Intro to Hanna Somatic Movement

Facilitator: Jess Osborne

Wednesday 8pm-9pm | February 4th to March 11th

Feeling chronically stressed, tense, or ‘stuck’? Somatic Movement centred in the polyvagal theory is a way to find a profound ease in movement to overcome chronically held tension patterns by engaging in a series of slow controlled movements.

You’ll be guided by Jess using specific exercises focused on internal sensation, designed to release unconsciously held muscle contractions often linked to stress and sensory motor amnesia (where the brain forgets how to relax muscles).

This group session utilises Hanna Somatic Movement as a gentle yet powerful way to help reset your nervous system. By re-establishing clear communication between your brain and body, this practice helps soothe the nervous system, dissolve habitual tension patterns, and restore a natural state of ease, calm, and greater body awareness.

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Return to Rest

Each week will focus on various exercises based on Thomas Hanna’s work and influenced by Bartenieff Fundamentals “Basic 6”. This will work to connect your body-mind awareness in a holistic process of moving away from trauma reflex and into recovery or ventral vagal states.

Week One:

Horizontal Plane Exercises – talks to the notion of the body communicating in the internal and external environment. Task centred and problem solving planes – the question governing this plane of movement is ‘What does the situation require?

Week Two: 

The Vertical Plane Exercises – is the axis of our being in the world, our relationship with gravity, and the embodiment of our personal history and potential. It’s the dimension of standing tall, sinking down, reaching up, and grounding ourselves.

Week Three:

Diaphragm & Brainstem Exercises – the diaphragm emerges as the somatic embodiment of life’s essential rhythm. It’s where Hanna’s quest for freedom from the neuromuscular reflexes of fear and stress meets Bartenieff’s principle of integrated support and motor connectivity.

Week Four:

The Saggital Plane Exercises – this fundamental connection along the sagittal axis is crucial for our sense of grounding and our ability to move with intention. It embodies the arc of experience, through conscious awareness and gentle pandiculation. That intelligent, full-bodied yawn of the muscles that speaks to the dimension of re-learning how to move freely.

Week Five:

Autonomous Nervous System – drawing from previous weeks knowledge we now begin to listen closer to body’s non-verbal language through interoceptive senses, coming into a cellular level body awareness.

Week Six:

Recognising our ventral vagal state, we open our experience proprioceptively to discover safety through connection to other. Building awareness of state shifting through our ancient brain.

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Recognising the subtle inner shape changes, slowly building muscles strength, resilience and the innate sense of your body’s neurological patterning.

Using the portal of breath, expanding out through the core, we return to ease and flow.

Investment:

$210 – General
$180 – Concession & Members

BOOK NOW

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Your Facilitator:

Jess Osborne

Jess Osborne (they/she) offers an integrative, body-based approach to healing that supports emotional regulation, embodied expression, and a deepened sense of connection to self and others. With a professional background in Creative Arts practices dating back to 1986, Jess has been offering adaptive bodywork sessions since 2019, working primarily within the realms of mental health and neurodiversity. In 2024, Jess began postgraduate studies in Somatic Dance Movement Therapy and is currently completing their clinical hours as a registered student member with the Dance Movement Therapy Association of Australasia (DTAA). Their evolving therapeutic approach draws from a rich tapestry of modalities including dance movement therapy (DMT), Hanna Somatics, polyvagal theory, adaptive bodywork, bioenergetics, art and sound therapy, spiritual guidance, and holistic health mentorship. Jess’s work is grounded in humanistic, trauma-informed values, honouring the wisdom of each individual’s body and story. As a genderfluid, queer person and a long-time practitioner of polyamory and relationship anarchy, Jess is passionate about creating spaces that are safe, inclusive, and affirming of all identities, bodies, and relationship structures.

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Cancellation & Refund Policy – Courses

We understand that plans can change. Our cancellation policy is designed to honour both your needs and the time and energy our teachers and team dedicate to each offering.

• More than 72 hours before the course starts:
  You’re welcome to receive a full credit to use toward any other service or product at Kundalini House, or request a refund back to your bank account.
  Please note: Refunds to your bank account will incur a small administration fee of 5% plus $5.

• Between 72 and 24 hours before the course starts:
  You may request a 50% refund or credit. The remaining portion helps cover the teacher’s preparation time and our administrative and marketing costs.

• Less than 24 hours before the course starts or if you don’t attend:
  We’re unable to offer a refund or credit unless there are exceptional circumstances (at our discretion). At this stage, the teacher and studio have committed resources and time based on your booking.

If you have any questions or extenuating circumstances, please reach out—we’re here to help where we can.