Get Your Soma On

A recent study demonstrated that people who had back pain and used mirrors to watch their own backs while they were moving were able to decrease their pain significantly. This isn't surprising to me, since many healing arts have long depended on using awareness for decreased pain and increased function. These arts are referred to as "somatic" disciplines, meaning that they increase awareness of the body, or "soma."

Any fitness program should incorporate some kind of somatic art or treatment, in my opinion. There are many to choose from: yoga, tai chi, Rolf Movement, Feldenkrais Movement Education, dance therapy, Alexander Technique, etc. All of them develop awareness in different ways, allowing you to move more effectively with less pain, sometimes drastically so.

The important thing with these arts is that you find a good teacher who will guide you toward increased awareness, not just encourage you to push yourself harder to accomplish athletic feats. Many people go to classes where they are pushed too hard, and end up developing poor movement patterns, or worse, getting hurt. If you are with the right kind of teacher, you will notice that your body awareness improves, allowing you to do more without straining. Otherwise, you might as well just go to the gym.

Sometimes it's best to work one-on-one with a teacher. Feldenkrais lessons, in my experience, are incredible when done this way. You can take what you learn from an occasional lesson or series of lessons, and apply it on your own once you've gotten the hang of it. Other times, as in tai chi, practicing in a group can add to the overall gain in awareness.

Whatever you try, somatic disciplines can help you with the rest of your athletic and fitness routine by making you aware of what you're doing when you're out running, at the disco, or throwing the discus around. They also help you with daily activities, and keep the pain of modern living (i.e., sitting at a desk or on a couch all the time) at bay.

Also, stick with your study for a while, once you find a good one. Awareness takes patience and time. Don't be one of these people who bounces into each new exercise fad without developing any real skill. That may work for some things, but not for somatics. Ok, enough preaching. Once you develop awareness, it becomes maybe your most potent DIY tool!