"What is Eginton Alignment Somatic Movement Education and Therapy?" you might be asking yourself. You've seen this phrase here on the website, and may have identified it as the technique I use. The phrase has a great flow, though it's certainly a mouthful. But what is it?
First things first: what is somatic movement therapy? People enter somatic movement therapy to heal injuries, manage and relieve chronic pain, develop better breathing and awaken their body-minds for more ease in everyday living. Now, what is a body-mind? Body-mind is the understanding that the human body and mind are seen as a single, integrated entity. Having a hard time believing this? Sounding a little too hokey?
Think about the recent wave of meditation enthusiasts. We've always heard that meditation helps relieve stress, improves focus, and has lasting effects beyond the few minutes or so a day you spend doing it. By focusing on a physical act, where you experience the feeling of breath on or in your body, you relieve the constant flow of habitual thoughts, what happened or what will happen, in your mind. Here is a great little video to check out below, thanks to happify.com, and head there for more content about meditation and mindfulness. See, your body and mind are one!
Now, back to Eginton Alignment Somatic Movement Education and Therapy! This education method, Eginton Alignment, guides individuals and groups into better body use. Transformational learning activities include breath, touch, reflection, coaching, and meditation, in addition to motor movement explorations and re-training of musculoskeletal actions. Sounds intense, but it's refreshing, I promise.
Eginton Alignment was created by Margaret Eginton, a movement therapist and educator with over 30 years of experience! While Meg began her career as a modern dancer and actor, she holds an MFA in Theatre Performance, is certified by the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association, has taught movement at NYU, Harvard, and FSU, and has her own practice located in Iowa City. Talk about multi-tasking! Not only has Meg been my teacher and mentor for a number of years, she is a wonderful person and very dear friend.
So, have I finally got you thinking about what's going on in your body right now, from an emotional, physical, experiential place? Good. Let's get to work!