THE BENEFITS OF
SOMATIC PATTERNING:
Improve posture and movement
Alleviate back pain from poor posture
Prevent injury from faulty posture
Learn practical self-care exercises
Improve your body mechanics
Mary Ann Foster, B.A., R.M.T. is the founder of Somatic Patterning and EMS, author of the textbook Somatic Patterning, co-writer of the “Talk About Touch” column in the Massage and Bodywork Magazine, former kinesiology teacher at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, and practicing massage therapist since 1981.
Mary Ann specializes in postural integration—a blend of core stabilization exercises with massage and bodywork that is based on Ida Rolf's work and on the Body-Mind Centering approach to developmental movement patterning and embodied anatomy studies.
Hello
Welcome to my website!
With over 30 years of experience as a certified
massage therapist and movement educator,
I have many skills to help people alleviate
pain and feel more comfortable in their bodies.
Please give me the opportunity to help you.
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!
My Services and Products are:
• Massage, Bodywork, and Movement Sessions
• Somatic Patterning Sourcebook
• Neuromuscular Patterning CE Courses
• Massage and Bodywork Magazine Articles
Somatic refers to the body in all its realms. Somatic therapies are based on the premise that physical body patterns of posture and movement reflect a person's thoughts, feeling, and experiences. A somatic approach to massage and bodywork helps a person make a body-mind connection. Patterning refers to any intentional method of working with the body, through education, bodywork, and self-awareness, to improve joint and muscle patterns.
Somatic patterning is an approach to body therapy that integrates the knowledge of the anatomy and kinesiology with practical applications and exercises to improve posture and movement. Professional applications for massage and bodywork practitioners are also made for self-care, hands-on skills, body mechanics, and client education.
What are Educational Movement Systems?
EMS are the educational materials based on Somatic Patterning. The primary focus of EMS is the application of therapeutic movement exercises to massage and bodywork techniques and trainings.
EMS offers simple exercises to develop pain-free posture, to improve skeletal alignment, and to move with greater ease and efficiency. A person can work with EMS at their comfort through home-study, by taking classes, or in private sessions with Maryann.
What is Neuromuscular Patterning?
Every massage stroke can move the body either towards or away from better alignment. For every massage stroke that improve alignment, there is a movement exercise that has the same effect, improving the way we use our muscles to position and move our joints. In other words, neuromuscular patterning is any exercise that improves the nueromuscular pathways (which reflect how you use your muscles and joints.
Check out Neuromuscular Patterning in Massage on You Tube
This video shows a neuromuscular patterning demonstration. In it, you can see how movement exercises are integrated with hands-on bodywork techniques, which requires active client participation. This approach alleviates back-pain and provides practitioners with tools for client-education and self-care through better body mechanics.
(303) 682-5900 ♦ www.somatic-patterning.com
EMS Press ♦ 10903 Jotipa Dr. ♦ Longmont, CO 80503
Contact us at info@somatic-patterning.com
Postural Muscle Exercises
The postural muscles in the trunk are organized like the notes on a flute, from the base of the trunk to the base of the skull.
These exercises not only improve your posture, they are easy to practice plus they alleviate chronic pain and prevent injury by stabilizing your spine. They will also improve the way you look and feel.
I like to teach postural muscle excercises using the analogy of a "postural flute." First you practice simple isomteric exercises for each postural muscle, then you learn to play your postural flute by con-contracting them along the trunk.
To learn more about the postural flute, click this link to find article 9 tilted "Muscles and the Postural Flute" on the bottom of the page.
You can also find information and exercises for postural muscle training in Chapter 9 of Somatic Patterning.
For more information about how I integrate postural muscles into bodywork session, call Mary Ann at 303-682-5900 today for a consultaiton or to schedule a private session or movement lesson.
Information about private sessions and lessons can be found by clicking this link.
Sign up for private lessons with several friends and split the tuition among you.