Articles

Somatics has a long and intimate relationship with intuition. Wilhelm Reich, one of the first western somatic practitioners, diverged with Freud’s ‘talking cure’ in the 1930s when he spoke of the importance of the energy body and non-verbal communication as a foundation for transformative healing. The rituals and ceremonies of indigenous people refer to an intuitive body that plays an integral part in altered states of consciousness. In the ancient Sanskrit texts as well as in the writings of Japanese and Chinese sages there are countless references to an intuitive level of somatic knowing. Intuition is our birthright and we can access it through our soma. [Published December 2011 Choice Magazine The Magazine of Professional Coaching]

For the last 40 years, Strozzi Institute has trained leaders in business, education, military, non-profit, social change, and many other domains. What distinguishes SI’s work is a unique mind-body approach to developing a greater capacity for effective action. Some see this approach as cutting-edge; others as marginal at best. Despite a long history of positive results, the question “What does the body have to do with leadership?” remains bewildering to many.

In the mid-fifties an up and coming sportscaster named Howard Cosell interviewed Carl Furillo, the right fielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Cosell began the interview by describing Furillo in glowing terms as the master of the right field at Ebbets Field, the Dodger home stadium. The right field at Ebbets, with the odd angles of the outfield wall, was notorious for its difficulty to play. With obvious reverence for the older and well-known Furillo, Cosell asked, “This is such a difficult fence to play Carl. No one else can even come close to playing it as well as you can, how did you ever learn to do it?”