Bodymind Therapy

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Bodymind Therapy

• by Valentin Popov

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• Every body has a story to tell and
  bodymind therapy is learning how to dance
  with a persons body so they reveal their unique
  story as the two of you dance together.
• - Val Popov

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Somatotyping by William Sheldon

• Ectomorph long arms and legs, short upper body
  with narrow shoulders (nerve)
• Mesomorph large bones, solid torso, narrow waist
  wide shoulders (muscle)
• Endomorph large bone structure with wide waist
  (adipose digestive)

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Ectomorphs
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http//www.kheper.net/topics/typology/somatotypes.
html
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http//content.nordstrom.com/ImageGallery/store/pr
oduct/MediumLarge/18/_5639258.jpg
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http//specials.rediff.com/sports/2004/feb/11pic1.
jpg
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An Animal Example
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http//sflwww.er.usgs.gov/virtual_tour/kids/critte
rs/heron.html
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Mesomorphs
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http//www.kheper.net/topics/typology/somatotypes.
html
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http//living.aol.co.uk/health/how-to-get-a-body-l
ike/article/20080121080109990001
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http//nfs32.blogspot.com/2006/08/arnold-schwarzen
egger.html
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An Animal Example
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http//cbl-gorilla.cs.technion.ac.il/
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Endomorphs
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http//www.kheper.net/topics/typology/somatotypes.
html
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http//cosmetic-makeovers.com/2006/10/25/celebrity
-body-types
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http//www.nablopomo.com/profiles/blogs/uh-ohi-thi
nk-im-an-endomorph
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http//www.jackiegleason.net/jackie-gleason-trivia
.php
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An Animal Example
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http//www.faqs.org/photo-dict/phrase/158/polar-be
ar.html
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A Comedy Couple Example
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Can You Somatotype These Two?
https//www.instantcast.com/AllStars/Laurel_and_Ha
rdy/Article/
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Bodymind Concepts in Language We Commonly Use

• That person is warm hearted
• She is sharp as a tack
• He is a tight-ass
• That person is as cold as ice
• They are as good as gold
• She is kind-hearted
• Hes a pain in the neck

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Can You Think of Any Others?
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Characterology is Associating Personality Traits
with Body Types
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Somatotypes and Tridoshas

• Ectomorph Flight Vata air and ether
• They are ungrounded, so they like to be held
• Mesomorph Fight - Pitta fire and water
• They have lots of energy that can get
  misdirected, or burned out, so they like being
  soothed and calmed
• Endomorph Freeze - Kapha water earth.
• If you mix them together and you have mud so
• They feel stuck, thats why they like being
  rocked, moved, and stretched

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The Three Directions of Application
Ecto / Vata Meso / Pitta Endo /
Kapha Towards Center Longitudinal Transverse
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Time to Wash the Dishes

• This is an enactment game to work out how to get
  each of the following Somatotype/Tridoshas to
  wash the dishes?
• Ectomorph / Vata
• Bring them down to earth (Here you are)
• Mesomorph / Pitta
• Put out their fire (There there calm down)
• Endomorph / Kapha
• Shake them loose (Come on, get yourself moving)

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90 Minute Circadian Rhythm Cycle (Ultradian Cycle)
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Abreactions

• Emotional release weeping for any of a variety
  of reasons sadness, grief, mourning
• Abreaction Reliving a past traumatic event in
  order to resolve it (They are in two realities at
  the same time, keeping one foot in this reality )
• Mental disorder They cannot distinguish between
  the two realities ( They do not have a foothold
  on external reality. Time to call 911)

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Abreaction CycleWarning The Following Example
May Be Disturbing to Some of You. Its all Good.
Its All OK. Keep in Mind that it is a Natural
Process of Letting Go of Trauma

• Climbing the Rollercoaster mostly inhalation
  with little exhalation (fear)
• Over the Top inhalation with spurts of apnea
  (realization of it happening again)
• On the Ride - alternating inhalation and
  exhalation/weeping (letting it all out)
• Coasting to a Stop longer exhalation than
  inhalation that sometimes ends in laughter
  (realizing that its over)

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How to Work with Abreactions

• Everybody is different
• Avoid being judgmental
• Honor the sacred space
• Do not stop what you are doing until you ask them
  what they want you to do
• Reassure them that they are safe, but do not give
  them advice or counseling
• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality
  at all times

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How to Access Trauma

• Trauma in the body can be assessed by their
  guarding pattern
• Guarding patterns are reflexive and subconscious
• When you gently offer movement to the body, the
  areas of trauma will resist
• Areas free of trauma, or stress, will move with
  the whole body

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How to Work with Trauma by Using Bodymind Therapy

• Once you found an area to work, try the Three
  Directions of Application from the Somatotypes
  and Tridosha characterologies
• Ecto / Vata Hold them
• Meso / Pitta Stroke them
• Endo / Kapha Jostle (Shake) them

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THE END