𝒮omatic 𝒵en
by ; Brock Noyes, 2020
Speaking the Language of the Body
"Somatic Zen is an emotional meditation that stays anchored in the body. It is an evolutionary synthesis of yoga, somatic work, Taoism and Zen. Its primary directive is to release stored emotions, so the body can perform its innate healing process. SZ is paradoxically simple and complex: contact the emotional body, feel those emotions rise, and witness the body track itself back into health. SZ is grounded in the truth that we hold feelings in our body and that constriction impacts our holistic well-being. SZ is the opposite of observation and intellectual inquiry. Although cognitive processing is invaluable once feelings have arisen, it is my experience that the whole concept of the observer can be a major roadblock to accessing unconscious or repressed emotions.
The Emotional Source of Dis-ease
Biologists have observed that we are a walking biosphere of pathogens and parasites. Physics posits that we are just a structure of molecules with space in between the atoms. Buddhism purports that the “I” is just an egoistic construction of constantly rotating thoughts and that the solid noun of separated self is really just a verb, an illusion. Somatic Zen utilizes the metaphor that we are a floating hologram of feelings manifesting in physical form. Ultimately, everything tends to fall apart when we realize we are living in mystery, but we still have the imperative to take care of ourselves as we journey on this ocean with no shore.
Traditional Somatic Therapy
The body is synergistic, and our organs and cells have their own sense of emotional intelligence, which connects to the mind, but is not secondary in importance to our physical well-being. So be careful what your mind tells your body; the cells are listening. Trauma and stress get inked on the “pain body;” I refer to this as the “blue voodoo tattoo.” Fear constricts the inner elasticity of the body, the connective tissues shorten, and the entire muscular skeletal system is compromised. Combined with the natural atrophy of aging, this places a chronic strain on the joints, making them vulnerable to injury and frequently leading to chiropractors and surgeons.
The Protocol
This chapter outlines the basic blueprint of Somatic Zen; it is detailed specifically later in the book, Somatic work recognizes that the fascia, the organs, and the cells have their own sense of emotional intelligence that is violated by trauma. The resultant constriction, invariably caused by fear, compromises the musculoskeletal system by shortening the connective tissues and ligaments, thereby torquing the joints. This chronic strain on the body makes it vulnerable to breaking down, and potentially leads to surgery or symptoms. I can attest to the total disaster of two totally ineffective operations. The systemic issue was later resolved through Somatic Zen, and the symptoms disappeared.
