What is somatics?

We subscribe to the definition promulgated by the Strozzi Institute:

Soma comes from the Greek word for “living organism in its wholeness” and is more than our mind, body, and spirit. Soma is the integrated embodiment of our entire being…

Somatics is a theory of change that places the body at the center of our evolutionary intelligence, adaptation, and learning. Somatics sees the body as inseparable from the whole self, and as a vehicle through which to accelerate growth.

Somatics in practice works through the body to engage our thinking, emotions, commitments, vision, and action to move towards our true self and highest desires.

Why somatics?

It's been estimated that less than 10% of the meaning we communicate is transmitted through words, with the remaining 90%+ transmitted through body language and tone.

Yet traditional executive education and coaching work focuses on that verbal (and cognitive) 10%, leaving body language and tone aside as peripheral, irrelevant, or necessarily a downstream effect of our thoughts and words. This cognitive focus is likely an artifact of Descarte's 17th century mind-body dualism philosophy that assumed the body has no intelligence of its own. The information age has reinforced this world view, along with the rise of knowledge workers who are recruited and rewarded for their intellectual prowess and problem-solving abilities. The upshot? In modern organizational life, our bodies hardly matter except as the vehicles that carry our brains around.

Yet a growing body of evidence suggests how wrong we've been to relegate our bodies to a supporting role of “brain transporter.”  Researchers now describe our heart and guts as independent ‘brains’ that send more signals to the cranial brain than receive them; Amy Cuddy conducted groundbreaking research on links between posture and feeling states; Bessel van der Kolk's work demonstrates how our bodies store traumatic memories in our tissues; Gabor Mate has vividly extended the conversation about links between emotional stress and bodily illness.  In short, western science is starting to catching up with the rich and diverse lineage of somatic study and practice that traces back to the early 1900’s and the work of Elsa Gindler and her proteges; Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of the Japanese martial art of Aikido; Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher and founder of Naropa University; the Lomi School founded by Dr. Richard Hall, Richard Strozzi-Heckler, Alyssa Hall, and Catherine Flaxman; and more.

All of the above point to the reality that we are complex, integrated beings and that our bodies busily store memories and autonomously enact responses to the world around us. Indeed, as Ariana Strozzi Mazzucchi says, our bodies are our first informants — and our first responders. We see our work as shifting the focus of learning from the 10% toward the 90%.

Is somatics credible? Where can I read more about it?

Along with the links above, check out the titles on our shelf and decide for yourself if there's a "there" there. We're persuaded there is, but if you don't think so, no sweat. We're probably not for you.

Why horses?

Horses are uniquely able to read our energetic and emotional state, and they provide immediate, non-judgmental feedback on how we are showing up in the moment. Because they respond to the whole person, and certainly not our titles, experience or polished speaking points, horses give us an extraordinary window into our somatic patterns, and insight into blind spots that may be holding us back.

Do I need horse experience?

Absolutely not. There is no riding involved, and we provide a safety briefing and ongoing guidance on how to safely interact with the horses.

How do somatic learning and working with horses make me a better leader?

Both modalities offer powerful ways to grow as a leader by cultivating presence, emotional regulation, trust, and adaptability. Through somatic practices, you become more attuned to your internal state—able to sense tension, shift patterns, and stay grounded. Horses reflect your energy and emotional state in real-time, teaching you the importance of staying centered and authentic under pressure. Both somatics and equine work sharpen nonverbal communication, with horses responding only to clear and congruent signals, making you more aware of subtle cues in others. They also highlight that respect and flexibility—not force—create better outcomes, as rigid or inauthentic behavior doesn’t resonate with a 1,200-pound animal. Ultimately, these embodied practices help you develop empathy, focus, and the ability to manage power dynamics with ease, leading to stronger relationships, deeper collaboration, and smarter decisions.