Somatic Learning and Spirituality
Everyone can name times when the body communicates to us, whether it be a panic attack brought on by stress, a "gut" reaction to a racist comment, an upset stomach as we contemplate complaining to a teacher or boss, or being drained and exhausted from an intense encounter. So why have we tended to ignore the body as a site for learning? The main reason seems to be the Western privileging of mind over body. The focus of learning and education is "a change in a mental state, from one of ignorance, to one of knowledge..." (Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007, p. 190)
Review this week's readings, specifically the text's description of embodied or somatic learning on page 190 and the article "Learning Through the Body" by Tammy J. Freiler. Also review the ideas presented in this week's video by Dr. Keen.
Post a response to two of the following questions:
What do you think is the value of somatic learning? To what extent do somatic learning experiences influence adult learning?
Have you experienced spiritual knowing? Have you felt this kind of knowing somatically? What were the circumstances? How did it feel? What did you learn or know as a result?
What role do you believe spirituality play should or could play in supporting adult learners? Do you believe that spirituality should be encouraged in adult education settings? Explain.
Be specific and provide concrete examples. Substantiate your thinking by citing from this week's Learning Resources. Your posts and responses should be constructive and professional.