Summary:

Somatics for Teachers is a restorative workshop designed to help educators come back to center in the midst of intense pressure, stress, and burnout. Working in schools in today’s climate can leave us feeling exhausted, disconnected, and far from the values and passions that brought us into the profession. This community workshop offers practical somatic tools to help manage and release stress held in the body, be more present and grounded in the classroom, and respond to challenges with greater calm, confidence, and dignity. Through guided somatic practices and reflective exercises, participants will learn how to daily realign with their sense of purpose, rekindle their inherent joy in teaching, and reconnect with the kind of teacher they want to be, both for their students as well as their own well-being and sustainability in the work.

What is “Somatics?”

“Somatics” comes from the Greek word “σῶμα” (soma), meaning the individual in their wholeness. Somatics is a modality that includes the full person—including the body—as the domain of healing, transformation, and empowerment. A “somatic practice” is one that goes beyond talking and reflecting using the thinking mind, but includes the physical body. This may include bringing attention to certain areas of the body, breathing exercises, or gestures designed to emulate real-world situations. Modern culture has largely ignored the body’s role in our mental and emotional wellness, but much research has been surfacing about how the body “keeps the score”* by holding onto imprints from important emotional experiences in our lives. Somatics sees the body as an important resource and domain for our overall well-being.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is open to any and all educators. While it is primarily designed for classroom teachers working in K-12 schools, educators in universities and non-traditional settings, as well as school psychologists, counselors, social workers, administrators, and other school personnel are gladly welcome to join.

What will it look like?

The workshop will primarily consist of simple but powerful somatic practices that heighten awareness and give us greater latitude for choice in the face of challenging situations, which thereby increases our capacity to act in alignment with our values. The workshop will also include space to reflect through journaling, peer-to-peer sharing, and group discussion.

Where will it meet?

We will meet in-person at a central location in the Cincinnati area. The exact location is TBD.

When will it meet?

We will meet for 90 minutes on a weekly basis for three weeks in a row, outside of normal working hours. Exact days and times are TBD.

How much does it cost?

There is no set price to join the group. Instead, I invite participants to “pay as you can” based on your financial situation, perceived value of the three-week experience to you, and consideration of the labor required for me to offer it. My suggested tiered-pricing amount for the workshop is as follows: $70—$100—$130. However, you are welcome to join by paying whatever amount you choose. You can learn more about this pricing model here; feel free to reach out with questions.

Sounds interesting, but I’m on the fence. Why should I join?

We teachers deserve to feel whole. Unfortunately, the structure within which we work does not view that as a priority, and so meaningful workshops dedicated to our own well-being are virtually non-existent. But more consistent wholeness, balance, and joy in the classroom is possible, and this is a unique opportunity to move in that direction as a community. Some of the benefits include:

• More aliveness, openness, and confidence at work

• Better relationships with students

• Increased ability to stay calm and centered in dignity in stressful situations

• Ending the day feeling joyful, connected, present, purposeful, and open

• Rediscovering the teacher you joined the profession to be and becoming the teacher students remember

• Support and encouragement from a group of educators on a similar journey

While I do not list improved instruction or student achievement as direct objectives of the workshop, these will likely be an indirect result, as a happier teacher means happier students with more willingness to learn.

Still curious but unsure? Please feel free to reach out with questions or book a time to chat with me about it. Or, if you don’t think now is the right time, you can sign up for the mailing list below to keep up with future offerings.

*Bessel Van der Kolk (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma.