Eco-somatics

Eco-somatics is a term used by movement artist and dance movement therapist Sandra Reeve in her Move Into Life work. It describes an ecological approach to the body-mind in movement and starts always from movement rather than from a static view.

Eco-somatics encourages the development of embodiment, creativity and awareness in each person's own movement vocabulary. It is careful to make no distinction between movement in terms of personal development, performance training and therapeutic skill. The training in eco-somatics ensures that life, health and creativity remain intrinsically interwoven.

Working with eco-somatics, people are often able to clarify their intention and go on to develop their movement practice from a particular angle, aesthetic or from a professional need - be it for their own personal development, as a performer or as a dance therapy, drama therapy or psychotherapy practitioner. Many people move between prioritising personal, artistic and professional applications of their movement practice at different times.

Eco-somatics is a dynamic approach to the art of movement. Practitioners move from the appearance of certainty towards the unknown and then back again in a constant dialogue with their changing selves, with changing others and, crucially, with their environment.