Somatic Sexological Bodywork: A Journey of Embodiment
A Somatic journey of embodiment that offers a greater sense of erotic wellbeing.
What is a Certified Somatic Sexological Bodyworker?
We are somatic educators focusing on bringing attention to the felt experiences of movement, breath, touch, sound and placement of awareness.
The root word of Somatic is Soma which is relating to, or arising in the body rather than in the mind.
The path of Somatic Transformation is an on going process that enables life affirming action, and has the potential for profound change in our human condition; culturally, politically and spiritually.
Grounded transformation that is purpose driven requires developing attention, awareness, choice, volition, action and accountability.
Somatic Sexological Bodywork edges toward ensuring that individuals, teams, organizations and communities will embody pragmatic wisdom, grounded compassion and skillful action.
This form of inquisitive bodywork is a client-centered practice of self-awareness or interoception that assists each person/client/student in expanding and reestablishing deeper connections within the body, mind and spirit to empower, educate, and create change to limiting habits and behaviors that have shaped how we experience our'Selves.
Practitioners support students by maintaining clear boundaries with a "one way touch" by ensuring sessions are conscious of cultural taboos, learned behaviors and are centered around presence while exploring arousal as it relates to the erotic and sensual body, free of romantic partner engagement.
Sexological Bodyworkers empower, educate, and help create neurological shifts in our Autonomic Nervous Systems by teaching a variety of modalities including breathwork, Masturbation Coaching, Active Receiving and Giving from the Wheel of Consent framework, Consent and Boundaries, Taoist Erotic Massage, Pelvic Release bodywork and other practices that encourage choice and voice.
Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (CSB) adhere to the highest ethical standards maintained by the Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (See Code of Ethics).
BOUNDARIES:
CSB respect and value human civil and sexual rights, and do not knowingly participate in or condone unfair discriminatory practices (Institute of Somatic Sexology)”.
*Each session will have a unique set of boundaries as negotiated with verbal contracts that illuminate a particular set of learning objectives.
*All sessions are one-way touch with focus being primarily on personal responsibility for One’s wellbeing.
*Consent and accountability is verbally agreed to with each session.
*Practitioners will have gloved hands when touch is indicated to ensure the necessary approach in keeping the client /practitioner relationship fully and consistently in the service of and focused on the client/students’ personal growth and learning.
*Practitioners are trauma informed and work in conjunction with other therapist to ensure the greatest growth potential.
*Sessions are 60-120 minutes of non-agenda explorations. Expectations are put aside as bodily sensations are noticed, even allowed.
*An equally curious exploration of the nothing, as of the something, allows client/student and practitioner to collaboratively create a mindful practice or an educational contract, that may be taken home and further explored.
Through conscious, sensate focus of experimental experiences with an emphasis on curiosity and learning, each individual, couple and/or group explores what it means to practice perceiving their bodily perception which is designed to nurture, deepen or awaken the sensual self.
This proprioception of intention allows each client/student a safe space to explore greater sense of comfort within their own skin. Also referred to as agency (See Sensate Focus for more information).
Tuning in, turning on and attuning to the body becomes a fundamental web of having a mindful practice which in turn becomes a core element of healing.
Why choose a Somatic Embodiment Guide?
Somatic Awareness cultivates increased choice in our actions, moods, thoughts, feelings and way of Being.
Minimization, numbing, and disassociation from our sensations are common responses to difficult life experiences such as loss, trauma and oppressive social conditions.
Attending to sensations is one of the first steps in healing past wounds and trauma by developing life affirming presence.
Surrendering to the embrace of our'Selves and of the Earth teaches us that BEING brings balance to Doing.
When we are in touch with our bodies we can feel; and when we are able to feel our connection to Self, we can feel the connection to Others around us with uncompromised compassion.
Embodiment requires practice, curiosity, and experimentation.
Somatic Transformation is a natural, organic process that moves individuals, communities and organizations toward envisioning fulfillment and satisfaction that generates embodied virtues of pragmatic wisdom, grounded compassion and skillful action.
Cultivating these virtues may result in a sense of
*centered presence
*a commitment to dignity, being able to decline --to say no-- in which everyone's dignity is maintained
*grounded assessments that lead to intimacy and a new future
*being able to make requests and ask for what you want
*facing life with integrity
*extending energy to cultivate a deeper listening to others and the world
*entering into conflict as a way to generate relationship and creative solutions
There are many reasons someone might seek out the support of a Somatic Sexological Bodyworker.
These may include:
* Somatic sex education for individual or group work
*Addressing challenges that may include a lack of access to pleasure
* a desire to experience "more"
*a longing to find more fulfilling ways to connect with a partner(s) or Self
*Developing sexual confidence
*Consent and boundaries
*Unwinding shame
*Inability to orgasm
*Premature ejaculation or Erectile Dysfunction
*Couples wanting to enhance their ability to connect and find more creativity in their sex lives
*Recovering from sexual trauma
*Learning to give and receive pleasure
*Relief from pelvic pain
*Understanding Anal pleasure
*Scar Tissue Remediation for breast augmentation/reduction/circumcision
*Cultivating a Mindful Erotic Practice
*Mapping:
(Anatomically; Externally and Internally; Sensation; Curiosity; Pleasure)
*Witnessing
*Masturbation Coaching
*Porn addiction
*Sensory Motor Amnesia (The Genital Hole)
Code of Ethics in a nutshell
Code of Ethics and Practice for certified Somatic Sexological bodyworkers, as adhered to by the Institute of Somatic Sexology agree that:
- The Practitioner’s chief focus and primary ethical responsibility is for the client/students’ wellbeing.
- The Practitioner works to establish a relationship which the client experiences as safe, consensual and fully engaged.
- The Practitioner works to support the client into their experience of embodiment. When consensual touch is included, it is for the purpose of the client’s learning and growth.
- During the session, the practitioner is fully and consistently at the service of the client’s personal growth.
- The practitioner commits to their own personal growth, professional development and ongoing self care.
- The practitioner is aware of the potential for attraction within the client practitioner relationship and ensures the focus is on the client’s growth and learning.
- The practitioner practices in a way that is free of narcissistic gratifications; such as gratifications of authority, power, sensual pleasure and admiration.
For more duties and obligations towards clients and students, please visit online at: http://institiuteofsomaticsexology.com/code-of-ethics-and-practice/ (Also see Code of Ethics in About)
Somatic Sexological bodywork with compassion
Through my journey of embodying the disassociated pieces of Self that got fractured as a young person, I have gained experience, confidence and ability to hold and maintain a safe container that nurtures curiosity, compassion and agency in a non-judgmental environment.
Who am I?
My name is Erin Fowler and am at your service.
I am here to provide an inclusive environment for self explore that is nurtured by tender presence, strong ethical morality and a playfulness that hinges around a deep sense of curiosity and attention to somatic details as we ride the waves in the resilient edge of resistance..
Having been trained in a variety of modalities revolving around massage since 1997, what I bring to the table is a diverse set of tools that we can choose from to best fit your needs.
I was certified in Somatic Sexological Bodywork in 2018. It's a very personal practice that requires strong boundaries, clear guidelines and absolutely depends on the ability to express what the "yes and no's" are in order to be self reliant and confident in our agency.
Initially, I was drawn to this training one, because I'm a somatic geek and embodying sensuality is very nurturing to me, but mostly because I started noticing how many of my massage clients were coming in with tight pelvises that seemed to inhibit an allowance of movement in the lower parts of the body.
These parts of our body directly relate to our Autonomic Nervous System, specifically the Parasympathic Nervous System and our ability to feel safe with calm, nurturing affects on our body, mind and spirit.
I like to ask myself Questions.
For example:
*What does this holding pattern, tension, inhibitory response indicate?
*How can I better access safety in feeling met in the primal, basic needs, in this moment?
These inquiries were fanned by my own curiosity and investigation into noticing how I would dis~associate and freeze.
How I embodied shame as a coping strategy in my formative years.
Through these formative practices of presence and somatic awareness, bottom up, if you will; I have come to know and understand my inner landscape exponentially.
Almost every human has been born with an "ass-whole."
I believe that the majority of shame in our bodies has found a firm grasp in our roots where pronouns or sexual orientations travers the liaisons between all of us living and breathing humans.
When viewing humanity from this commonality; Butt, when it comes right down to it, we might just start to find more connection through the fact that we all have an anal canal built for elimination and kindness of reflection.
Mission Statement and having a sense of Purpose
It is my belief that by offering a safe, practical container for people to explore their body's innate ability to experience pleasure is an act of service.
The debilitating shame and guilt that society, religions and family lineages have shaped and structured our lives through conditioned coping strategies and responses have deep implications to how and what we do as a whole to feel safe and regulated.
I believe that by feeling embodied, having a greater sense of agency and knowing how to regulate our nervous system helps to nurture, foster and provide Self with a more compassionate, tolerant, non-judgmental and loving attitude toward Self , our community and the world at large....
It is my mission then to somatically guide and assist in the journey of our autonomic nervous systems especially to drop in with the parasympathetic branch for greater rest, restore and digestion of the external world and it's happenings.
When more people learn to breathe into their pelvic bowl with compassion and can recognize a flight/fight/freeze/faun reaction and know how to consciously regulate, co regulate and make choice from an informed consensual erotic state of Being, then my purpose has been served for in that reality I visualize a more loving planet able to feel secure, connected, grounded and safe in our bodies as living temples.
