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Somatic Conditioning™ for Athletes

The development of ‘Somatic Conditioning™’ was mainly triggered by witnessing too many ‘bad movement’ patterns while exercising and by the non-intelligence behind many ‘sophisticated’ fitness programs. Unfortunately, ‘positive’ and ‘wonderful’ publicity is given to certain exercise programs while these programs actually create a de-habituation of fundamental organic movement patterns while at the same time reinforcing the stress response within the athlete. Not good !

Somatic Conditioning™ is designed to teach athletes the skill, awareness and understanding to comprehend & embody the value of proper exercise routines. The body craves those original patterns because it is fundamental for its performance ! As long as you do not understand and embody the subconscious somatic reflexes that organize efficiency in your movements, you cannot fully understand which exercise patterns are ‘good’ and which exercise patterns are ‘bad’.

Strength, flexibility, endurance and co-ordination are fully integrated into this new and exciting method of getting in shape ! Athletes, exercise specialists, kinesiologists, fitness instructors, trainers & coaches experience their activity at a higher level after having participated in a Somatic Conditioning™ training program. They will be able to automatically integrate this new skill & knowledge within their existing programs. Strength, flexibility and agility will improve, resulting in a lesser chance for injuries.

I guess you can call an athlete a ‘Natural’ when his/her organic movement patterns are present in a fluid and effortless way. In case these patterns are lacking responsiveness, you are not performing at your full potential. It needs to be said that these patterns do not manifest itself in any diagnostic medical test (X-Ray, MRI etc.) and these patterns are hardly recognised in the field of sports & rehabilitation. However, it is the amnesia of these ‘organic’ reflex patterns that create most of our current health issues and injuries.

Many fitness programs have a certain percentage of ‘drop-outs’. This can easily be explained when evaluating and looking at the movement patterns that are being practised. There are many exercises that stimulate ‘non-organic’ movement patterns: patterns that the body actually really doesn’t like. Patterns that create even more tightness in people who often are already tight. A common misconception is for instance Abdominal Exercises. Sure, it looks great when the abs are flat. However, you will do a disservice to your body when you strengthen your abdominal muscles while your body is already triggered into the somatic reflex of ‘Fear, Fight & Flight’ (basically everybody suffering neck problems, headaches, whiplash, asthma, shoulder/arm problems, heart problems, back problems, pelvic problems etc.). The effects of the abdominal exercise will often trigger a further tightening of all the muscles connected to this subconscious reflex. That is not OK. There is not an animal in the world that keeps their abs tight all the time ! Please realize that it is OK to let go of the abs, especially when the organic movement pattern ‘demands’ a letting go of the abs (for instance in backwards bends or abdominal/diaphragmatic breathing). Unfortunately for those people, more tightness in the abs often results in a further slipping into the ‘stress response’ with even more symptoms of stress-related issues (esp. jaw problems, anxiety, impotence, infertility etc.). It will also become harder and harder to exercise because everything will take more ‘effort’. Often, the characteristics of aging will manifest themselves earlier as well.

The choice is yours: would you like to make tight muscles even tighter or would you like to learn how to move intelligently ?