Starting the coaching journey has been like revisiting the school and learning, just it is more intentional and transformative. Unlearning and relearning is a constant, rest all is due to change. There is such depth and width of knowledge available when pursued via coaching. While I revisited many theories of learning, motivation, leadership etc. from a new lens there are a lot of new models, theories and ideas to learn from. Somatic coaching is one such idea to me, which I was not aware of earlier. Though, through my years of dance performances, theatre activities, yoga practice and Vipassana experience, it seems to hold a prominent place in my life experiences. And it is natural that I find myself curious and inclined to learn more about somatic coaching.

Books are like perfumes, filling up our senses with the essence of others’ knowledge and wisdom, to eventually make it our own. Hence, I borrow the words of the practitioners, authors, coaches and therapists who helped enhance my understanding into somatic coaching and somatic awareness to share with you what I found. I hope this might serve to be a good resource in your journey.

1st Book – The Art of Somatic Coaching – Richard Strozzi-Heckler

Understanding straight from the book, “the term somatics is derived from the Greek somatikos, which signifies the living, aware, bodily person. It posits that neither mind nor body is separate from other; both are part of a living process called soma.” The book also explains the three ways in which somatic coaching approaches the work:

Working on the body – when the individual’s presenting symptoms are so strong, they need to be attended before any other issue can be addressed. (chronic headache, pain, muscular tensions etc.);

Working with the body – when the emotional, social life of the individual is addressed. (cognitive understanding does not change the behavior when emotional energy is blocked);

Working through the body – working through body is engaging with the fundamental life energy that animates and shapes who we are.

Further in the book, Richard Strozzi-Heckler explains his model and methodology of somatic coaching in a simple yet detailed manner explaining with the case examples. The five integral elements of his model are: somatic awareness; somatic practice; somatic opening; social context and Landscape/ Nature. He also touches upon the rhythm of energy and the somatic arc of transformation.

Take-away for Coaches:

• This book offers insight into the established and well-practiced model of somatic coaching. The coaches who are interested in somatic coaching can learn about the methodology and further their understanding.

2nd Book – The Body keeps the Score – Bessel Van Der Kolk

“Social support is a biological necessity, not an option.”

Of all the books I have read till date, this is one of the most important books I have found and read. Written in the simplest and straightforward manner, this is the book for everybody. You do not need to be avid reader to be captured by this book. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the depth of experience the Author Dr. Bassel Van Der Kolk possess, which is reflected in the sheer simplicity and ease in describing what could be the complex matter.

This book does not directly speak about coaching. In fact, it is a book written by a psychotherapist and therefore, the perspective is that of therapy. Still, as a coach I find it valuable because this book offers insight into the trauma experiences and helps develop greater understanding using the neurological evaluation and not just psychological evaluation. In the simple layman language, the authors explain seemingly complex systems with ease, which tell the reader exactly how the body functions under different stresses and situations. It also gives honest and humble submission of the limitation of psychological therapies bringing the focus again and again on the body and brain, and from there to the somatic practices.

Organized in five broad sections this book covers: Rediscovering trauma (through neuroscience revolution); understanding brain on trauma (body-brain connection); the minds of children (attachment and attunement and the cost of abuse and neglect); Imprint of trauma (memory function); and the path to recovery (describing various modalities, tools, practices and therapies and their significance in healing and recovering from trauma).

Take-away for Coaches:

• This book also gave me a greater understanding of the therapy and help me make clear distinction between the boundaries of coaching and therapy. It also made me see that the modalities of therapy and coaching can both work for a person who is going through trauma. While therapy is effective in resolving the past, coaching can be more powerful in helping client recover faster and better as it helps integrate the inner system of a person better by the use of language, questioning, listening and perspective building.
• Greater understanding of the neurological functioning.
• How is mental health dealt currently? What doesn’t work? And Where can Coaching help?
• What are the useful models and practices and how do they help?
• Answer to why Body awareness is important?

3rd book – Bioenergetics – Alexander Lowen

Dr. Alexander Lowen, the author of this book is also the creator of Bioenergetics, a method of psychotherapy designed to restore the body to its natural freedom and spontaneity through exercise. In his own description, “Bioenergetics is the study of human personality in terms of the energetic processes of the body.” And these energetic processes are described by the author as charge, discharge, flow and movement with greater details and clarity.

Aside from a brief history of what led to the emergence of Bioenergetics therapy, this book digs deeper into somatic by the way of: energy concept; the language of the body; the core of therapy (heart); Pleasure principle (primary orientation); Reality and Illusion (secondary orientation); Falling anxiety; Stress; Self-expression; and Consciousness. I would specifically mention the core of the therapy is the rhythmic presence of heart and the defences that we establish around this core in the form of emotions, muscular tensions and psychic reactions. The essence of this therapy is to help us understand our defences and remove them so we can embrace life in its full.

Take-away for Coaches:

• In coach training we come across terms like ‘whole being’, noticing the energy shifts; body language, facial expressions, tone change etc. And sometimes, you might as a coach wonder as to what is behind all these changes and what is possible when you notice these changes? I believe that this book has many answers to such questions and even more. It helps you see the body beyond its mechanics as a sentient being and a source of expression in every living moment.
• Bioenergetics exercises are a powerful tool to be used and I can vouch its effectiveness for I have benefited by these exercises.

For me, the experience of reading these books has been cathartic, invigorating, and enlightening. Cathartic, as it made me take a journey down the lane of my trauma experiences and also gave me chance to look at them with new eyes, new ways and new resolve. I cried, took pauses, and allowed some healing to happen. Invigorating, because it showed me my inner strength and resilience, it re-affirmed my intuition and helped me bring out the reservoir of resources from within me. And enlightening because it made me know somatic coaching in depth and create my own practice and processes.

Before I leave you to explore these wonderful books in detail, I would list and mention two more books written around the idea of Embodiment and Somatic intelligence: Your body is your brain by Amanda Blake; and Embodying Authenticity by Eunice Aquilina.

Wish you happy reading and exploring!