What Is Somatics?

Somatics is a practicable theory of change that can move us toward individual, community, and collective liberation.

“Soma” means more than just a “body based practice.”

Somatics is a field of relation involving the 5-senses, felt-sensations, emotions, thoughts, narratives, relationships with others, external conditions, actions & non actions, your historical timeline and our historical timeline.

My practice of somatics grounds within the lineage of sociopolitically Engaged Buddhism, Queer Dharma and Politicized Somatics.

Why Practice Somatics?

  • To cultivate a felt sense of belonging

  • To connect with the body

  • To cultivate a presence with life’s difficulties & joys

  • To grapple with uncertainty, insecurity & shame

  • To cultivate a wise relationship with stress and discomfort

  • To cultivate sustainable awareness

  • To cope with mental or physical illness or difficulties

  • To cope with and transform harmful patterns

  • To increase agency in communications

  • To develop courage & grace

  • To cultivate lovingkindness & compassion

  • To widen access to empathy, joy & emotional wellBEing

  • For collective, community liberation


What Is Insight Meditation?

Also known as "Vipassana” or “mindfulness" meditation, Insight is the practice of cultivating non-judgmental and caring awareness of the here & now.

Meditation is a tool, technique and a skill to cultivate compassionate awareness and attention with ourselves and thus, our world.

While we cannot always control the life that unfolds around and through us, we can learn to attend to our direct experience in a skillful way that invites nurturance, increased access to agency, and a more resonant relationship with our body & world.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get my mind quiet enough to practice?

Minds think thoughts, that's what they do by default! We don't start of thinking our way out of overthinking, that's not how this works. We practice shifting our awareness towards an "anchor" - a sense-based experience that works for wherever you’re at that day (b/c everybody has different needs). Your anchor supports your awareness of the present moment so you don’t have to try to stop thinking thoughts cold turkey. 

Is meditation spiritual & emotional bypassing?

While there are some meditation practices that offer guided visualizations, Insight meditation is simply a practice in awareness + care. Sometimes we can no longer turn away from the sucky, painful stuff. Insight meditation provides a tool to tend and befriend, and YOU are always in charge of how and when this tool is utilized. I'm here to help you practice using the tool in a skillful and safe way that invites compassion & lovingkindness to ease suffering.

Is meditation is about forgiving / excusing harm?

Nope! Harm is harm and it hurts. We will not be pushing away any feelings or absolving abusers of responsibility. Instead we practice listening to our bodies, to how our emotions & thoughts show up to teach us, and then we deepen our relationship with our agency of response to inevitable harmful stimuli... for our own protection and nurturance. 

I'm not into "woo woo," can I practice without being into "woo woo?"

You do you boo! It is true that Insight or "Vipassana" is a traditional meditation practice of the Theravada Buddhism lineage which translates to "clear seeing." However I am trained in and coach secular Insight. At most we'll talk about nature, the four elements, and maybe stardust, and I'll definitely quote from the Buddha (because it's important not to plagiarize). My training lineage is also backed by the last 25 or so year of modern neuroscience (not that Indigenous practices need any "Western" backing, these practices are and will forever be pristine on their own). My certification is accredited from the "Awareness Training Institute” AND the “Greater Good Science Center," at the University of California Berkeley.

My Offerings:

🧠 Learn

Classes, workshops and package coursework.

🧘🏻 Practice

Weekly, drop-in, virtual practice.

❤️‍🔥 Praxis

"STL QUEER SANGHA: You Can Sit With Us," monthly dharma & meditation group for all LGBTQIA+ folks and allies cultivating a path of Spiritual Solidarity.

🧑🏻‍🏫 Mentoring

Monthly, virtual group somatic mentoring & life accompaniment

💻 Work 1:1

Personalized and private mentoring and classwork support

👁️ Knowledge

A living & ever growing collection of FREE Resources for meditation, somatics, mental health, engaged Dharma and more.

Support for where you're at today

  • Free

FREE 20 Minute Discovery Session

20-minute, one-on-one, discovery session to discuss how somatics, meditation, engaged Dharma and embodiment practices can support you. Session offered virtually via Google Meet.