What is Hakomi Mindfulness-Based Somatic Coaching?

I've been asked to explain Hakomi Mindfulness-based Somatic Coaching, a modality that deeply resonated with me because of its principles, tools, and core values. Hakomi is built on five key principles, plus the essential element of Loving Presence:

1. Mindfulness

2. Unity

3. Nonviolence

4. Body-Mind Holism

5. Organicity

Unity: This principle recognizes that we're all in this together. As a coach, I facilitate a dialogue between different parts of my client's Self, honoring our interconnectedness.

Organicity: I love how this principle acknowledges that all our parts are connected and communicate within the whole. It encourages us to trust the natural unfolding process rather than pushing for outcomes when it's not the right time.

Body-Mind Holism: This principle really resonates with me. It recognizes that our body reflects our mental and emotional life. In sessions, we explore these body-mind connections, tuning into the sensing and feeling realms of present experience. Through my bodywork practice, I've witnessed firsthand how profoundly the body can mirror our life story.

Mindfulness: Ron Kurtz, who developed Hakomi, beautifully said, "Real change comes about through awareness, not effort," and "to truly listen, you have to turn up the silence." I love how mindfulness invites us to slow down and be fully present. In this space of curiosity and non-judgment, we can engage with our experiences without getting tangled in our stories. This mindful state helps relax the nervous system, opening up space for insights and new ways to respond to life's challenges.

Nonviolence: This principle is all about making friends with our resistance rather than fighting it. We support those defensive parts and become allies with what naturally wants to happen, rather than judging or trying to force change.

Loving Presence: In my experience, loving presence is one of the most powerful catalysts for transformation. It's amazing how powerful shifts can occur when someone is deeply present and accepting of all that we are. As Hakomi practitioners, we support clients in cultivating this gentle, loving presence towards their challenges, creating possibilities for healing and breakthroughs. There's this beautiful understanding that when we feel love and acceptance for all our parts, our body, mind, and spirit can trust more, which allows for deep healing.

In my personal journey with this training, I found myself slowing way down in all aspects of my life. The tools I learned gave me more space and acceptance for all my parts, without judgment. This slowing down had a huge impact on my digestion and helped regulate my nervous system in profound ways.

For years, I felt like my gut was holding onto stress. I tried every cleanse, diet, and meditation to address it, and while they all helped, I sensed there was something deeper I hadn't yet touched. Over the past few months, using somatic tools and working with an Ayurvedic practitioner, I've been uncovering and changing an old, deep pattern of how I hold stress in my gut.

You might relate to how slowing down daily can seem conceptually doable, but when there's a deep pattern housed in the nervous system, it takes more than just telling yourself to slow down. It requires breaking those ingrained patterns and understanding how they serve us.

For instance, I discovered that underneath my resistance to slowing down was fear - a fear of survival. A part of me believed that if I slowed down, I could die. This was a profound awareness. Now, I can consistently bring my attention to that part of me, holding it with love and compassion so that I can take care of myself much more effectively. It's been a game-changer in my personal growth and in my practice as a Hakomi coach.

If you are interested in learning more, let me know and we can explore the possibility of how we can work together.