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Okay, now that was fun! Introduction to #somatics for 30 of #Xavier University's Special Education Faculty members.Kathy & I rocked...

14 Aug
Kathy Krebs and I rocked teaching Bouncing on Heels and Crossed Arms from Bones for Life and a Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lesson on rotation in standing. The follow-up sharing, awareness, and interest was fantastic. What a great group of teachers, Dr. Sharon Merrill has in her program. It was so easy to pull forward principles of somatic education based on comments. There were some great questions on classroom application and if I do say so myself, some great ideas (given we had only a few minutes for that part).  The hunger in the room for more was almost palpable.  Thank you Xavier Special Ed!  Thank you Kathy Krebs!  Thank you Sharon Merrill!

In May of 2011, three of us will be co-teaching a 20 classroom hrs workshop in Xavier's summer program.  All this action is an outgrowth of a small interdisciplinary think group that formed almost a year ago to ask the question, "How can somatics be mainstreamed into the classroom?" 

Currently engaging in this Cincinnati based-discussion (and now action) group besides myself are Donna Lilley, Physical Therapist and Feldenkrais practitioner; Kathy Krebs, Occupational Therapist (and future Bones for Life Teacher), Sharon Merrill, Director of Xavier's Special Education Programs, Eileen Frechette a teacher/therapeutic educator with a great background in all kinds of things including Waldorf's way of teaching, and Jane Patty an early intervention childhood specialist.

This is not taking Feldenkrais practitioners or Bones for Life teachers into schools.  Nor is it turning teachers into somatic educators but instead examining ways to give teachers rich, deep learning experiences so they might embody the principles of somatic education with ease throughout the learning experience. What is so incredibly exciting about this is we have what we believe is an unprecedented opportunity to put somatics into three basic courses required for all new teachers, such as Human Growth and Development, as well as courses required for recertification. 

If anyone else out there has had the chance to do this and has some experiences to share, we would love to hear from you!

Rarely does a top-down opportunity like this arise.  And in the case of classrooms, it is so important that there is support throughout the school system for teachers to have what they need to make such a substantial leap in creating an organic learning environment. Classrooms have become pressure cookers for teachers as funds decrease, students are continually changing in and out due to open enrollment/charter school fallout or our increasingly mobile society, and standardized testing requirements.

We are imagining a future for making the teaching and learning experience easier, increasingly enjoyable, and with better outcomes for all.  Are you interesting that sharing that dream?

We highly value discussion, ideas and enthusiasm...we will also gratefully accept donations to fund this project. 

One of the goals of Integrative Learning Center is to bring together disciplines for creative thinking and new answers to old or emerging challenges.  If the program development were not new, if we weren't team teaching, funding would not be so important.  But this is new and time intensive. Out of sheer practicality, there is a limit to how many hours can be handled on a volunteer basis. The better the funding, the bigger chance we have of rolling out a program over the next three-five years that will sustain itself and become a model or jumping off point for other universities.
submitted by Cynthia Allen

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Bones for Life Classes Improve Function and Balance in Community-Dwelling Adults

6 Apr

By C. A. Montgomery, MSPT, GCFP, BFLT/T;
C. M. Allen, GCFP, BFLT/T;
S. D. Farber, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, BFLT

Initially this study was designed by Allen/Montgomery with consultation by Farber in the area of data analysis and manuscript review. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Bones for Life® as a method to facilitate improved functional status in a group of community-dwelling elderly adults at the City of Cincinnati Dunham Recreational Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Participants were randomly divided into two groups in which Group One received baseline testing followed by a 6-week Bones for Life course, and post-testing. Group Two received baseline testing followed by 6 weeks of routine activity, a second round of baseline testing to control for the passage of time, a 6-week of Bones for Life course and then post-testing. Quantitative measures were used to assess differences in participant’s functional status (Timed Up and Go, Standing On One Foot, 360 Degree Turn, 20-Second Step Count). Qualitative measures of perceived change in Balance, Posture, Pain/Comfort, Awareness, Function, and Emotion(1) were assessed.

The study is in the final stages of statistical analysis of quantitative data and initial stage of manuscript preparation for publication. Analysis of the raw qualitative data suggest a 68.2% improvement in Function, 50.0% improvement in Balance, 40.9% improvement in Posture and 31.8% in pain reduction.

Target date for Journal submission is June 2010.

(1) These terms are based on how subjects defined their experience during the study and/or were derived/modified from definitions.net and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Awareness: The kinesthetic knowing about one’s self and one’s relationship to the environment.

Balance: The dynamic state or condition where all regions of the body are functionally aligned so that the center of gravity is over the base of support and the body is able to adapt to the changing conditions of the environment. There is equilibrium among the parts.

Function: Improved performance or a newfound capacity to perform an activity for a specific purpose.

Pain/Comfort Continuum: The self reported description of bodily sensation ranging from acute or chronic distress to comfort/ease.

Posture: The arrangement of the body and limbs in relationship to gravity.

For future upcoming classes please check out the following link:
 http://www.futurelifenow.com/class-schedule.htm

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