Soma – An Anarchist Experiment Two Workshops in the Bay Area

Soma is a series of sessions/experiences using body games to create a group dynamic, inspired by principles of self-organisation and solidarity. When Roberto Freire created ‘Soma – an anarchist therapy’ in Brazil, more than thirty years ago, he was looking for therapeutic methodologies that could help people emotionally who were fighting against the military dictatorship. Changing therapy into experiment, we have turned the Soma (which means ‘totality of being’ in Greek) approach away from an emphasis on neurosis (we have something wrong) towards the gaining of skills (we can learn something new).

This approach breaks with the traditional rational way to develop skills, where the mind is split from the body, the individual removed from its surroundings. Soma games are proposals to play in a group – sharing experiences of collaboration, trust and responsibility. It’s this group dynamic created by Soma games that stimulate the whole being to engage with the world. After the games, the participants will process their experience, talking about their perceptions and behavior playing together.

The body is the material to work with: movement, perception and contact with each other to dare to be creative in everyday life. Play is a way to rediscover the body, just as collaboration helps to rediscover relationships.

Traditionally, the series of Soma sessions extends over a year’s time, and involves the martial art, Capoeira Angola. These two workshops will be an introduction to the process and kinds of games used in a Soma group. They will be led by Arthur Swindells, who has been involved with Soma activities in London for three years, with Jorge Goia.

FIRST WORKSHOP: at the Suigetsukan Dojo, 103 International Blvd, right by Lake Merrit in Oakland. 7PM-10PM, Sunday, Jan. 27

SECOND WORKSHOP: at Station 40, 3030b 16th st. (at Mission) in SF. 7PM-10PM, Tuesday, Jan. 29

Suggested Donation: $3-$5. No one turned away for lack of funds.