Somatic Experiencing is, in some ways, just like it sounds: a direct experiencing of the body and its sensations. Where the magic of this work comes in is experiencing layers of sensation and reaction that have been long covered up — perhaps early life trauma. What can follow from "digesting" this childhood trauma can be monumental in one's now-adult life.
(And there is even research — brought to life in like this Scientific American article, and this one in Nature revealing how trauma that happened well before you were born could be impacting your life now.)
Irene Lyon is a practitioner of SE, and a thinker and healer regarding helping people unwind old trauma patterns. She was a well of insight for me in this talk. I hope you enjoy; you can check Irene's work out via her link below.
SHOW NOTES
Irene's website, including resources, teaching dates and online programs
Amanda Ford's blog: Movement Muse
Wikipedia article on Polyvagal Theory (the dorsal/ventral vagul, which is of course just two branches but are contained within this theory of how works this branch of the Autonomic Nervous System)
Here's the breakdown for my first, signed-up-on-a-whim 50 kilometer mountain run training plan:
*** This should be fun. (If it's not, it's time to modify accordingly.) ***
*** I want this to increase my overall vitality, mobility, strength and tissue hydration. (Decreasing some or all of those is a common strategy, however unknowingly employed, on service of achieving training goals.) ***
1. Train to run in a way where force translates the easiest way possible through my hips. (This is a deep, deep world for me, relevant and apparent in weightlifting, downward dog, tango, capoeira, running, sitting, meditation, to name a few.)
2. Via these "training regimes" — all subject to change: capoeira (twice a week), some kind of structured partner dance (once a week), strength training (1 - 4 times a week, depending on my energy levels), yoga (daily), and running twice a week: one hill interval, metabolic conditioning type run; and one longer run.
3. Continue to noodle around, beyond everything above, as per my interest level.
4. When running: run-walk cycling as per what feels like elastic capacity of my tissues. When I feel like I'm starting to thud, or losing my resilient form, I'll walk til I regain it.
I am really curious to see how this training philosophy plays out in such an athletic environment! I'll keep you posted :)
Thanks for being here, LB