Hollyhock Presenters

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Our presenters are curated for their quality, depth, integrity, and alignment with our educational purpose. Since 1982, a distinguished faculty of authors, educators, activists, artists, performers, and practitioners have shared their work at our Cortes Island campus and in Vancouver.

People smiling at Activate 2023 Hollyhock Leadership Institute

Martha Peterson

Martha Peterson is a Certified Clinical Somatic Educator and leader in the field of Somatic Education. She is the author of the book Move Without Pain, and founder and CEO of Essential Somatics®. Martha heads a growing faculty of Clinical Somatic Educators who present Essential Somatics trainings, retreats, and seminars in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. She maintains a private clinical practice in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

Martha’s expertise comes from more than 30 years of working in the field of dance, bodywork, and somatic education. As a former professional dancer who suffered chronic hip and knee pain due to injuries, Martha understands the frustration and struggle many people experience trying to discern between the myriad different methods that claim to relieve or “fix” chronic pain. This is how she discovered Clinical Somatic Education (in the tradition of Thomas Hanna), the only method that taught her to reverse her pain and postural imbalances, regain physical control, and create a life of movement, choice, and joy.

essentialsomatics.com

Events with Martha Peterson

Essential Somatics: Free Your Movement!
September 11 - 16, 2024

If you have “tried everything” to relieve your chronic muscle or joint pain for the long term and have only experienced short term relief (or none at all), then this week-long training program is for you. Come and learn how to restore freedom of movement, resolve chronic muscle tension, so…