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Somatics a matter of mind over muscle
Wednesday, January 16, 2002 edition of Cowichan Valley Citizen
written by Andrew Costa

The stiff, sore bodies and poor posture many people develop as they grow older shouldn't be attributed to aging, says a Duncan massage therapist who teaches clients how to take conscious control of their bodies. Andrew Teufel is one of only 80 people in the world fully trained in the art of Somatic education, a relatively new field that emphasizes conscious control of muscles movement to release chronic tension. Teufel received instruction in Somatics over there summers at a training facility in Novato, California and recently began offering treatment to clients at Duncan's Wellspring Clinic. According to Teufel, 80 to 90 per cent of body movement is unconscious, or autonomic. Becoming aware of that movement allows people to relax, becoming looser and more energetic. "Soma means the living body," he said. "We teach how to access more conscious control of your body." Somatic treatment involves a series of muscle relaxing and tensing exercises performed in the clinic, then followed up by a regular program of movements at home.

"You use your conscious awareness to stretch and relax the tight muscles and wake up others that were too loose - that creates a balance," he said. It's great for people with chronic pain, improving posture and taking back control of life."

Clinical somatic treatment is used to address physical problems for which people often see a chiropractor or simply attribute to aging. More often that not, said Teufel, the problems aren't medical but rather conditioning problems involving patterns of muscular strain combined with decreased awareness and control of the muscular system.

"(Somatics) is the opposite to what chiropractors do," he said. "They use force from the outside, we use conscious control of movement."

The actual process involves various movement and sensation based techniques that make it easier for patients to feel their muscles work.

Such awareness leads to the patients feeling a clearer definition of their body parts and in more voluntary control of them.

Teufel refers to Somatic education as a holistic combination of medical science and psychology, which are usually dealt with independently by traditional health professionals.

"Traditionally psychology focuses on the mind and medicine on the body, dividing human experience," he said. "Somatics is bringing it back together again."

Teufel's Somatic method is receiving glowing reviews from one Duncan senior who, after about a month of treatment, has seen major improvements in his posture and flexibility.

"I'm 100 per cent Andrew Teufel," said Cliff Payne, who will turn 80 next month. "I think he's done a wonderful job on me. He's a very good technician and manipulator of the body."

Payne encountered Teufel when he visited Wellspring to treat his aching back through massage. He was surprised to see how poor his posture was in the pre-treatment photos Teufel had taken. [See the Cliff's Case Study on Our Services/Somatic Education]

I'm nearly 80 years old and I guess one gets into those sort of postures over time," Payne said. "I always thought in my own mind that I was walking fairly straight."

He received regular weekly treatment from Teufel at Wellspring Clinic for about a month, followed up with a 45-minute daily regimen of exercises at home. Payne's posture has improved dramatically in that time, as has his flexibility and energy level.

"I find myself walking a lot easier - I used to walk with a slouch but he sorted it out over a period of time," he said. "I feel remarkably good when I finish my treatment - I feel as though I'm walking on air."

Somatic treatment has also eliminated Payne's neck spasms and eased his lower back pain to a considerable extent.

BEFORE

AFTER

"I'm happy to say I'm free of the (neck spasms)," he said. "My back is progressing well. I still have a little pain now and then but it's nothing like it was."