Taught by Olive Bieringa

Our embodied embryology class series will explore the morphological adventure we all undertook to become who we are. The first 8 weeks after our conception is when our body forms its basic structure. In this period we form from an egg and sperm, transforming into a cluster of cells and a series of fluid spaces and become a highly differentiated human being. These fluid spaces and processes underlie our current structure and inform our current state of being.
Jan 31: Conception to implantation with toti-potency
Feb 3: Differentiation & formation of yolk sac & amniotic sac
Feb 7: Gastrulation with focus on notocord
Feb 10: Heart, blood & vessels
Feb 21: Folding with focus on gut tube & neural tube
Feb 24: Somites, spine & skull
Feb 28: Ectodermal ring & the senses
Mar 3: Limb buds & muscle
Mar 14: Kidneys & bladder
Mar 17: Pharyngeal arches & face
Mar 21: Gut tube, mid-abdominal organs & lungs
Mar 24: Reproductive organs
Mar 28: Nervous system
Mar 31: Endocrine system

Somatic practice is an integrated and embodied approach to movement, bodies and consciousness which can be practiced by anybody irregardless of age, ability, disability, or gender. Somatic practice invites a slowing down to feel. We learn to sense and initiate movement from anywhere inside of ourselves. Through practice we learn that somatics is not only about creating flexible mobile bodies, but flexible minds. This creates a very generative place for movement exploration and dance making.

This class is for movers, dancers, performers, yoga practitioners, bodyworkers, occupational and physical therapists, somatic psychotherapists, infant/child educators, and those from other body-mind disciplines interested in development, cellular consciousness, movement, and mindfulness.

Olive Bieringa is a certified Teacher of Body-Mind Centering®. She directs the Body-Mind Centering Somatic Movement Education certification in Melbourne, Australia as Program and Educational Directors of Somatic Education Australia. She is based in Oslo. Together with Otto Ramstad
she creates work as BodyCartography Project making performances, films, installations and workshops.

Body-Mind Centering® is a registered service mark of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen.