Somatic Yoga

Somatic Yoga Flow is a synthesis of classical yoga asana and the learning strategies of Living Somatics. The application of the core principles of awareness and movement set this apart from other Yoga styles. Modern Yoga has become an exercise stretching activity. In our work, we are more interested in the internal experience and perception of the asana, than in its external form. Somatic Yoga Flow combines the traditional yoga principles and philosophy of Patanjali, with the scientific principles of physiological movement.Patanjali stated in his Yoga Sutra “sthira sukham asanam” - that asana should be steady (sthira) and comfortable (sukha). The key concept here is “sukha”; that is, to find ease and pleasure in the practice.

By working with simple physiological principles, we escape the many problems that are seen in today’s yoga; namely, injury, and wear and tear in joints. When we stretch a muscle too far or too fast, a stretch reflex is activated. This mechanism causes the same muscle to re-contract and shorten, and to sometimes remain in a chronically contracted state.
How can we find this ease and pleasure in asana practice? We can choose to engage with the principles of somatic education, i.e. to move slowly and with awareness. In this way, we can directly experience how the agonist (the muscle doing the work) and the antagonist (the opposing muscle being asked to lengthen) can work together harmoniously.