Description
The Art of Somatic Coaching introduces the concepts and principles of coaching with practices that include body awareness, bodywork, and mindfulness for both the coach and the client. Author and expert coach, Richard Strozzi-Heckler, PhD, explains that in order to achieve truly sustainable changes in individuals, teams, and organizations, it is necessary to implement body-oriented somatic practices in order to dissolve habits, behaviors, and interpretations of the world that are no longer relevant. He explains that these ways of being are integrated in the body–at the level of the musculature, organs, and nervous system. By implementing a somatic approach, these patterns can be shifted in order for transformation to occur.
Opening with a discussion of the roots of Somatic Coaching, the book describes the emotional and physical cost of being distanced from our bodies. Originating from the rationalistic idea that the mind and body are separate, this sense of disconnection spurred the emergence of the field of somatics that views the body as not just a physiological entity, but as the center of our lived experience in the world. Out of this philosophy, Somatic Coaching was developed as a way to cultivate the self through the body.
Methods in this book include:
• Somatic awareness–becoming aware of sensations
• Somatic opening–includes bodywork to release held patterns in the body
• Somatic practices–meditation, movement, and being present in everyday life
The social context in which one is raised, the supportive, healing force of the outdoors and nature as well as acknowledgment of the spirit are also woven into the practice. Through these practices, a rhythm of unfolding occurs in what Strozzi-Heckler describes as an Arc of Transformation–moving in stages from conditioned tendencies to a new satisfying and fulfilling way of being that is fully embodied.
Contents: Introduction; Chapter One: A Short Distance but a Big Cost; Chapter Two: Coaching; Chapter Three: Somatics and Somatic Coaching; Chapter Four: The Methodology; Chapter Five: The Rhythm of Action; Chapter Six: The Somatic Arc of Transformation
This is a fantastic treasure! If you want to peak behind the why and the how so many are disconnected from their body’s this book is for you. A simple, easy and engaging read. I would give it a 5 but I am a hard grader 😉
As a life and executive coach, I have been interested in expanding my knowledge of Somatic Coaching so as to integrate the principles into my practice. After reading this, I definitely want to learn more. I know that it will create significant transformation within myself and for my clients.
I would recommend this book to anyone who coaches others to generate awareness about how somatic coaching can strengthen their work. The case studies really exemplified the potential of results of working with the soma.
Richard Strozzi-Heckler is both a master teacher and a poet. He leads the reader on a guided tour of soma with wisdom, warmth, and in a way that makes each word land in the body. In other words, it is as if your body reads this book and recognizes its native language. Inspiring!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It gave me answers to some of the questions I had on my mind regarding how to implement this approach into my daily life and work. It has a good balance between “theoretical” and practical applications of the approach which make it very easy to read and follow. It shows a great expertise of the author in this topic, and a deeper sense of knowing. I highly recommend it to everyone interested in this topic.