---

​s ō m a | σ ῶ μ α

In Greek, the word soma has evolved to mean "the living body in its wholeness."  The soma arose as a system that always strives to achieve stability and balance --a task that takes place in time and is never complete.  To say that the soma has an element of timing is the same as saying that the soma is not a thing or objective body but, rather, is a process.

---

"In my massage practice, use a variety of modalities (including cupping, tuning forks & sound healing) to reduce stress on the body and in the mind to improve your wellbeing.  My approach to teaching Yoga uses modern science, mindful meditation tools and conscious movements to clear, enhance and fine tune body maps.  Currently, I’m enrolled in a 3-year training for Clinical Somatic Education. Somatic Education is an active learning process that directly involves the brain.  Somatics uses the innate reflexes that already exist within the nervous system with pandiculation (a specific quality of movement that sends biofeedback to the brain regarding the level of contraction in your muscles) this helps reset your muscle’s resting state, improve the sensory motor pathways (brain/body connection) and eliminate sensory motor amnesia (foggy connections between the brain/body).   In order to make a long-lasting change within the body (i.e. eliminate chronic pain, improve posture, enhance movement, increase mobility) you must involve the Brain, which is the control center for all muscle activity, therefore movement.  Pain is an output from the brain and [the brain] is also where habituated patterns are held which is why involving the brain is the root of all Somatics Movements.  This practice is safe for everyone… it would benefit those with limited mobility/range of motion, chronic pain, injury/surgery recovery, poor posture, anyone wanting to enhance their performance with movement-based sports, or simply just improve overall body awareness."

~Jill Guzmán owner/operator of SŌMA – LMT, RYT500, Clinical Somatic Educator Level III

"Somatic's has shown me that what I used to think was pain from a muscle or joint is really my brain sending me a signal that it doesn't like what I'm doing. I now look at pain as the limit of what is currently possible.  But that's also where potential lives.  The limits of possibility is really the edge of potential.  Somatics has also showed me that new potentials can't be achieved through force like regular exercises, but by observing what's possible or available. From that vantage point you can be objective and reach new ease and new possibilities."  ~client testimonial from private Somatic Movement Classes

---

Currently seeing clients in La Crosse, WI

 by appointment only
​612.401.4080

---