This is a situation that most desk jockeys would be familiar with — you are working on the computer and you don’t rest your elbow, your arm remains in that position for days together. It is not painful because you have been doing it for so long that the stress has seeped into the joint or the muscle. This causes other, more serious, complications.
“We may go an entire lifetime without realising, depending on how we have been conditioned,” says Dipankar Panth, general manager of Shoonya - Centre for Art and Somatic Practices. “The premise of the practice is that the mind and the body are connected. There is intelligence and knowledge hidden in the body. If you tap into this body intelligence, it will impact the mind and vice-versa,”
Shoonya, Dipankar says, was set up in memory of Joseph Ollapally, who was known for his conviction in the power of arts and somatic practices as a way to help people understand themselves. “It was his dream to have a space like Shoonya in Bengaluru, which could help people take time to connect with their bodies and so understand themselves and the world around,” explains Dipankar.
“Somatic practices have to do with the way we condition body patterns — from posture to seating positions, and physical exercise. It can have an effect on the mental, emotional, psychological and physical levels of the body by releasing accumulated stresses. Such practices are especially important in cities such as Bengaluru which are getting crazier to live in by the day. We need a space like this where people can take some time off to explore, play and tap into things that they have been ignoring for a long time.”
There is a range of established somatic practices from the Feldenkrais Method to the Alexander Technique, Gurdjieff Movements, Tai Chi, as well as medically-oriented practices such as CranioSacral Therapy and Osteopathy. India is also known to have contributed one of the most ancient somatic practise known to mankind: yoga. Shoonya hosts workshops on many of these different techniques.
“We also have movement practice, movement art and contact improvisation, which works on the idea of being present to the body. Most movement forms, because they deal with the body and being mindful of the body, are in the somatic zone. Techniques such as Feldenkrais and Alexander talk of reconditioning the body.”
The Alexander Technique, for instance, Dipankar says recognises that babies have perfect posture. A crawling baby will never lift its head up, it will lead with its head. “That is a natural way of moving. Over time, we have been conditioned to letting our eyes lead. This constricts the back. Somatic practices help you un-condition such patterns. But it requires regular practice.”
He points out they are holistic practices which bring change at deeper levels. As the practise continues, the change becomes increasingly apparent. “One of the first changes that take place is that people start feeling taller, their spine lengthens. Then they start feeling less tired and more energetic, their movements are better. And beyond that, they start opening up emotionally and spiritually as well, their creativity and productivity levels are boosted. But this will happen only with a commitment to regular practice.”
Dipankar emphasises that it is important to delve deep into one practice rather than working a little bit on each practice (although there is no harm in practising or exploring an additional technique).
He adds that Shoonya has also recently come up with its own offering, which they have been teaching through workshops. This technique, he says, is a combination of dance, theatre, somatic practices, organisational behaviour and negotiation skills.
For details on workshops on somatic practices offered at Shoonya, call 7760832226.
