The Art of Somatic Coaching: Embodying Skillful Action, Wisdom, and Compassion

by Richard Strozzi-Heckler

The Art of Somatic Coaching introduces the concepts and principles of coaching with practices that include body awareness, bodywork, and mindfulness for both the coach and the client. Author and expert coach, Richard Strozzi-Heckler, PhD, explains that in order to achieve truly sustainable changes in individuals, teams, and organizations, it is necessary to implement body-oriented somatic practices in order to dissolve habits, behaviors, and interpretations of the world that are no longer relevant. He explains that these ways of being are integrated in the body--at the level of the musculature, organs, and nervous system. By implementing a somatic approach, these patterns can be shifted in order for transformation to occur.
 
Opening with a discussion of the roots of Somatic Coaching, the book describes the emotional and physical cost of being distanced from our bodies. Originating from the rationalistic idea that the mind and body are separate, this sense of disconnection spurred the emergence of the field of somatics that views the body as not just a physiological entity, but as the center of our lived experience in the world. Out of this philosophy, Somatic Coaching was developed as a way to cultivate the self through the body.
 
Methods in this book include:
• Somatic awareness--becoming aware of sensations
• Somatic opening--includes bodywork to release held patterns in the body
• Somatic practices--meditation, movement, and being present in everyday life
 
The social context in which one is raised, the supportive, healing force of the outdoors and nature as well as acknowledgment of the spirit are also woven into the practice. Through these practices, a rhythm of unfolding occurs in what Strozzi-Heckler describes as an Arc of Transformation--moving in stages from conditioned tendencies to a new satisfying and fulfilling way of being that is fully embodied.
 
Contents: Introduction; Chapter One: A Short Distance but a Big Cost; Chapter Two: Coaching; Chapter Three: Somatics and Somatic Coaching; Chapter Four: The Methodology; Chapter Five: The Rhythm of Action; Chapter Six: The Somatic Arc of Transformation

Genres: Psychology, Personal Development, Nonfiction, Personal Growth, Self Help, Leadership

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2012

About the author

Richard Strozzi-Heckler, PhD is founder and Co-Director of Methodology at Strozzi Institute. He has spent over four decades researching, developing and teaching Somatics to business leaders, executive managers, teams from Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, technology start-ups, non-profits, the U.S. government and military.

He was named one of the Top 50 Executive Coaches in The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching, and in Profiles in Coaching. He is the co-founder of the Mideast Aikido Project (MAP), which brings together Palestinians and Israelis through the practice of Aikido.

Richard is the author of eight books, including The Leadership Dojo, In Search of the Warrior Spirit, The Anatomy of Change, Holding the Center and The Art of Somatic Coaching: Embodying Skillful Action, Wisdom, and Compassion. From 2002 to 2007 he was an advisor to NATO and the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe (SACEUR) General Jim Jones, formally the National Security Advisor.

Richard has a PhD in Psychology and is a sixth degree black belt in the martial art of Aikido.

Reviews

[David Wu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite the appropriately titled book for my interests, I found myself skimming and flipping through a lot of this book. For a methodology that stresses practice, I didn't find much in here at all. A lot of it was case studies and fluff. I would have liked to see more concepts and frameworks or a path of how to progress someone from A to B. I felt that there wasn't any coherent thing holding the book together. What I did like though was the discussions about disembodiment and focus on sensations. If I didn't know about Strozzi before and centering, I would have been put off even more from this book

[Elena Semenchuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

The case when the name is very appealing and promises a lot, but a book itself offers few revelations.
Although the structure and thorough explanation along with some good examples are present, no methods, practices or tools for actually "trying" what is somatic coaching about to be found.

[Sylvie Barak · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just one long advert for the Strozzi institute without actually giving you any concrete tools you can use yourself. The book basically tells you that if you want to learn the methods, hire a somatic coach. Which is a bit of a cop out for a book that claims to be about the art of somatic coaching. I had to read this book for school and it was a waste of my time.

[Alison Dibarto Goggin · Rating 1 out of 5]

No helpful information, just an introduction to their program.

[Itai · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book started out alright, presenting a strong case for somatic therapy. It had some generalizations and simplifications, but it made a somewhat compelling argument in favor of it. It then presented a fairly loose framework for somatic work. But after that, things took a turn for the worse. The author presented two more frameworks, far less structured than the first, and illustrated each "method" by describing an example client and the process they went through. At the end of each segment, the practices themselves were only named, without going into detail about how to apply them. It was at this point that I started to feel the book was an advertisement more than it was instructional. By the final segments of the book, the author had completely entered the territory of lecturing and philosophizing. He even shifted to writing in the "we" form, completely abandoning any pretense of instruction and transitioning to proselytizing.

The conclusion of the book made it clear as day: "find a somatic coach [...] to guide you on this path." This is not a book; it's a brochure. It's not often that I finish a book feeling swindled, but here the transgression was egregious. Do not read this book. Save your time and effort for other books that actually aim to teach. If you're interested in somatic work, there are other, better resources to turn to.

[Liana Buzea]

I very much enjoyed this so much! It was a recommendation within the somatic sexuality certification I took a few years back. I look forward to one day take the somatic coaching method, not just for sexuality.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read for me because i knew very little about somatic anything. Im not interested in being a somatic coach and i do feel like they were really selling themselves more than focusing on content.

Was still a good introduction to somatic philosophy as a novice

[Louisa]

surprisingly lyrical and evocative. liked the examples but wish there were more. just reading the book and feeling the movement within it made me feel more grounded. thx

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked exploring this type of leadership but I found the book difficult to engage with

[Petra Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feel there are a lot of words and not so
Much content. I kept wondering where the evidence base was

[Darby Calm · Rating 2 out of 5]

No practice activities, research, citations, or references...

[Sabina Peskin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a reminder to move beyond the confines of our thoughts and into the realm of sensation. It dramatically increases awareness, with professional life examples that truly resonate.

[Kathi Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strozzi-Heckler's book "The Art of Somatic Coaching: Embodying Skillful Action, Wisdom, and Compassion" lays out the principles and methodology of this practice and is a good resource for coaches seeking ways to integrate body sensations and the critical role of body awareness in their work with others. I have ways that I have incorporated these practices in my coaching work and in my own personal work and this book supports this approach and the results. He provides applied examples throughout the book, however, I am left with the feeling that there is much more to it that has not been conveyed, such as the body work itself that is being used. And, it is in this type of work that one is best served through an experience of it rather than reading about it. I would recommend the book as an entry way to greater awareness and understanding of somatic coaching.

[Michele James roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to somatics

As a life and executive coach, I have been interested in expanding my knowledge of Somatic Coaching so as to integrate the principles into my practice. After reading this, I definitely want to learn more. I know that it will create significant transformation within myself and for my clients.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written overview of somatic coaching, a holistic body-centered approach to helping people navigate change and transitions in their lives. Heckler brings 40 years of experience to his book, illustrating his theories with case studies of clients he has worked with.

[Amanda Yuill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me so much about the way our bodies respond to change, and how to work directly with our bodies to facilitate change. A great primer on this integrated approach that has made me want to explore the world of somatics further.

[Douglas L Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deepened my coaching and my personal growth

This was a great read. Filled with great examples that bring the concepts to life. The models & frameworks helped me deepen my understanding of embodiment. If you are a coach this is worth exploring.