The HSE Practice

As an Association for Hanna Somatic Education®, Inc. (AHSE) member, either active or inactive, I understand that the following represents the scope of the practice of Hanna Somatic Education® as they are taught under the auspices of the Novato Institute for Somatic Research & Training.

This scope of practice is based upon the theoretical and applied principles of Hanna Somatic Education

Hanna Somatic Educators provide verbal or hands-on somatic education services for individual clients or groups in order to improve the central integration of the execution of their sensory-motor activities. This may include but not necessarily be limited to endeavoring to:

• Apply the HSE specific clinical processes of "means whereby", "kinetic mirroring", and "pandiculation" during their sessions and classes.
  
  
• Educate and train individuals or groups in self-performed motor skill improvement processes, i.e., Somatic Exercises and Explorations.
  
  
• Disseminate educational materials to the public, including, but not limited to HSE Somatic Exercises and related somatic arts, sciences, philosophy and principles through lectures, seminars, training programs if specifically licensed as a trainer by the Novato Institute, conferences, conventions, publications, audio or video tapes, or otherwise.
  
  
• Develop, encourage, and or provide public benefit classes, and instruction in somatic movement, relaxation, reeducation forms and in somatic principles.
  
  
• Generally promote and develop somatic movement arts, science, philosophy and principles.

Hanna Somatic Education

Testimonials from people who have tried Hanna Somatic Education®. Please note, for purposes of clarity and privacy, practitioners' names have been replaced with "[Hanna Somatic Education®]".

A Neurologist's Opinion

"As a neurologist I frequently see people who are suffering from chronic pain, which limits their movement, therefore further increasing their pain and their need for pain-killers. [Hanna Somatic Education®] consistently helped the patients l have referred... achieve lasting relief without depending on medication... I wholeheartedly recommend [Hanna Somatic Education®]."

JK, MD, Dipl. ABPN,
Head of Neurology

After Surviving Cancer

"After surviving cancer and the debilitating surgeries that would save my live, I had almost given up hope of regaining flexibility and pain-free movement. Somatic education has restored my hope and freedom of movement."

CR, M.S., Family Therapist

Healing Pain in a Non-Intrusive and Gentle Way

"[Hanna Somatic Education®] heals pain in a non-intrusive and gentle way. Truly a holistic mode of treatment, Somatics also has offered me the opportunity to develop a more compassionate relationship with my body. I always leave our sessions with exercises to do at home. And they REALLY work. I have recommended [Hanna Somatic Education®] to many of my clients who have needed an intervention on the physical level."

EM, Ph.D., Psychologist

Walking Again at Age 92

"At Age 92, [Hanna Somatic Education®] taught me how to walk again; what more beautiful gift is there to give."

EB, Retired City Planner

Chronic Pain From

an Injury or Illness

"I couldn't believe that in a few hours [my Hanna Somatic Education® practitioner] showed me how to relieve the pain that I had spent hundreds of hours with physical therapists trying to exercise away! My posture and sense of well-being improved so much that people told me how great I looked and even asked me if I had lost weight! I recommend [Hanna Somatic Education®] to everyone I meet who has chronic pain from an injury or an illness.

Chronically Sore Muscles

  


 "[Hanna Somatic Education® is] a perfect match for me. My years of headaches are truly a thing of the past."
 


"I am 30 years old. I work as a Home Support Worker in the Comox Valley, Canada.

On October 9, 2000 I had a work accident and herniated two discs in my back. I was in severe pain, and my body became very distorted. My left hip was way over to the left and the top of my body was leaning over to the right by at least 30%. When I walked, my right leg took all my weight, and my left big toe would just touch the ground. X-rays showed my spine was very curved.

I tried massage therapy, both traditional and accupressure. I also tried yoga, physiotherapy, chiropractic, accupuncture and excersises from a book on back health. I read everything I could.

Everyone told me I needed to straighten up, as it was not good for my body to be in this posture. No amount of painkillers could help with the pain of even sitting up straight for a few seconds. I got very depressed.

Then my daughter's grandmother suggested a good friend of hers, who does [Hanna] Somatics. I was very sceptical, having spent a lot of money on different therapies. She was persistant, and has good judgement. So I tried it.

Within a few sessions I noticed incredible improvements. My muscles were not contracting continuously. Stiffness disappeared, and I began to straighten up. After 4 sessions I am walking straight. I do my excersises once or twice a day. The amount of medication I now take has decreased dramatically. After each session I have been making miraculous improvements. I still have a little ways to go, but am so happy to walk straight and have my mobility back!"
   

Testimonials

Wayne Nash's treatment came at a critical time. I was working through a pinched nerve in the neck. That doesn't sound like much unless you have had one. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, in excruciating agony, moaning and groaning and writhing in bed at the pain. It was that bad. I am not one who takes pain killers, but had to for this one.

Chiropractic and all the meditation and new age "stuff" I tried was marginal at best.

Wayne's treatment and the protocol he gave me to undertake daily, gave me relief, ongoing improvement and a hopeful path for the future.

That is to say, I felt that the combination of treatment and my daily routine was actually releasing the deeply held tensions that caused the pinched nerve in the first place.

Now, when I do my daily Somatic Qigong, I get a release in the spine in about three to four of the exercises...and it feels somewhat like a chiropractic adjustment...without the chiropractor.

I recommend Wayne for anyone not getting the relief from pains they are after.

Matti Anttila, Business Consultant, Victoria, BC, Canada

In September of 2007, while on vacation in the Okanagan, I developed a severe pain in my neck that telescoped down my left arm all the way to my fingers. Thinking that I may be having a heart attack I went to emergency at a hospital in Oliver. After a number of tests it was determined that I was not having a heart attack, but the pain had something to do with my neck or shoulder. The only medication that I took at this time was Tylenol 3. After getting back to Victoria I immediately went to my physician and it was determined that I had a pinched nerve in my neck. My physician referred me to a specialist and had me go to Physiotherapy. He also prescribed for me a pain killer called GABAPENTIN. After taking a few of those I had to discontinue using them due to a hyper reaction I got from using them. After twelve sessions of physiotherapy, some of the pain was reduced, but not enough to allow me a good nights rest. At that point I received an appointment to see the specialist. He examined me and prescribed a pain killer called PREGABALIN, more commonly known as LYRICA. These seemed to help somewhat. He also referred me to another doctor. I finally got an appointment to see him early in January 2008, he recommended I get an injection of a steroid with an anti inflammatory. This did not give me great comfort to be injected with a steroid. As well the waiting period to receive this injection could be up to four or six months. This also did not give me great comfort to have to be suffering with the pain for that length of time.

Mid January a relative of mine suggested that I might see Wayne Nash, and that he might be able to help me. I made an appointment to see him and to see if he might be able to help me. Wayne teaches something called ACUSOMATICS, which is HANNA SOMATIC EDUCATION. Wayne is a certified practitioner in HSE. After discussing my situation with Wayne, he determined that he would be able to help me, but he also suggested that I see a Chiropractor. It was his professional opinion that the reason I have the pinched nerve is due to my poor posture and that a chiropractic adjustment might be in order. He recommended Dr. Bradley Gage at Back Fit. I took him up on his suggestion and made an appointment with Dr. Gage. After taking some X rays at Back Fit I found that I was very hunched over and getting worse.

After two one and a half hour sessions with Wayne Nash and one adjustment session with Dr. Gage, the pain was reduced to the point that no longer needed to use any painkillers. After five one and a half hour sessions with Wayne Nash and twelve adjustment session with Dr Gage, I am happy to say that the pain has gone away completely and the only thing I still occasionally feel a mild tingle in my arm.

At the present time I am 64 years old and during my younger years I stood 6 feet 2 inches tall. At the time the X Rays were taken my height was 5 feet 11 ½ inches tall. After twelve sessions with Dr Gage and the five session with Wayne Nash I am now 6 feet 1 ½ inches tall. A recovery of 2 inches. With continued treatments at Back Fit and HSE, I have the possibility of recovering my total height and have no more tingles in my arm.

I would like to thank both Wayne Nash and Dr Gage for getting me pain free and off all painkillers and helping me to live a normal and enjoyable life within a reasonable length of time.