Why your arm doesn’t fall off

Professional Pathways in Somatic Movement: Building Knowledge, Skills & Practices is the latest online conference created by ISMETA, the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association. Starting a week from today, exemplary proponents of a wide range of contemporary embodied practices will be presenting 70-minute sessions introducing their work and some aspects of how they train others.

Ever since I first attended an ISMETA event decades ago at a Bay Area college, I have resonated with their mission. Participating in this kind of gathering has shown me how much I share with others whose methodologies begin with the body, with sensation, action, and intention. I’ve also learned that in conversation with folks, like fellow presenter Aline Newton, a Rolfer from Boston, who I met thanks to a shared friend and colleague. As the director of an ISMETA certified professional training program, I have connected and interacted with trainers from the world over. However it happens, I deeply appreciate coming together with fellow somanauts — explorers of the somatic domain — and learning from them. 

The conference offers the chance to experience varied somatic approaches for a test drive. You also get to be part of worthwhile roundtable discussions and other events. The big challenge is deciding which sessions to attend.