SOMATIC MOVEMENT

Somatic movement is a muscle release and relaxation method invented by Thomas Hanna, a student of Moshe Feldenkrais. It is extremely simple, efficient and suitable for everybody, even the elderly. The practice consists of very gentle and slow movements, mostly performed on the floor.

The slowness of the technique, called pandiculation, raises body and sensory awareness, helping to retrain the nervous system. Changes that take place in the brain allow us to alter our habitual muscular patterns and release chronically tight muscles for long-term relief. This results in improved body posture and the elimination of chronic pain.

In addition to muscles and movement, the brain also controls our emotions and thoughts. Consequently, the effects of somatic exercises can be felt, not only throughout the body, but also at deeper levels of consciousness.

 

Somatic movement is for you if:

  • you have an office job and you spend all day sitting

  • you do physically hard work

  • you are a sportsman and you can’t relax your muscles

  • you believe that you are old and that’s why your body posture and health issues get worse

  • you are exposed to stress, you suffer from anxiety or depression

Benefits of somatic movement:

  • relieves pain and chronic muscular tension

  • helps to improve body posture

  • helps to reduce stress and anxiety

  • relieves following conditions:

back pain, disc problems, sciatica, hyperlordosis, scoliosis, kyphosis, forward head posture, leg length  discrepancy

hip pain, lateral/medial hip rotation, snapping hip syndrome, pelvic torsion or rotation, anterior pelvic tilt, sacroiliac joint dysfunction

knee problems, tightness in the legs, piriformis syndrome, iliopsoas syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinitis

shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, headaches

 Dana Taligova

SMC® Somatic Movement Center certified exercise instructor

Yoga Alliance certified teacher

ASCA certified relaxation therapist

As a teacher, I have always tried to help my students listen to the body and its needs. Taking inspiration from disciplines like Qigong, Tai chi and the Feldenkrais method, I focus especially on posture and fostering respect for the body. The keys of my practice are awareness, softness and patience. These principles can also be found in Sarah Warren’s somatic movement.

I discovered somatic movement during a Qigong training course for yoga teachers. One of the participants spoke about pandiculation. As I searched to learn more, I came across Sarah Warren’s website. Her concept of movement resonated with me so much that I immediately decided to become one of her students.

At that time, I was working hard physically and the exercises I learned immediately provided me much needed relief. They were so simple, efficient and empowering that I felt like I had to share them with others. That’s how I started teaching somatic movement. Today, I offer group classes, individual sessions and various workshops in Geneva and throughout Europe (in French, English, Greek and Slovak).

Testimonials

The somatic method allows me to feel and examine parts of myself that are not in balance.

Dana guides us with great gentleness and precision towards the path of inner sight.

Thus, with great simplicity, my conscious and unconscious faculties are able to activate the circulation of vital energy.

Annick Steiner

The somatic exercises with Dana are always very gentle. It’s so pleasant to let oneself be guided to a state of deep relaxation by releasing muscular tension.

Each time, I’m amazed at how relaxed I feel from the very first minutes of movement, and how the sessions allow me to experience a level of tranquility I rarely realize.

Afterwards, I always have a sense a of well-being, as if I have taken a gentle stroll in nature.

Anna-Béa Duparc

I started to attend somatic movement lessons with Dana because I was searching for relief for my back from my office job.

I have always been a very active person and after work I was always going to the gym and during weekends I loved going for hikes, however nothing brought me real relief and relaxation for my muscles. I was always stiff as I could not compensate sitting at my desk for days with a couple of hours of working out.

Everything has changed when I learned about somatic movement and when I started to attend Dana’s lessons. Somatic movement is something easy and simple. Everyone, no matter the age or fitness level, can do it. It is an exercise that promotes self-awareness and connects our mind back to our body. I recommend to everyone to try it.

Lucia Leštinská

I met Dana about 2 years ago. At that time, I had a 4-month-old baby and excruciating back pain associated with motherhood, diastasis due to an unnatural way of giving birth, and the overall life change associated with it. At that time, I could not exercise as normal healthy people do. I was a little bit lost at this time.

Dana came to me one day with a set of exercises that are composed with minimal movements but maximum effects. At first I didn’t understand what to focus on and how to breathe correctly, Dana patiently explained everything to me and I’ve been addicted to these exercises ever since and whenever something hurts, I know how to soothe the pain without any medicine. Now I am very happy I met the right person.

Thank you Dana.

Hana Pospíšilová

Dana is an extremely caring teacher who always prioritizes the well-being of her students.

Somatic movement helps me to become more aware of my body, while also increasing overall flexibility and strength.

And yet, the sessions are always so gentle and effortless.

Philippe Ehinger

With Dana I discovered a method that looked like other methods but was going straight to the point.

At the end of the session, I was feeling balanced and at peace.

Dana is a good teacher, she gives simple and clear instructions in a secure environment.

Thank you!

Mike Azkoul

Thank you, Dana, for this taster workshop that allowed me to reconnect with some parts of my body that I tend to neglect in my daily life and for showing us exercises that are very simple and help us to consciously strengthen or release those body parts.

Thank you for your gentle and pleasant guidance through these slow and deep movements.

Caren M.

Your class was super. It was like a revelation: that we don’t want stretching but we want to release on a deeper level. This is really something that I can take away from your class for the rest of my life and it makes such a difference.

I do your exercises in the morning and whenever I remember and it’s so cool: you just do it two or three times and it keeps you relaxed, it’s so fantastic!

It was really a revelation, it was something very very worthy for the rest of my life.

Eko Hohensinn

After seeing several doctors and specialists, performing many physiotherapy and osteopathy sessions, I continued to have pain in my hip that no one knew the origin of. It was very painful and disabling.

Almost miraculously, Dana’s somatic movements allowed me to drastically reduce the pain in just a few sessions. Her method of deep relaxation allowed me to get rid of this pain which was probably related to tensions from which I am now relieved. Thank you Dana.

Marylène

Halfway between the conscious and the unconscious, Dana accompanies us in the sessions with great gentleness and guides us towards deep muscle relaxation.

Unlike our conditioning, the somatic movement method is surprising and brings real results.

An approach to try absolutely in case of chronic pain.

 

Antoine Gautier

I have just taken a one-and-a-half-hour course in Somatic Movement with Dana’s soft voice. These are slow, smooth movements that do a lot of good.

I feel like I’ve done a precious treatment, not only to my body but also to my mind. I recommend Somatic Movement classes with Dana to anyone. These movements balance the muscles and release accumulated muscle tension.

Léa Glesser

Experiencing relaxation step by step through simple, gentle and kind movements with my body is a precious discovery following heavy medical treatments.

Thank you Dana for offering this approach that reduces tension and joint pain by softness and slowness, added to such a relaxing voice accompaniment.

 

Sylvie

Somatic movement with Dana has become my weekly Monday appointment to start the week off right.

With our eyes closed, in a space where the very frequency of judgment is non-existent… Dana’s soft voice guides us on this journey to oneself… A journey punctuated by « Be gentle with yourself… »

(Highly recommended for hyperactive.x !)

Rana

Somatic movement experience with Dana is absolutely new.

Through subtle and precise movements, she takes us to the depths of our being and our feelings.

Opening up to ourselves, inner journey, deep relaxation…

 

Roland Falquet

Group classes in Geneva

I offer regular classes in suitable places in Geneva and the surrounding area.

These classes last 1 hour.

See below for current offers.

 

Individual sessions

I am available to prepare and lead individual sessions, adapted to the needs of the person.

Prices:     90chf/1h      110chf/1h30

   pack 3 sessions 1h:  240chf

   pack 3 sessions 1h30:  300chf

   pack 6 sessions 1h:  420chf

   pack 6 sessions 1h30:  540chf

Workshops

I regularly organize one-day / half-day workshops to be able to deepen the subject.

These workshops include practice sessions and theoretical instruction.

The dates and prices of the workshops will be published below.

 

Group Classes

New participants are encouraged to get in touch before showing up for a class.

Salle de cours

Salle Anières

8 Chemin de la Florence, 1208 Geneva

 Every Monday 19:00 – 20:00

Donation based (suggested price: 20-30chf)

Yoga mats and blankets available.

Bring warm clothes.

 

Salle de cours

8 Rue Lissignol,
1201 Geneva

 Every Thursday, 20:30 – 21:30

Donation based (suggested price: 20-30chf)

Access through the main door in the courtyard.

Yoga mats and blankets available.

Bring warm clothes.

 

Salle de cours

Salle Anières

100 Rte de Chevrens,
1247 Anières

Every Thursday 17:30 – 18:30

Donation based (suggested price: 20-30chf)

Bring your yoga mat, a blanket and warm clothes.

 

Salle de cours

Salle Anières

salle Lausanne

47 Bd de Grancy,
1006 Lausanne

One Sunday per month  17:00 – 18:00

Next dates: March 9, April 13, May 11, June 15.

Price: 25chf

Yoga mats available.

Bring warm clothes and a blanket.

Salle de cours

Salle Anières

salle Lausanne

Yeda Yoga
2 Av. du Simplon,
1006 Lausanne

One Saturday per month  10:00 – 12:00

Next dates: April 26, May 24, June 25.

Price: 50chf

Yoga mats available.

Bring warm clothes and a blanket.

Course overview

A somatic movement session lasts one hour, starting and ending in the standing position with body awareness practice. The session mainly consists of somatic exercises that are typically performed lying on a yoga mat. With the eyes closed, you let yourself be guided by Dana’s voice, which takes you from one exercise to another. The slowness and gentleness of the movements, combined with increased internal awareness release any tension in your muscles and provide a sense of deep relaxation.

Somatic movement is a self-care method. The aim of sessions is to learn the somatics exercises so that you can practice them on your own at home and, in this way, heal yourself.

Blog

Somatic movement and Somatic yoga

Somatic movement and Somatic yoga

What’s the difference? The term “somatics” has been around since 1976 and it was introduced by Thomas Hanna. Somatic movement is a broad term that includes many methods

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Pandiculation

Pandiculation

The technique we use in somatic movement is called pandiculation. It is the action of contracting the muscles gently and then releasing them very slowly.

read more
Washcloth

Washcloth

This somatic exercise is called Washcloth. It's perfect to relax shoulders, shoulder blades and neck!

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Side Curl

Side Curl

The Side Curl is a somatic exercise that relaxes the sides of the body and allows it to regain balance and natural functioning.

read more
Arch & Curl

Arch & Curl

A somatic exercise to relax all the anterior muscles of the body and especially the abdominals which are often chronically tight…

read more
Back Lift

Back Lift

The Side Curl is a somatic exercise that relaxes the sides of the body and allows it to regain balance and natural functioning.

read more

Contact

Phone/WhatsApp:
+41 76 273 23 51

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