Intellect (UK) Somatic Movement Dance Therapy: The Healing Art of Self-regulation and Co-regulation

Foreword: Transatlantic Reflections Sarah Whatley, Daniel Deslauriers, Celeste Snowber and Karin Rugman Introduction: The Seabed, Waves and Ripples in this Book 1. Autogenic Self-regulatory Movement 2. Sympathetic Holding and Parasympathetic Ease-and-release 3. Fulcrums of Support and Soft Tissue Reorganization 4. Co-regulation, Cardio-ception and the Transpersonal Witness 5. Co-regulatory Touch and Fascial Release 6. Sense-perceiving the Craniosacral System 7. Soft-tissue-rolling and Fascial Health ‘A comprehensive account of the relationship between somatic movement dance therapy, the parasympathetic, and spirituality’ In this detailed anatomical text, Dr. Amanda Williamson shares her therapeutic practice, rooted in self-regulation, co-regulation, cardio-ception, breath awareness, soft-tissue-rolling in gravity, fascial release, and the importance of parasympathetic ease-and-release. The book attends to key body systems in detail, and how sense-perception of living tissues increases fluid flow and supports fascial health. This book is grounded in detailed experiential encounters with afferent sensing, consciously sensed motor expression, interoception, proprioception, the vagus nerve, the cranial bones and nerves, scapulae, sacrum, fascia, and the nervous system. Clients and students share qualitative reflections after sense-perceiving the state of their living tissues and easing tight tonus through self-regulatory movement. The book pays detailed attention to applied experiential anatomy and physiology, improvisation underpinned by somatic awareness, the art of directing one’s awareness and attending gently to living breathing tissues, resting egoic mind and settling in the heart, and the integral importance of the co-regulatory presence of the embodied witness. Amanda shares processes throughout that ease stress, depression and anxiety. Dr. Amanda Williamson is a master teacher and opens up a deeply pedagogical space for understanding on multiple levels, with the sensitivity of an open heart and a poetic eye. This book will be a companion for me and useful for chiropractors, dancers, somatic therapists, doctors, philosophers, educators, body workers, musicians, and therapists. All those who want to nurture the body, mind and soul will find this a magnificent resource. Professor Celeste Snowber An exceptional artist and compassionate teacher, Amanda Williamson brings a rigorously researched knowledge of the body to this book. The wisdom she has gained through her many years of practice infuses her writing: she shares her insights with generosity and sensitivity. It will be a primary source for all those interested in how to attune to the body’s sensory-perceptual pathways, supporting a profoundly holistic approach to health and well-being. Professor Sarah Whatley