The language of movement

[INTERVIEW] My guest today is Elisabeth Osgood-Campbell. Elisabeth is the executive director of ISMETA, the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association. She‘s also a long-term somatic movement practitioner and teacher.

In this interview, we’re exploring the language of movement. We’re also talking about ISMETA now and in the future. The discussion was held in Benicassim, Spain, during ISMETA’s first European conference in late September 2025.

Enjoy, Peter

Transcript

Peter:
So, Elisabeth, let’s start with a few words about you. Tell me about your story.

Elisabeth:
I was in my twenties, teaching adolescents as a social studies teacher — U.S. history, for example. But I always wanted to bring movement into learning. I felt that students learned better when they could integrate information through their bodies. I started introducing some unconventional movement-based activities in the classroom and realized I wanted movement to be at the center of my work, not just something on the side.
So, I looked for training programs that would allow me to do that and found the Tamalpa Institute in California, co-founded by Anna Halprin and her daughter Daria Halprin.

Peter:
So that’s where it started. How did it change your approach to teaching and to life overall?

Elisabeth:
I quickly learned that movement can be a primary, non-verbal language — one we’re always using, whether we realize it or not. I became more aware of how my movement affects others in conversation. Eventually, I changed careers. I left teaching adolescents and began working with adults who felt stuck in their lives — people who had tried talk therapy for years but still felt dissatisfied. I opened a private practice and also became a teacher at the Tamalpa Institute, working with adults both one-on-one and in studio classes.

Peter:
How would you describe the language of movement, and how does it affect others when you become aware of it?

Elisabeth:
It starts with awareness of my own body. When I’m more settled, conversations unfold differently than when I’m rushed or unsettled. I’ve explored ways to ground myself and invite others to do the same. Research and experience both show that calmer nervous systems support deeper learning.

Peter:
So when you’re grounded and settled, do you feel others pick up on that and begin to settle too?

Elisabeth:
Yes. Resmaa Menakem, a somatic experiencing teacher in the U.S., expresses it beautifully in his book My Grandmother’s Hands: “Settled nervous systems invite other nervous systems to settle.” People sense the quality of presence on a non-verbal level and respond to it. As human mammals, we’re constantly scanning our environment — asking, “Am I safe?” When we feel relatively safe, we function very differently than when we feel threatened.

Peter:
That’s powerful. But why do you think society is moving in the opposite direction — constantly triggering the nervous system with emotions, rage, and anxiety?

Elisabeth:
It’s a complex question. Some of it may be subconscious — unresolved conflict in people’s psyches and bodies. Our societies carry histories of violence, often without collective healing. The effects of events like World War II are still reverberating.
At the same time, some leaders may deliberately stir anger and division because it’s easier to control people who feel unsafe. When people are unsettled, they’re more likely to hand over their power to someone who promises safety.

Peter:
And of course, we have whole industries feeding on excitement and strong emotions.

Elisabeth:
Yes. And I want to be clear — some activation is necessary. We don’t want to be calm all the time. We need activation to take meaningful action, to do creative and purposeful work. The problem is imbalance — we’re flooded with stimulation. The key is appropriate doses of activation, directed toward what supports life and well-being.

Peter:
Exactly. And excitement can come through play — joyful, not fearful, play.
You’ve explored many somatic practices. Would you say there’s something that connects them all? Could you give a few examples?

Elisabeth:
Yes. At ISMETA — the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association — we see a common ground among all these approaches: the integration of body and mind. They all emphasize awareness of bodily sensations in ourselves and others. Movement and posture affect our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, as well as creativity.
For example, Ida Rolf’s Structural Integration (often called Rolfing) focuses on aligning the body through fascia manipulation — it’s functional and physical. In contrast, the Tamalpa Life/Art Process begins with the body but extends into storytelling, drawing, sound, poetry, improvisation, and performance. So, the body is the starting point, but each method applies that awareness differently.

Peter:
Somatics is still a small movement in the world. What are the biggest challenges in getting people engaged?

Elisabeth:
Somatics has long been countercultural — an alternative to the mainstream focus on speed, productivity, and intellect. That’s changing, especially in complementary healthcare, where there’s growing recognition that the body is more than a machine. The term somatics comes from the Greek soma, meaning “the living body,” coined by Thomas Hanna.
The challenge is that some people avoid their inner bodily experience because it can be painful. But ignoring the body often leads to limitations and even health problems. So, in an externally focused world, it can be hard to invite people inward.

Peter:
And do you think the language of somatics can sometimes sound a bit confusing or insular?

Elisabeth:
Absolutely. Sometimes we talk among ourselves in ways that don’t translate for those who haven’t experienced it yet. Simplifying and clarifying the language is essential to make the work more accessible.

Peter:
I’ve also felt that people who aren’t connected to their bodies can find somatics meaningless — they can’t feel what we’re describing. So finding safe, step-by-step ways to open people up to somatic experience feels important. It’s so empowering when it happens.
Now, this is the last day of ISMETA’s first European conference. You must be tired but also satisfied, right?

Elisabeth:
Yes — it’s been an amazing event. Over a hundred people came together to share their work and passion for the body. After months of planning, it was wonderful to see everyone bring it to life with expertise and goodwill. The theme, Cultivating Connections, feels especially meaningful in this time of polarization. Connecting with self, others, and the earth — that’s what sustains us.

Peter:
Beautiful. The body doesn’t have so many opinions — it’s easier to connect through it.

Elisabeth:
Yes, absolutely.

Peter:
As the executive director of ISMETA, how do you see the organization now and in five years?

Elisabeth:
We’re thrilled to be expanding in Europe. About 65–70% of our members are in the U.S., but interest is growing globally. People are already talking about future conferences — in Croatia, the U.K., and elsewhere.
As a nonprofit, our mission is to support somatic movement professionals — offering development, connection, and recognition. Our priorities include increasing professional visibility, public understanding, and collaboration across healthcare, education, and the arts.
Our mission is to grow the profession; our vision is to transform ourselves and the world through conscious movement. That vision will continue guiding our growth.

Peter:
Beautiful. Have you had any personal somatic experiences during the conference you’d like to share?

Elisabeth:
Yes, yesterday I joined a session inspired by Peter Levine’s somatic experiencing work — specifically the idea of titration. We identified one part of the body that felt resourced and another that felt challenged, then explored movement between them.
For me, my gut felt tight — I’d been holding a lot physically and emotionally — but my heart felt open and light. Through movement, those two areas began to dialogue. By the end, the spaciousness in my heart expanded into my gut and throughout my body. I felt lighter, almost like I was flying.

Peter:
Beautiful. Is there anything you’d like to add?

Elisabeth:
Yes — ISMETA exists to advocate for professionals, but we also want the work to be accessible to everyone. You don’t have to be a somatic movement practitioner to join. We have memberships for students and friends of ISMETA.
If you’re curious about the life of the body and how somatic practices might benefit you, we welcome you to join our public events — both online and in person. We have many resources on our website and are committed to gathering in person whenever possible.