You can work with areas where you feel pain. But in all cases, you should ease up, back off, or just plain stop doing a movement if you feel pain (or increased pain, in an area where you already had pain). Note that you can always start this course by imagining, or ‘visualising’, yourself doing the movements: this will still help you, and is a technique I’ve used with clients who start out in severe pain or who have very low mobility. Imagining yourself making a movement lights up the same parts of your brain and nervous system as actually making the movement - so your nervous system will benefit, even if to start with you don’t actually move!
HOW MUCH IMPROVEMENT SHOULD I EXPECT?
Very obviously, this will differ from person to person, as you each bring different levels and types of pain, and different experiences, to the Program. But within a month - assuming you go through Module 1 in that time, and show up for a class or a Q&A - you should experience enough change (or, the realisation that you can create change) to feel you can expect further positive change, and to have those changes make your life at least that bit easier.
One, two or three months (even six months, of course) is not long to address problems and pain that may well have been with you for months, years, or decades. But it is enough time to get started on a journey to getting rid of pain and improving posture and mobility - and for many, positive changes do come within just a few classes, and even the first class starts to make things happen!
WHAT KINDS OF PAIN, PROBLEMS & CONDITIONS CAN SoMA ESSENTIALS HELP?
As well as aches and pains, chronic pain, and problems with posture, flexibility and mobility, there are a lot of specific, named 'conditions' that Hanna Somatics, and so what you learn in SoMA Essentials, have a lot of success with - including, but not limited to back pain, neck pain, hip pain, knee pain, foot pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, RSI, carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome, tennis elbow; ME, fibromyalgia, general 'chronic pain' conditions and many so-called 'medically unexplained symptoms' (MUS); pain from bursitis, arthritic pains, tension headaches, TMJ/TMD issues, sleeplessness/insomnia, sciatica, SI joint pain, scoliosis, leg-length discrepancy, stress, anxiety and depression, shallow breathing, recovery from injuries, limps, surgeries and old injuries, stroke recovery, recovery from whiplash injuries, and more.
ARE THERE CONDITIONS THAT THE COURSE CAN'T HELP?
There are. Some diseases (cancer is perhaps the most obvious) and acute pain (open wounds, broken bones, etc.) cannot be helped directly by Hanna Somatics (HS).
The specific neurological causes of conditions such as MS and Parkinsons mean HS cannot get rid of them - although it can be very helpful for some clients, especially in helping them make use of the motor control they do have.
Conditions such as true arthritis, bursitis, and AS cannot be "got rid of" by HS. It can, however, help alleviate some of the pain stemming from these conditions, and improve your capacity for movement and control. (It's also worth noting that in my experience and that of many other Clinical Somatic Educators, often a diagnosis of arthritis, structural scoliosis, and more is not borne out in practice. What do I mean? Well, there are clients who practice Hanna Somatics movements and "get rid" of pain despite such a diagnosis. In those cases we can only assume that their pain & symptoms were such that the diagnosis made sense to the medical professionals, but there must've been another cause of the pain, that was functional in nature (i.e., chronically tight muscles), which could be relieved by HS.)
If you have a condition such as MS or Parkinsons, feel free to get in touch and we can discuss whether SoMA Essentials might help you, or not (and whether there are other more appropriate options - such as putting you in touch with a Certified Clinical Somatic Educator geographically close to you, as in-person, hands-on work might be beneficial where entirely self-guided online work might not).
HOW DO I ACCESS THE PROGRAM?
When you register, you will get taken directly to the course portal and you will be able to set up a password for access to the programme. You should then be able to access all the Module videos, audios, PDFs and other materials from any device you have with Internet access, such as a mobile, tablet, desktop, or laptop.
HOW WILL I ACCESS THE LIVE CLASSES, AND THE Q&A/WORKSHOP SESSIONS?
You will receive emails with Zoom links for the Q&A/workshop sessions, and for the live classes (if you choose to attend them).
Zoom is a simple, free system that allows you access to my virtual 'Zoom room' where you can use your device audio and camera to join in group classes and discussions. You just have to click on the link in my email to attend: if you've not used Zoom before it will ask you to download a (safe) app, which you will need to do to gain access. Please make sure you've downloaded the app so you can get to class 5 or 10 minutes early.
IF I'M A BEGINNER, &/OR IF I'M IN PAIN, WILL I BE ABLE TO DO THE CLASSES?
Yes! SoMA Essentials is designed to work for people with no previous experience of this approach (as well as those who do know something about it), and it's designed to be accessible by people in chronic pain.
Most of the full-length classes are done lying down, and if you need to, you can do them lying on a fairly firm mattress. Also (and I speak to this inside the course), because of the neurological nature of the work, listening to a class and imagining or visualising yourself moving is an effective place to start if your pain, or mobility issues make it harder to do more than that. Similarly, micro movements are great, too (and both those methods are also a good idea to try for anyone who tries to over-effort, or push themselves!)
The classes and practices I teach use a very gentle approach, and a very personal one. What's easy for some is not for others. What's manageable for some, is not for others. And I am well aware of this. Many adaptations of movements are possible, as is the use of simple props (like a folded towel) to make you comfortable. (Much of this is covered in the 'welcome' section of the program, and you can of course attend live Q&As or ask questions by email or in the Facebook about e.g. a particular adaptation.)
Note that whatever your starting point, as you develop your practice, previous positions, movement and lessons you couldn't do, will very likley become possible and far easier for you. And SoMA Essentials enables you to go at whatever pace works for you, so you're not struggling to 'keep up'.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO GET THROUGH SoMA ESSENTIALS?
You will have a minimum of 6 months' access to SoMA Essentials, and it's designed to take 2 to 3 months to work through the first time. So, you have plenty time to go through everything at you own pace and review, revisit and apply your new learning to the lessons and classes at any time.
However long you spend going through it, you can then start exploring the additional class recordingsthat will have built up in the time you spent going through the Modules; then you might want to re-take most of the Modules over again.
I always encourage students to go back and revisit earlier classes and lessons: the experience of the "same" lesson can be quite different on a different day, and at a different stage of your life and learning!
Really getting to grips with pandiculation and how to best use the Hanna Somatics movements to their full potential for YOUR soma, is a lifetime practice: it’s not something you’ll "master" just by completing all the Modules and bonus lessons in SoMA Essentials! But the course provides you with all the fundamentals (and more), so you can ground your practice and build it to get more and more from somatic movements and awareness for your lifetime.
DO I HAVE TO ATTEND THE LIVE CLASSES?
These are optional, as SoMA Essentials is designed so it can work as a standalone online program, so all you need is in there. However, I'd strongly encourage and advise you to take of live classes. The same applies for the live Q&A/workshop sessions.
Most live classes (technology willing) will be recorded and included in a SoMA Essentials library.
WILL I GET INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION & FEEDBACK IN SoMA ESSENTIALS?
In the Facebook group, you can ask questions and I will be active in there. There are also the live Q&A sessions where you can ask for my feedback, and the live classes are small groups where some individual attention is possible. Other than that, remember that one of your sign-up bonuses is to get an individual short class/movement playlist.
SoMA Essentials provides guidance on how to personalize your own practice, of course. I'm open to considering requests for additional short lessons that can be added to the program, too - so you're always free to contact me to make a request that might help your own practice.
Note that if you sign up for SoMA PLUS, you will of course get individual attention. If this is really important to you, do consider signing up for that Program with the personalised lessons and attention it includes.
Paying for SoMA Essentials: Your payment is for the full program. It is not a monthly membership, subscription, or similar. If you choose to take advantage of making three smaller payments, you will need to make all three payments (there is no subscription/membership to cancel, and you will have had access to the full program). Please ask if you have any questions!
Medical Disclaimer
All the material in SoMA Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. The content of SoMA Essentials is not (nor is a substitute for) medical including mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Samantha Holland, PhD, ESMT, CCSE, RSME, BFRP is not a medical doctor: she will educate you about how you can take care of yourself somatically, but you are responsible for monitoring your own health and choosing movements that are beneficial to you, and not pushing into pain. If you have specific questions or concerns about any medical matter, or think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult your doctor or healthcare provider. You should not rely on any information or guidance SoMA Essentials or Samantha Holland provides you with as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or healthcare provider.
Your Privacy
I never sell or otherwise share your personal information with anyone else. I use your personal details only for the purposes of providing you sevices you have paid for and requested, and for sending you information from time to time about SoMA Essentials, the SoMA Program, and/or other courses or materials I believe might be of interest to you. If you choose to join the SoMA private Facebook group, it's up to you what information you share: you're advised not to share any sensitive information in the group and to guard against identity theft and other potential concerns just as you would anywhere online.
My full Privacy Policy is on my website, along with my Terms & Conditions (link below, in the checkout area).
Carolyn got rid of her sciatica, and improved her everyday life by walking and sitting with greater ease - even on long journeys!
A quick recap of what you get when you register before 10pm 31st August 2022...
