Scientists have discovered that the brain and nervous system are “plastic”--they change with new experiences. Rosen Method practitioners create the conditions that allow the client's nervous system to “rewire” itself. To nourish the growth of new neural pathways, humans need to sense safety and support from another. This is achieved by what scientists call “limbic resonance,” or what Rosen practitioners call “somatic resonance:” a sense of being known by an attuned other person.
Rosen Method's integrated way of using touch and talk together is unique among body/mind approaches in creating this attunement. We use a kind of gentle, receptive touch that helps us resonate with the client's internal state. We use reflective and evocative words that help the client become aware of their own felt experience. As a result, many neurobiological responses return the body to homeostasis—the state of balanced health.
The pace of modern life puts us under a constant state of stress. In addition, many people experience some form of threat or trauma, some for long periods. These conditions activate our sympathetic nervous systems, putting us in a constant “fight or flight” state. The health consequences are profound. Scientists have found that after periods of severe stress, people suffer from depression, anxiety, addictions, infections, decreased tissue repair, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, tumors, obesity and cardiovascular disease .
Our brains are actually damaged by prolonged stress. Connections between the fear center (amygdala) and the mood center (anterior cingulate cortex) increase; the amygdala is always “on”, easily triggering a sense of threat. Our ability to receive sensory messages, to think creatively toward a goal, to actually notice the present moment, and to regulate our own physical and emotional states all atrophy. We become creatures of habit who feel down and make the same mistakes over and over, in a world that looks constantly dangerous, because that's how our nervous systems have been wired. Without embodied self-awareness (the ability to sense ourselves and respond accordingly), we can't be healthy.
Our brains are wired for interpersonal connection. Developing children need to “attach” properly to a caregiver, and adults trying to heal similarly need this “limbic resonance.” The limbic system, often called the “emotional” brain, is involved in all brain functions such as sensory and motor control, digestions and respiration, and memory storage. Stress, trauma and isolation impair its proper functioning. The right kinds of experiences can reverse the damage.
Here's what happens physiologically under the conditions created in Rosen sessions:
