Arthur Munyer

“Neither a fixed abode nor a form that is thine alone nor any function peculiar to thyself have We given thee, Adam, to the end that according to thy longing and according to thy judgment thou mayest have and possess what abode, what form, what functions thou thyself shalt desire. The nature of all other beings is limited and constrained within the bounds of laws prescribed by Us. Thou, constrained by no limits, in accordance with thine own free will, in whose hand we have placed thee, shalt ordain for thyself the limits of thy nature. We have set thee at the world’s center that thou mayest from thence more easily observe whatever is in the world. We have made thee neither of heaven nor of earth, neither mortal nor immortal, so that with freedom of choice and with honor, as though the maker and molder of thyself, thou mayest fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer.”

Neural Somatic Integration®

What Is Neural Somatic Integration?

Neural Somatic Integration: is a breakthrough approach to mind-body awareness that combines bodywork with the latest understandings of human neurobiology, especially the activation of the Social Engagement System as described in the work of Dr. Steven W. Porges. NSI goes beyond traditional bodywork approaches to address the underlying neural networks that are responsible for the symptoms associated with trauma and emotional distress. Through intuitive, instinctual touch and observation that allows the body-worker to “tune in” to the neural signals of the client, NSI bypasses symptomatic manifestations of trauma and works directly with the body’s own wisdom to rewire neural networks . Release of stored trauma, postural changes, diminished or eliminated pain, increased flexibility, a new interpersonal openness and socially engaged connections are immediate results of this work.

The body's intricate and pervasive system of neural networks provides a direct link between emotional states, mental images and stories, and physical sensations and symptoms. Where there is stored physical, spiritual, emotional or mental challenges that are corresponding physical indicators, which, if properly addressed, will lead the client into self---awareness, and neural reprogramming. The result, neural somatic integration, is the equivalent of removing arterial blockages or relieving pinched nerves. Energy is released; muscle tension and pain eliminated; mental and emotional distress diminished without lengthy talk or physical therapy.

After 45 years of hands-on body-work, training and certification in numerous body-work and feeling release disciplines (See Resume), I have reached the conclusion that the “safe” contact of a sensitive practitioner’s hands with a client’s body is the key to identifying the underlying sources of physical and feeling distress and the quickest and surest path to restoring. Drawing on the body’s own wisdom for health and well being has been part of ancient and traditional restoring modalities since the beginning of recorded time and is a cornerstone of some modern practices. Recent discoveries, however, of brain/body structures and observations of animals in their natural habitats have led to a more complete and “scientific” understanding of how the body responds to trauma and how it can, if properly enabled, can heal itself.

Drawing on the body's own wisdom for health and self-healing has been part of ancient and traditional self-healing modalities since the beginning of recorded time and is a cornerstone of some modern practices. Recent discoveries, however, of brain/body structures and observations of animals in their natural habitats have led to a more complete and "scientific" understanding of how the body responds to trauma and how it can, if properly enabled, can heal itself.

Peter Levine’s observations of animal in the wild, for example, have revealed that the body has a “natural” way of dealing with trauma that leaves the victim without lasting symptoms and dysfunctions. However, in humans the “unnatural” conditions we live in and the cultural programming we have experienced have alienated us from our own natural restoring processes and self---regulating mechanisms. Neural Somatic Integration leads us back to the restoring processes that nature has stored within our bodies. Once we have learned to access this inner wisdom, we are capable of self---regulation and self---restoring.

How does it Work?

NSI is surprisingly simple, it does not require complex electronic, bio--- feedback devices or invasive deep bodywork manipulations and lengthy talk therapies. We can trust the body, when offered the opportunity, to reveal its needs and find its healing. The job of the practitioner is to offer sensitive attention and presence, along with touch that takes its cues from the client's own physical and verbal responses. There is no "agenda" to the touch offered in NSI. No regimen of manipulation and preprogrammed stroking. The practitioner's hands "ask" permission of the client's body to find those areas where trauma has created blockages or constriction. Once located, the simple presence of the practitioner's hands communicate support in ways that were absent at the time of the original trauma.

The body's response to this presence is relaxation of tension and release of defensive postures. Images, thoughts, and sensations may arise in the course of a NSI session. The client is invited to share these with the practitioner. They are then treated as "clues" and reference points by the practitioner as he continues to provide healing touch and presence. Historical or imagistic content is not the subject of analysis. If stories "bubble up" they are allowed the opportunity for expression, but not treated as material for analysis or used to determine "treatment." Frequent inner self---assessment and real---time physical responses are the neural material the practitioner works with to guide the client's body into healing and self---regulation. Music and movement are frequently used in sessions to facilitate behavioral understanding and aid the process of neural somatic integration®

A traumatic experience shocks our entire body. The way we think, learn, remember things, the way we think about ourselves, the way we think/feel about other people, and the way we make sense of the world are all deeply shaped and altered by the traumatic experiences, which is why it is so important that trauma and the resulting emotions are dealt with and that a person of trauma is helped to release the experience. If trauma is not released the powerful images, feelings, and sensations do not just ‘go away’ instead they are deeply imprinted and are stored in the body’s cellular memory. The following illustration is a map how emotions are stored in the body. (Bodily maps of emotions by Lauri Nummenmaa, Enrico Glerean, Riitta Hari, and Jari K. Hietanen) The active memories of the trauma remains ‘locked’ in the system causing blockages until a ‘trigger’ occurs. When a trigger that allows the person to access the trauma presents itself in the client, the real cause of the original trauma is not recognised and is instead transferred to the Trigger, for example if a therapist treats a client who is storing trauma in his/her body and acts as the trigger for releasing this trauma the client will assign the blame for the trauma to the therapist who has helped them access the trauma.

Neural Somatic Integration® NSI is about Love. “love as a way of being with each other in the world.” Love arises only in conditions of safety and expressing our feelings truthfully. Neural Somatic Integration® is about discovering “Safety” in our bodies. We need this safety in order to connect and interact with one another in loving feeling ways in spite of personal trauma and environmental negativity. NSI® is about finding the safety within ourselves that we need to heal and to support others’ healing rather than living in states of freeze, defense, loneliness and isolation.