Somatic Yoga - Caring for Arthritis.

This is a short insight into my own journey with arthritis.

Those who know me, know that I have had two hip replacements. The first in 2013 at 51 years and the second at 59 years. Young enough. Perhaps initiated by menopausal arthralgia and I believe exacerbated by the trauma I held in my hips and pelvis due to many, many years of domestic abuse.

Having developed painful arthritis in my hip I was looking for ways to loosen my hip joint and release tension and stiffness, while maintaining strength and mobility.

Firstly, in about 2009 I became aware of a new approach to anatomy called Fascial Release. I became very interested in it as I realised the fascia is what I needed to work with, to move with ease, to loosen and hydrate.

I began to discover more about Fascia and the contemporary Trauma Informed literature, revealed how we hold trauma in our fascia, we hold our issues in our tissues. Like velcro.

During 2014 and 2015 I did some amazing Advanced Teacher Trainings with Lisa Peterson in Dublin.I first met Lisa in 2006 at Santosha Studio in Lisburn and then attended her workshops a few times there. Her practice and lineage from the School of Body - Mind Centring resonated with me. She introduced me to Hanna Somatics and had some wonderful Teachers on her modules.

Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen who set up The School of Body-Mind Centring in 1973 also contributed to my knowledge of anatomy and the developmental patterns of movement that we are all born with, and use instinctively, as babies and toddlers. However, unfortunately as we get older, we develop bad habitual patterns of movement instead. The good news is that we can remind our muscles again, of the blue print, on how to move, that we were born with. I studied with Bonnie during covid, she is very inspiring.

I had been following Peter Appel for a few years on social media. He developed his own style of Teacher Trainings, which deeply resonated with what I knew and how my body felt it needed to move. I joined up for his first Teacher Training course which is recgnised by ISMETA

( International Somatic Movement Education Therapy Association.) Since then I've completed training in Somatic Walking and Somatic Strength Training with Peter. Altogether these Somatic Trainings are very helpful for taking care of arthritis.

I have combined Somatics and Yoga in a way that helped me to get through those challenging years. I learned to feel joy in my body again.

Each class is a healing experience of movement supported by the breath and meditation. All combined for a 'healing experience', not a cure, but many 'healing experiences' create more ease in the body, making for a different body experience.

Arthritis is not 'the end' of your movement. With regular practice you can discover a new way of moving that will be pleasant and more easeful. There are many wonderful ideas to learn when we are Caring for Arthritis.

Come and find out more, at one of the two FREE TASTER SESSIONS, I'm offering at:

The Parish Centre in Newcastle on Thursday 15th October 2026:

10.30 - 11.30 am

7.00 - 8.00 pm

Space is limited so please let me know if you are interested via email: janet@beyondmindfulnessni.com

OR WhatsApp me.