Body, Spirit, and Democracy

Dr. Johnson writes that academic, formal, public languages are not conducive to writing about the fleshy territories where he has conducted his expeditions. These expeditions lead us into the realm of the body in an attempt to listen to the stories it has to tell. His own story began at age four when he began having chronic back problems. This early stigma was one of the key events that led him to studying gesture, movement, and posture. His Roman Catholic upbringing encouraged domination of the body to elevate the spirit. His curiosity as to why the two had to be separated led him to the study and practice of Somatics. This book is a chronicle of his journey to reconnect body and spirit. It also gives an interesting look at some of the practitioners who are the roots of the Somatics movement. Unlike some books that address the issues of moving intelligence and embodiment, this one is not heavy-handed in either scientific or religious language and metaphors. Dr. Johnson writes with an honesty that reminds us that this is a personal accounting, not a sales-hype for a lifestyle adjustment. He mixes poetry, reverie, and scholary text into a story that is a pleasure to read. I think that it would appeal to anyone who is interested in the study of language, movement, and the psychology of the body. I also recommend it to educators who need encouragement in their struggles to keep "movement" alive in our school systems for it validates movement as a learning style. Although well footnoted, I would have liked to have a reference section included so that the works cited could be easier to access.