Rooted in ancient Dao and Buddhist beliefs, Hakomi is profound emotional healing. Using loving presence, conscious awareness and heartfelt nourishment, you feel deep peace, harmony and power. Hakomi is deep, personal work. This emotional healing method does not involve thinking or "figuring things out." We work below your mind and use the wisdom of your body to guide you. This is BE-ing in your body, in the present moment, and welcoming whatever may come. Hakomi is gentle and kind. There is nothing wrong with you. You are exactly where you need to be. This is a practice of deep listening to yourSelf, and others.
Hakomi is love. Hakomi operates under Five Tenets, the first being the most profound - Loving Presence. Loving Presence is the essence of a calm and happy mother when she looks down at her new little baby: complete and utter rapture and love for her little one. In Hakomi, Loving Presence is the foremost quality of a practitioner; when you feel it, you relax in safety and deep understanding. Healing begins. As a Hakomi practitioner, I see your whole being - all your depth and beauty, your pure essence. Hakomi is about looking in. When you slow down and pay attention to your Self, you may discover physical aches and pains beyond injury. Maybe a little knot in your stomach - maybe big one. Maybe a persistent stab in your back for which no masseuse can find muscle tension. Maybe you feel like your hands aren’t quite connected to your arms. Maybe your cheeks flush hot and your heart pounds in certain situations for no apparent reason. Often, such bodily reactions are accompanied or followed by profound emotions: sadness, anger, shame, confusion, and/or listlessness. You may try to ignore or compartmentalize these physical sensations and feelings. Don’t! They are trying to tell you something important; we can safely figure out what. Physical manifestations are the access points to deep healing, so come - just as you are. Feel your truth.
Who create this practice? The Hakomi Method of Mindfulness-Centered Somatic Psychotherapy was first created by the late internationally renowned therapist and author, Ron Kurtz. Hakomi is rooted in spiritual systems of Buddhism and Taoism and influenced by a wide net of modalities: body-centered therapies such as Gestalt, Reichian work, the Feldenkrais Method, Bioenergetics, Focusing, NLP and Ericksonian Hypnosis, and General Systems Theory. For details and readings on the method, please visit Hakomi Education Network. If you'd like to read great details about a Hakomi session, I offer an article from Hakomi founder, Ron Kurtz.
Where did the name "Hakomi" come from? The name of this practice came forward in such an usual and wonderful way: Back in 1980 when the founding members created the Institute, they were fretting to find a name. One of the members, Dave Winters, had a dream where Ron Kurt'z handed him a piece of paper with the word "HAKOMI" scribed onto it...(as told from Ron's book "Body Centered Psychology - the Hakomi Method," page i). Back then, Google wasn't a buddy, so they searched text and the definition that seemed to best fit the practice came from the Hopi language. Now that our world is more connected, several more definitions have come forward. Definition of "Hakomi" throughout the world:
"Who am I" or "Who am I in the many realms in which I stand" (Hopi)
"Irreverent laughter" (Chinese) aka --> don't take psychotherapy so seriously, have humor!
"This is my place" (Hebrew)
"One kind of love: family love" (Japanese)
I like to think that the definition of "Hakomi" is the intersection of all of these definitions that transcends cultural ties. With the practice roots in Eastern philosophy woven with the Western scientific approach; the practice's great essence is rooted in great love for our self and others. Read more on my FAQs page!
These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them. - Rumi