Life on Land: The Story of Continuum, the World-Renowned Self-Discovery and Movement Method

by Emilie Conrad, Valerie Hunt (Foreword by)

Emilie Conrad’s approach to movement education, health, and healing is as varied and deeply textured as her life story. In Life on Land, she interweaves the story of her Brooklyn childhood and discovery of dance with the psychic and physical collapse that led to the development of Continuum, her groundbreaking movement and self-realization technique. Readable, poignant, and ultimately triumphant, the book melds Conrad’s unique theories of the body-mind frontier with fearless discussions of Jewish heritage, sexuality, female identity, and social pressures.

Genres: Spirituality

392 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2001

Reviews

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started out thinking that Emilie Conrad was kind of a nut, and that this would be a fast read. Instead, I realized that she was an effing genius. Her ideas about movement are so brilliant that I've had to read this book slowly, in order to chew on them. Mind blowing. She has changed my ideas about movement more than almost any other somatic worker. Don't read it as a work of literature. Read it as the next wave of movement potential.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book tho had to skim over some of the wave theory and other scientific stuff I wasn't so interested in. But HER journey from abused and neglected, emotionally volatile confused young woman trying to birth the seeds of what she was to become...oh YEAH. She danced her demons and visions on bloody feet, delved deep into the spirit world of Haiti and spent endless endless hours just breathing and paying attention to what was going on inside herself and trying to make sense of it all. Thank goodness a healing corner was finally turned and led her to Valerie Hunt and Roslyn Bruyere in the very experimental 70's culture of LA. I didn't know of her then though was living so close by. An amazing story of strength and resilience....she trusted her intuition and feelings. What an powerful old soul who influenced and inspired so many in the dance and healing communities. The woman healed many deeply injured people including herself.

[Ryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say 'doing' continuum is more interesting & fascinating than reading about it...but of course it is. It's not a logical practice and is difficult to explain. It really is a movement process worth exploring, and I was fascinated reading about Ms Conrad's life and how she came to create it. There were parts that lost my focus and interest all together because it was a bit too out there or woo-woo for me. But all in all, an interesting, intriguing & fascinating read. I hope to study more continuum in the future.

[Rozz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story of resilience and recovery, plus a healing system of body movement that profoundly altered my view of Qi, or energy movement theory.

[Gretaenszer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have studied movement with Emilie since 2000...it has changed my life.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of wisdom from Emilie Conrad, the founder of the Continuum movement method. It’s clear that Continuum has deep healing properties for the mind-body-spirit. At times this read was a little dense and had me reaching for a dictionary. This book should come with a content warning for her descriptions of childhood and medical abuse. I think Emilie was in her 70s when this book was published and her language reflects it - many words that she uses are now considered slurs. I wish her editor had done a better job. The chapter on paralysis is steeped in ableism. I would say just skip it but it is unfortunately when she does her deepest dive into some of continuum’s healing properties. I would skim this section to get to the juice of continuum and leave all the ableism in the dust.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 bodies cultural, primordial, cosmic.
Movement is intelligence and primed by culture.
Bodies internally are oceanic, primordial bio intelligence, liquid, wave like undulations.
Bodies can heal when it isn't power over but empowering individuals. Beyond structural basis there is a deeper buried intelligence and self healing capacities.

[Ashton Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickly became one of my favorite reads ever. I love her prose, her storytelling, her amazing theories and perspectives on the body and life itself. A must read for anyone into somatics!! Emilie is a genius with an extremely broad horizon. Rest in peace to a real one!!!

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this book is horribly written, the message is so powerful I actually read the whole thing in a week. Emilie Conrad is an amazing healer who has made paralyzed people walk again. In this book, she interweaves her personal story with her theories about the human body and healing. Very interesting for anyone interested in bodywork.

[Megs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theories which are brought forth in this book about the fluidity of the human body in regards to healing and thriving are revolutionary. Part of me wishes that the book was a bit better written ( and thus my rating of three stars), however in some ways the looseness and lack of structure in the language added to charm of the books message.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book isn't well-written and much of it can be skimmed through, but there's no doubt that this woman is a brilliant healer.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! I would love to work with a Continuum teacher!

[Joslyn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written book; very moving. However, this is not the book to read if one is looking for an explanation of Continuum.