Movement education is incorporated in a small or large way into the psychological counseling and the bodywork that I do.  Movement education can be divided into several categories:

~ Postural awareness:  this work helps people learn how to sit, stand, and walk in a way that is efficient, functional, and aware.  Learning to move the body properly helps address injuries, prevent further damage, and increases understanding of the relationship between posture and life experiences. We are what we do, which means the body can be understood as a reflection of the repetitive movements we do each day as well as a reflection of our attitudes and feelings.  Postural awareness allows clients to change the way they feel and the way that they are perceived in clear and concrete ways.

~ Stretches and exercises: Sometimes the body needs extra length or strength to maintain good alignment.  Stretch and tone exercises help build flexibility and strength, along with confidence and awareness.

~ Relaxation exercises:  Breathing, meditation, and relaxation exercises help clients who are dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, and poor body image to learn how to gain control over physical feelings that attend their symptoms.

~Body-talk:  Some clients have a hard time connecting to their bodies or their feelings. The process of learning to track sensations in the body by slowing down and bringing awareness to these sensations is essential when dealing with psychosomatic illnesses, chronic pain, trauma, and other issues in which the client has cut off from their feelings. Learning to connect these sensations to feelings, thoughts, and words offers clients a ‘felt sense’ of themselves. This ‘felt sense’ leads to the ability to deal with strong feelings..