Elevated Somatics

03/03/2026

I just added a new online class, specifically for unwinding tight backs. Do you struggle with a chronically tight back that sometimes flares up into acute pain? Are you worried about your back "going out"? For just $24 and an hourish of your time, you'll learn something incredible important. You are capable of unwinding, decompressing, and regaining mobility in your spine. The reason for this is that your skeletal muscles, the muscles that attach to and move your bones, are voluntary, meaning you can contract and relax them whenever you want. If your back is rigid, feels like steel cables running up and down your spine, then you have lost control over them, it's a simple as it sounds. So, instead of learning how to stretch or strengthen your muscles, I will teach you how to connect, control, and relax them. Once you learn that, you'll be able to keep your back moving easily comfortably the rest of your life. Space is limited, so sign up now and learn perhaps the most important lesson of your life; how to relax your own back.

Schedule your appointment online Elevated Somatics

03/02/2026

Quote from a happy client. “I used to feel like a brain dragging my body around the world. Now I feel like I am fully inhabiting my body.” No one knows for sure what fibromyalgia is, but for this client it seems a lot like Sensory Motor Amnesia. She has been locked up in tension for so long that her conscious brain no longer was aware of her body. She was aware of fatigue and pain but not the effort of her muscles keeping her braced. Through the clinical somatic practices, this all reversed. She could start to differentiate parts of herself, tighten some and loosen others. She could experience again the feeling of letting go. She could feel her emotions flood through her and resolve. She could visualize and sense where her body is and as all this was happening, the pain started to resolve. She was becoming whole again, an integrated physical, emotional, thinking feeling person. This work is such a gift to give and receive.

02/18/2026

What Can We Learn from the Sloth?

Someone in my group class yesterday commented that they really needed to hear this and I bet she wasn't the only one. Someone you know, or maybe it's you, needs to hear this message.

Two of the things that make somatic work so unique and create such powerful, transformative, and effective change from seemingly simple techniques is that we emphasize moving slowly and moving within comfort.

Why Slow?

Moving slowly is a shortcut to moving mindfully; it's as simple as that. When we move at full speed, there is no time to think about what we're doing and there is certainly no time to adjust an adapt. The dysfunctional patterns we suffer from, patterns of stress reactions or bracing from injury are operating at an unconscious level. We are all holding onto tension, bracing against feelin pain or strong emotions and yet we still need to live our lives. So, the bracing gets stuck and integrated into the way we do things, leading to pain, discomfort, and anguish.

At the full speed of life, there is no time to change that. The longer we live with these patterns, the more deeply they are embedded in our unconscious. We then operate more and more on autopilot.

Slowing down brings the level of motor control back up to our consciousness, we become aware of what we are doing and with that comes the opportunity to change what we are doing. It's as simple as that. How slow? Slow enough that you can start to perceive the mental effort, the clumsiness even, of deliberately moving. That's how slow. And then, by maintaining a mindful state, you begin to improve, often quickly and dramatically. So, slow ends up being fast :)

No Pain? No Pain!

Comfort is critical in somatic movement practices. So many of us have internalized the idea that pain is part of the process. We've had PTs, massage therapists, trainers, and even Yoga Instructors emphasize that we should ignore the pain and push a little more.

Another thing that makes this work unique is that we emphasize comfort. To paraphrase Feldenkrais, "If you are always finding your limits, you will continue to feel limited."

Bracing, stiffening with tight muscles, is an instinctual, reflexive action in response to pain. That is self-preservation. When we are hurt, we instinctually immobolise the injured area. So experiencing pain typically makes us tighter, not looser. Experiencing recurring pain just reaffirms that we are injured, limited in some way, and we instinctively avoid further injury. Subconsciously, most of us are bracing and have learned to avoid feeling pain by avoiding certain ways of moving or certain activities. Yet, the mechanistic, non-somatic way many of our healthcare and fitness methods work is by encouraging people to ignore their pain or try to breathe and move past it. I'm sure that works for some people, sometimes, but it ignores the fact that pain is real and so is our innate, instinctual response to it.

Somatic movement practice takes the exact opposite approach. I invite people to stay within their range of comfortable movement. Completely comfortable movement. What happens if you move and don't feel pain? You start to unwind. What happens if you move in a way that you thought would be painful and discover you can now do it without pain? You start to heal.

Therefore, seeking comfort and not finding pain during your practice is the fastest way to heal.

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02/17/2026

I'll be teaching and traveling the next few weeks, so this week's Tuesday Somatics Class will be my last one until late March. Practice Somatic Movement from the comfort of your own home, live at 9:30 am MT or sign up and receive the recording later in the day. These small-group classes are powerful: most people feel better immediately and you'll learn the tools to master self-care for pain and tension. This will be the best $17 you spend this week. https://secure.acuityscheduling.com/admin/scheduling-page?clickLocation=left_nav

02/03/2026

🌿 You’re Invited: An Evening of Movement & Healing

I am excited to invite you to a special community event at the Colorado School of Healing Arts to celebrate the release of my new book, "Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists."

While this book was written with practitioners in mind, the principles of somatics are for everyone. Whether you are a fellow health professional looking for new tools or a client interested in understanding your own body better, I’d love to see you there.

What to Expect
This will be an interactive, educational evening where I explore the connection between the mind and the body. I will cover:

The connection between Somatics and Massage: You'll be guided to leave the biomedical perspective and embrace the somatic perspective, which is the lived experience of the body.

Live Demonstration: I’ll be showing specific techniques from the book with a participant (maybe you?!).

Self- Care Exploration: I'll guide everyone through a direct experience of somatic techniques and movements.

Q&A Session: A chance to chat and ask questions about somatic healing.

📅 Event Details
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM MST

Location: Colorado School of Healing Arts | 7655 West Mississippi Avenue #300, Lakewood, CO

Parking: Free parking is available at the venue.

Cost: Free to attend! (RSVP is not required but helpful) (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/somatic-techniques-for-massage-therapists-book-presentation-and-demo-tickets-1981763756744?aff=oddtdtcreator) .

🕒 The Evening’s Flow
6:00 PM: Mingle & Connection

6:15 PM: Book Presentation

6:30 PM: Live Technique Demo

7:00 PM: Open Q&A

Can’t Make It?
You can still dive into the world of somatics! You can purchase the book (https://www.elevatedsomatics.com/book/somatic-techniques-for-massage-therapists-book) through my website, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. If you'd like a signed copy but can't attend, you can order one through my site (https://www.elevatedsomatics.com/book/somatic-techniques-for-massage-therapists-book) and I'll ship it or arrange local pick up.

For a preview of what I’ll be discussing, you can watch my Chapter Summary video on YouTube.

I look forward to sharing this evening of learning and healing with you!

Warmly,

Gabriel Posner, Ph.D.

Please note: This is an independent event and is not sponsored by the Colorado School of Healing Arts.

Check out our event on Wednesday, Mar 4, 2026.

Click here for event details from Elevated Somatics!

02/03/2026

Doctors told her, her back was too fragile to operate on, but with her 10-minute daily practice she is pain free.

This is a real client example of the effects of clinical somatic education. With a 10 minute self-guided practice, one of my favorite clients doesn't need to see me anymore :)

It took a bit to master the skills, but now she can walk around, living a life a freedom and activity, despite what the xrays and MRIs show.

This is a powerful practice. It works amazingly for people without structural spinal pathology but even with really scary-looking scans, people can experience significant, lasting relief. The trick is practicing consistently and practicing right. That's what I'm here for.

*Photo of real client, but not the client referenced in the post :)

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01/29/2026

Stop working harder. Start working smarter. 💡🙌

Massage therapists are often taught that deep pressure = results and their clients ask for it too! But that often leads to two things: therapist burnout and client guarding.

There is a different way.

My new 2-day course, based upon my new book Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists, offered at The River Yoga, is designed to teach you clinical somatic techniques - ways of using touch to communicate with the brain rather than just wrestling with muscle fibers.

Why 2 days? Because your nervous system needs time to integrate these moves before you can teach them to your clients.

The Details: 🗓️ Feb 23 & 24 | 9am - 6pm 📍 Denver (Golden Triangle) 💰

While I am awaiting NCBTMB approval, this is offered at half the price. $249 for 16 CEs!

Tag a fellow LMT who needs a "reset" in their practice! Reserve you spot now before they're all taken.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/somatic-techniques-for-massage-therapists-a-2-day-course-tickets-1981792335223?aff=oddtdtcreator

An introduction to clinical somatic techniques that will transform your practice and enhance your self-care.

01/23/2026

https://www.amazon.com/Somatic-Techniques-Massage-Therapists-Gabriel-ebook/dp/B0FBR1MF5V/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title

Wow, I'm could not be more thrilled to share that my new book, Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists, is the current #1 new massage book on Amazon. Thank you to all who have purchased a copy. If you find the book valuable, please rate and share it with others.

This is a book written for all health workers who use touch therapeutically, to help them shift their perspective from working on bodies to working with somas. Just this perspective shift alone can have a profound impact on the effectiveness of massage and bodywork. But, that's just the starting point. I explain and demonstrate how to convert conventional massage techniques into somatic techniques that awaken your client's awareness and invite them to unwind with mindful, focused attention. Then, I describe and demonstrate specific clinical somatic techniques in the lineage of Thomas Hanna that can be used within a therapeutic massage session to convert your client from being a passive recipient to an active participant in their healing, leading to fast and dramatic myofascial unwinding. Lastly, this book is filled with self-care practices and ways of developing your sensitivities and soft skills to have a long-lasting, rewarding career helping people. Kindle and print versions are available through amazon and the print can also be purchased safely and securely directly through my website. A somatic wave is sweeping through healthcare and I'm thrilled to be helping it along.

Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists

01/21/2026

My first book has arrived!

Today is a special day for Elevated Somatics, as I celebrate the release of my first book, published by Handspring Publishing.

This book, Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists, is based on the work I have been doing for over 20 years, blending massage therapy, neuromuscular techniques, and clinical somatic education. It is written for massage therapists but should be valuable for anyone who uses touch therapeutically, such as physical therapists, personal trainers, chiropractors, nurses, osteopaths, somatic practitioners, yoga instructors, etc.

The book weaves somatic philosophy with detailed (and illustrated) techniques to empower massage therapists to help clients establish a fully conscious connection with their own body and unlock powers of self-regulation. It invites therapists to embark upon their own somatic journey to discover how to employ these holistic principles to an ancient form of healthcare.

This book is now available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and directly through the publisher. But, the best way to purchase it, if you're interested, is directly and securely through my website (https://www.elevatedsomatics.com/book/somatic-techniques-for-massage-therapists-book) . I can arrange local pickup or mail a copy to you.

Many of the people receiving this email are clients and students. You all have been a part of this book, helping me refine my practice and way of teaching this work through the years. So thank you!

I'm offering first 50 copies of the book at 10% discount. If you would like a copy or you know someone who would like a copy, I've got a bunch and am ready to ship them at the sale price.

Click here to check out a full book review by John Loupos, Tai Chi instructor, somatic practitioner, and author of The Sustainable You. (https://www.associationforhannasomaticeducation.com/somatimes/somatic-techniques-for-massage-therapists)

And here are some sweet words for other authors and educators in the field!

Dr. Jeff Rockwell, DC, MA, DOMP
This groundbreaking book transforms massage therapy by shifting from force to partnership. Posner beautifully combines personal journey with practical wisdom, showing how to work with clients' nervous systems rather than against them. A must-read for every massage therapist.

Martha Peterson, CHSE, CCSE, RSME, author of the book Move Without Pain
This book is a gamechanger for any massage therapist seeking to guide their clients (and themselves!) to more long-term comfort, self-awareness, and ease in their bodies. Gabriel Posner makes a strong case for the inclusion of the somatic perspective into any massage treatment.

Jack Blackburn, LMT, Master’s in Theological Studies, Certified Spiritual Director, Trager ® teacher, Reiki Master and founder of Trillium Institute in the US and Japan.
I agree with Dr Posner that touch professionals are on the verge of a major breakthrough. His in-depth explanation of Somatics provides an invaluable tool for all bodyworkers. That tool involves activating our clients' sensory awareness and sharing a two-way Somatic interactions with them. Clients can become active participants in their own healings. Bodyworkers and clients are learning that "touch is always a two-way shared experience." I recommend Dr Posner's book for all Touch Practitioners.

Luann Fortune, PhD, LMT, Professor Mind-Body Medicine, Saybrook University
Grounded in scientific principles and explained through case reports, Gabriel Posner illustrates how Hanna Somatic Education offers a conceptual framework and practical guidance to integrate applied techniques with clients' inner felt experience. Through a perspective shift, it can create lasting effects for the giver as well as the receiver.

Phil Okazaki, NMT, Director of the Advanced Neuromuscular Training program at the National Holistic Institute
Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists is a bridge we all need as we work towards a client-centered practice. The way Gabriel weaves together respected somatic traditions with massage therapy creates an essential text. We are challenged to look beyond the mechanical applications of massage and invite intention and awareness into our practices which creates another connection to the biopsychosocial model of pain and how we can actively engage our clients in their healing process. This is a thoughtful, practical, and visionary text that can solidify our collective voice in healthcare.

R. Ryan F. Moschell LMT, CHSE, HSE Training - Core Teacher
Dr. Gabriel Posner is a pioneer in integrating massage therapy with Somatics, and his new book offers an accessible and inspiring introduction for massage therapists at all levels. By bridging knowledge with practical experience, this essential text has the potential to become a required text in massage therapy education, supporting both practitioner career longevity and enhanced client outcomes.

Til Luchau, Director Advanced-Trainings.com, Co-host The Thinking Practitioner Podcast
Massage therapy is evolving, and Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists helps chart that next step. Drawing on the lineage of thinkers like Thomas Hanna and Eleanor Criswell Hanna, it traces how the "body as perceived from within" can become the foundation for contemporary touch-based practice. This book offers a thoughtful bridge between somatic education and hands-on technique-reminding us that lasting change often comes not from working harder on the body, but from helping awareness awaken within it. At a time when massage therapists are seeking ways to integrate neuroscience, embodiment, and mindfulness into their work, Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists situates these threads within a clear, accessible lineage. Rooted in the somatic tradition that views the soma as a living, sensing subject rather than an object to be fixed, it traces how this perspective can reshape our approach to pain, learning, and therapeutic touch. Both philosophical and practical, it invites a shift-from technique to relationship, from doing to being.

Click here for an update from Elevated Somatics!

01/12/2026

Happy New Year!

"Were man (or woman) to devote as much time and energy to himself as he has devoted to that which man has produced, what astounding and unbelievable progress would be made..." — Joseph Pilates

2026 is here, and my mission remains the same: supporting you, grounded by the belief that you, all of us really, have incredible agency over how you age. Getting older is easy; it’s getting better, healthier, and more capable that takes time, energy and intention.

In my 20 years of clinical practice, I’ve seen that almost everyone can find profound improvement by integrating somatic practice into their life. I’m walking (pun intended) that path with you! Currently, I’m treating my big toe. It flares up in tingly, burning pain every time I go skiing. I think of this as my own personal "musculoskeletal Sudoku puzzle" and I'm using all my somatic skills to reorganize my foot from the inside out. Stay tuned for updates :)

What’s happening with Elevated Somatics this year?

Tuesday Morning Virtual Classes: This weekly class is up and running. No experience necessary, you don't even need to show up live!

Private Practice: 1-on-1 clinical somatic sessions and massages are available for deep-dive somatic work.

Coming Soon: An upcoming book launch, new workshops, specialized trainings, and research?! This could be a very big year.

How's your 2026 going? Do you have a musculoskeletal puzzle you'd like me to help solve? Don't wait for a "flare-up" to check in with your body. Click these links to join us this Tuesday (https://elevatedsomatics.as.me/) , book a session (https://elevated-somatics.square.site) , or simply reply to this email and let me know how your movement journey is going so far this year.

I'll spare you a picture of my foot, but here's me solving a sudoku puzzle of my hands :)

Click here for an update from Elevated Somatics!

12/02/2025

Special Saturday Class!

Happy Winter, Denverites! The change of season felt pretty official Sunday morning despite still minimal snow. I hope everyone had a joyful and belly-full thanksgiving with loved ones.

This Saturday I am going to be guest teaching for one of my favorite people, my teacher and mentor, Susan Koenig! Susan is one of the core teachers of Hanna Somatic Education and you might recognize her from youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/somaticsforyou) if you've searched for Hanna Somatic material. She has also had an ongoing Saturday morning class in Berkeley, California, for a couple of decades.

This coming Saturday, she has invited me to virtually guest teach, and I couldn't be happier to do it.

This will be a Hanna Somatic movement class focused on one of my favorite principles of somatic movement: Relative Conjugate Movement.

What is Relative Conjugate Movement? Well, besides being a lot of fun to say, this phrase is for one of our somatic magic tricks. When people experience chronic musculoskeletal pain, they begin to brace, thereby protecting and limiting their movement. This bracing perpetuates and amplifies the underlying condition. Over time, the bracing itself can create new musculoskeletal conditions. The problem is that most people aren't aware they're bracing, but are afraid to move the painful joint. The anticipation of pain actually intensifies it! That's not the magic part.

The magic of Relative Conjugate Movement, a phrase used by one of Feldenkrais' proteges, is that once an injury is healed, the continuation of pain is all due to the bracing and expectation of pain. The joint itself is often completely fine. So, this movement magic is about creating novel movement at that braced joint without directly moving it. The movement is a byproduct of moving something else. Like a magician who distracts an audience to look at their right hand while their left hand executes the trick, applying Relative Conjugate Movement means initiating a movement somewhere seemingly unrelated and then noticing that, "Hey, my arm is above my head, and it didn't hurt!"

So, whether you're experiencing pain or not, this class should be really valuable and enjoyable.

Want to attend, just log into Zoom and if you send some money to Susan, she and I would greatly appreciate it. Suggested donation is $15. Details below.

TDLR? Come to class this Saturday and experience a really cool and unique somatic movement practice.

While this class in virtual, you can pretend you are with me where I taught at the ISMETA conference one block from the beach in Benicassim Spain!

Details on this fantastic Saturday class.


Zoom Link For December 6, 2025
Time: Dec 6, 2025 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
us02web.zoom.us/j/83173043301?pwd=PvrPiGkaifmxm6a6qNXZDrMMUWmRf6.1

Meeting ID: 831 7304 3301
Passcode: 005930
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CLASS DETAILS:
1. To prepare for the class, please have a floor mat and some pillows ready. Wear clothing you can move in freely. Sometimes we begin in a chair, so have one handy as well.
2. Please come into this class 5 to 10 minutes early so that we can start the class on time.
3. Susan will be recording this class (if all goes well) and make it available on her website, YouTube channel, SoundCloud (audio only), and next newsletter.
4. Free/Donation: Students, please come free! If you would like to make a donation, you may do so through PayPal (paypal.com/us/home (https://www.paypal.com/us/home) ) using my emaii: susankoenig@earthlink.net
Recommended donation is $15. Contact Susan if you would like to donate in a different way.

Check out our event on Saturday, Dec 6, 2025.

Click here for event details from Elevated Somatics!

11/19/2025

"These movements are so gentle and subtle, it feels like I'm barely doing anything, but I feel so much better!"

I hear some version of this regularly. and I understand. Here's some truth. The movements themselves are not so special. Many of the movements I work with are similar to things you would do in a pilates, yoga, or tai chi class. They are movements that are familiar, because they are human movements. They are functional movements.

So why is it that doing these movements during a somatic class or session creates such a different effect compared to when you do them normally? The magic is only partially from the movements themselves. Most of it comes from the way the movements are done.

By changing the way you move, changing the speed, effort, and points of focus, you can make any movement suddenly seem new and fresh. By connecting with this experience of newness, you activate the part of your brain and nervous system that learns. Activating your learning center opens up a portal for rapid and lasting change.

The type of somatic work I offer starts with movement and touch as these are the fastest ways into your nervous system. But the effects are pervasively felt; physical, emotional, cognitive, and in general health improvement.

I'll be sharing a bit more of what I do and the holistic effects this has, particularly for women's health, with the panel of health experts as part of "The Nervous System Nutrition Revolution." I'm excited to be there and engage with a wide array of other health experts. You are most welcome to join for this free event, (https://www.plantthrivingwomen.com/nervous-system-nutrition-revolution-Gabriel-Posner) tomorrow 9-12 Mountain Time. I'll be speaking on the 10-11:00 Panel.

And if you don't make it to this event, come to a class or one-on-one session where we can get right to the heart of this work by doing the work. Not talking about it so much, but moving, unwinding, and adapting. It is in some ways simple work, but also incredibly profound and powerful; seemingly magical.

Check out our event on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025.

Click here for event details from Elevated Somatics!