Thanks Ed - ... great news - I've been doing a lot of cross country skiing here in Minnesota where the weather is cold and clear and the snow sparkly and dry. And my stride and balance are light years ahead of where they were last year at this time! Not to mention my stamina - it's all pretty effortless and most of all, great fun!
Thanks for your good work (and I do practice everyday.....) Cheers, Yvonne
Dear Ed,
I have been meaning to write you this for a long time. I have not returned to you for more work because for all practical purposes, my back no longer bothers me. I cannot tell you how grateful I have been toward you over these last few months as I began to realize how much better I am. Within a month of working with your exercises I was markedly better, and after six months as I began picking up the exercises on a regular basis, I considered myself virtually cured.
I have to say that when I read Hanna's book and the testimonials from Somatics people about how miraculous it seemed, I was skeptical. They seemed frankly ditzy. But now I are one!
It really, really works.
So I have wanted to express my thanks for a long time. I am enormously grateful to you. All the best,L. Daloz Clinton
Hey There, Merry Christmas.
Just wanted to let you know ... while making a transfer of a patient who unfortunately died in my arms ... I was caught in a very narrow space and we were stuck for 5-7 minutes. Had to call 911 for assistance. Since I was using all of my muscles to hold up the patient, I didn't have any room to step back and the paramedic had to pry me off of the patient.
Immediately afterwards I felt a burning in the muscles of my chest... eventually I went to Urgent Care. The PA recommended I take off the next couple of days and recommended I do not do any exercise, but use the muscle relaxant and pain medication. He wanted to let the muscles rest.
Well I didn't listen to him and just before bed I looked for some of my saved recordings of your classes. I found the one that was for the Core. That seemed to ease the burning in my chest. By the next morning almost all of the chest muscle burning was gone. I was very excited that I did not need to take any drugs for this and of course I know Somatics work, this episode was just a huge confirmation!!! Thanks Ed. D. Elliot., RN, Port Orchard, WA
Thanks Ed. I'm having a bit of a hard time keeping up with the somatics classes - mostly for a good reason though, my back has been doing a lot better and I've started dancing again! Anya. Victoria, B.C.
Hi Ed.
I am another of your success stories--after the 4 hour class on June 28th. On July 2nd I was on a plane to Alaska, and a 12 day whirlwind trip around Anchorage and the Kenai Penninsula by car.
I was pain free and full of energy--while I kept doing my 3 favorite back movements!
I called the neurosurgeon and canceled a scheduled back surgery on my return home!
At my last two chiropractic appointments, no adjustment was needed! Thank for you continued help. Marilu, Everett, WA
More Testimonials
Somatics 
Hi Ed,
I am loving the progress of your website and especially enjoying the lessons 1-3. Because of conditions of my situation, lesson 2 poses a challenge for me. But, that in itself is a great lesson, for I can put to use how you taught me to break a movement down into to doable segments until success is achieved.
“Mastering Intelligent Easy Movement” is a great read that is just loaded with excellent tips and teachings. I printed it out and put it in my well-worn Somatics book. Your recorded lessons and classes are easy to understand.
Karen from Enumclaw
Ed: Thanks Karen. I hope everyone has read and rereads or listens to Mastering Intelligent Easy Movement more than once.
Hi Ed,
I did well with Classes 1 & 2. However, confusion reigns on 3 & 4. If the participants get confused at a new movement, they ought to try figuring it out cyber-wise. I did listen to lessons 3 & 4 a couple times each before trying to figure out just how what went where. Let me tell you, some of the ways I ended up performing the movements had me weak from all the giggling & laughing at my own interpretations of your movement explanations. (The laughter was fun anyway!) My ribs are sore from the gales of uproarious laughter.
Karen from Enumclaw
Ed: The lessons become clearer as one practices and so will the subsequent web classes. Sometimes it does take a lot of laughter to get through with it all.
Hi Ed,
After talking with you this afternoon I worked on the class that I received yesterday.
Wow, very interesting stuff.
When I was sitting up and moving my arm/crossed hands up to my shoulder and chest, I was feeling some burning across my back just below the shoulder blades, which is similar when I am in the kitchen cooking up a storm, like on Christmas day or on Thanksgiving. Then when you had us lie on our backs, it felt really good to relax those muscles. The burning was not painful, just achey, so I continued to do the movements.
Also when I was lying down with my hand trying to reach my opposite ear, I did feel some strange sensations in my wrist, thumb and fore fingers that felt like fire, through the nerves. Funny that I had a visual as it was happening of fire on the nerves in those areas. If I am feeling that, is that something that I should back off on .
I could get my right hand to the edge of the ear gradually but not the left hand to the left ear but it is also is the side that tends towards pain and where I hold most of the tension.
The other thing was after the lesson. I tried to raise my arms from lying down beside me and raising them up above my head. Usually the right shoulder just does not do that without having to adjust the shoulder and muscles but I found it easier to do this today which was nice. So I do see the benefit of the exercise you took us through. Thanks Ed I will keep on working on this and try 3 lessons together tomorrow! Happy New Year to all! Debbie
From Ed:
Great to hear how you found within yourself the movement is easier after your somatic excursion. When it comes to “backing off”, yes, you can always move less, or imagine that you are doing the movement. For a double effect, you can imagine and do the movement well within your comfort range. Over time, your tissues will more readily be able to go that uncomfortable point and this is a process of learning how to move more easily in the areas that you can find a small comfortable way.
Ed,
I’m curious, even though I’m visualizing the muscle releasing and focused on where the pain is plus doing the somatic exercises for that area, I’m not experiencing a release in that area? It continues to stay contracted and I’m not getting any relief. Any thoughts or suggestions that might help?
Trying, kd
When you correctly apply the process, the muscle is letting go and the contraction rate will decrease. If we hook you up to a biofeedback machine, you would see this is what happens. Naturally we want to sense it immediately and it can “if” you’re body has been working with this process.
The visualization is also about the muscle doing it’s work, along with the chain of muscles that work synergistically with it. No muscle works in isolation, they have an opposite which is lengthening, as well as the coordination of the synergists. So your awareness of the entire process allows you to perceive more than just the noxious signal.
If you focus your attention on the pain, then you’re recreating your awareness of it and you’ll unintentionally keep this signal going. Some people get into the habit of doing the movements and then go “hunting” for the pain only to locate it. It’s sort of like play, rewind.
If you were to plant a seed and then dig it up right after you planted it and think, hey it’s not growing… We are a living process and the process is what you’re engaging your awareness in. You do the movements, apply the process and just step back and witness, ie not go hunting (easier said than done if you’re used to hunting).
The next time you do the movements, notice if they’ve become easier… It’s a good idea to give yourself about 72 hours from when you find your pain to allow (at this point you can check on the seed and just like checking the ground, you’d most likely take great care) for the process itself to take care of you.
Ed
Hi Ed
Thanks for your response to my previous question. I have another question. I am trying to download the lessons into my IPOD. My iPod is attached to my computer, I click download, iTunes comes up and then I’m not finding it. Which heading does it go under? Music, Podcasts, Audio, Applications?????
I am looking forward to laying on the floor with my iPod and lessons.
Thanks for any direction you can give.
With warm regards, kd
Hi kd,
When you download the file, you have to save it. I use Firefox and under File, I press File Save As… that file goes into my download folder, then when I double click on it. The file opens in the Itunes Music library. Then once it’s there, you place into a playlist folder and then burn/load onto your Ipod. Soon you’ll be one with the floor.
Ed
Hi Ed,
I’ve gone through the intro materials and have (re)started my Somatics practice. Nice job!
One question so far. I’m very curious about how to approach yoga in a somatic way. Do you recommend the “Somatic Yoga” book? Will that teach me what I want to know? If not, can you recommend another resource?
Thanks.
Sol
Hi Sol,
Yes, the Somatic Yoga book is a good reference and reinforces the idea that once you learn how to move more Somatically,
that you can apply the process to any movement method or practice as a means of further exploration.
Practice your Somatics and be mindful of the process and you’ll know how to apply it to Yoga and all its many forms.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts on your own Somatic Yoga practice.
Ed
Ed,
Thanks for the reply. I’ve ordered the book. And, yesterday, I did yoga postures with attention to my breath, slowly, without pushing, and with the intention of moving in a relaxed way.
I’ve done your lessons 1-3 already and have enjoyed them. I did some extra work on my left shoulder, which has been tight since I fell on the snow, and landed on my left hand, a few months ago. Its range of motion is much greater now. Yeah!!!
Thanks,
Sol
Ed,
I’ve been doing the back #1 audio–laying face down and turning my head is killing my neck. I let it settle in for a minute and it’s not too bad while I’m lying there, but as soon as it’s time to roll over or turn to the other side, I feel like I’m frozen in place and in pain for a good 30 seconds.
Should I hold off on this and work on my neck first?
Barak
Barak,
Have you first completed the initial lessons 1 (both parts), lesson 2, and lesson 3 on this members page?
If you haven’t, then go back and play with these lessons for two weeks although
lesson 1 on the members page, part 2 is similar to the back series first lesson.
Are you using anything to prop your head on the floor? Please read or listen to the file on your comfort and
props.
Your experience is quite common. Either prop yourself accordingly and make yourself as comfortable as possible or modify your
position. You can choose to imagine the movements, so you could lie on your back if necessary.
Normally, the next time you go through a lesson, things will have loosened up, and quite possibly by
the third time you’ve done your lesson, things will become even easier.
As a child, you were once comfortable on your belly lifting your head and exploring your world so
the software (movement memory) to move freely is in you, you are just updating that software since now your head
weighs a little more and in time you may have learned to move in a compensated manner.
The compensations are what you are bringing back to voluntary control and your function will be enhanced.
I know the experience isn’t always as easy until you practice… then it does become easier. In a year, you’ll
be able to recall the difficulty in this position and your experience may be remarkably different, if not sooner.
Ed
Hey Ed,
I’m getting more and more fluid and flexible the more I do these exercises–ok, ok, you said it all along!
I’ve noticed that my spine seems to be cracking a lot–kind of like the cracks and crunches my chiropractor would do (I’m not seeing one anymore). Is this ok? Normal? Something to be concerned about?
Barak
Hi Barak,
Yes, as you become more self-adjusting then you may notice your spine self-adjusting itself. So this is very normal.
Keep up the good work.
Ed
Excellent! Saves a lot of trips to the chiropractor. I just finished the first session in the arms/neck/shoulder series–very different, and timely. I’m also noticing my neck releasing.
Barak