I have been doing somatic exercise for 9 months and I have this DVD. It is one of the very few somatic exercise DVDs available. The thing about somatic exercise is it is not about traditional strengthening and stretching. Somatic exercise is brain training. It is training your brain to consciously feel/connect with all muscles in your body to learn to feel and relax them. The problem with following an instructor on DVD doing somatic exercises is that your brain cannot as efficiently connect and sense internal sensations in the body while consciously imitating movements of an instructor. Also when doing somatic exercise there should be no time limit on each exercise. For these reasons this DVD should be used as a learning tool rather than a "follow along" workout. Learn all the exercises then find a quiet room and do the routine on your own at your own pace. Some exercises will "speak" to you more than others and you may want to spend more time with them. Then these exercises will be more effective. I also want to point out that somatic exercise is cumulative. Just like other forms of exercises the more you do it the better you get. Do somatic exercises daily and in time you will start feeling muscles you may haven't felt in years. You will find yourself having better range of motion in these exercises and in your waking/moving life. Also your posture will improve dramatically and you will be more efficient in all other forms of exercise (weight training, running, yoga, etc.). It is "feel good" exercise that I liken to getting a massage and a chiropractic adjustment. At the end of Yummy Yoga Christa recommends Thomas Hanna's book "Reawakening the Mind's Control of Movement, Flexibility and Health". This book is a priceless addition to this DVD and teaches you everything about somatic exercise. The famous somatic "Cat Stretch" workout in the back of the book can be done in 5 minutes. Many of the book exercises are in this DVD.

Instructor Comments:
Thank you so much Christa for a wonderful DVD on somatic exercise.

Mandy AKA username F