You enjoy the podcast? Then you don't want to miss this gem packed summit > Register for The Embodied Educator Summit 2025 < starting April 28th
#43 Big Lessons from the Little Little's
The Power of Somatic Learning. With Cacky Mellor & Emmanuela Feliciano Carrascal
Liz Wientjes
2/26/20254 min read
These somatic soulsisters change the game in education
with the power of Somatic
Learning from the Little Little's to HE & Lifelong learners!
" In small ways or in really big ways, someone's experience changes in the classroom with how they're engaging with themselves and also with the material " (Emmanuela)
" I can be responsible for how I show up and the integrity and the intention that I bring. But intention doesn't always equate effect, and that can be really frustrating as an educator" (Cacky)
These two Somatic Soul Sisters are Changing the Game of Education: Dr. Cacky Mellor & Emmanuela Feliciano Carrascal. By Teaching Embodied Beginnings from the Little Little ones to Lifelong Learners!
Like Cacky says “It's your birthright to fully inhabit your body."
Oh yes! We all deserve #EmbodiedBeginnings; small or big.
It’s such a feast to see how these two amazing educators bring the Science of Soma Alive in their classroom, drawing from lots of lineages. In this conversation we explore the Power of #SomaticExperiencing in the Learning Space.
I have to be honest, writing this article took me forever because I was blown away by this GEMpacked interview. My embodied ego wants to bath you in all the goodies. SO it’s best to come and listen/watch for yourself ofcourse. But let me start with this ‘formula’, which Dr. Cacky talks about in relation to #SomaticPedagogy. “Language long forgotten! But the body knows”
Informational learning + relational learning = transformational learning
Learning is more impactful if we create a container for the collective to learn next to the individual. That makes us educators #SPACEHOLDERS before anything else of knowledge comes into the room / space. And this is so beautifully aligned with all the Nervous System Research initiated by the work of Peter Levine and Stephan Porges.
“Relation Before Content”
Cacky and Emmanuela share the importance and how they Build this collective Container for Learning and exploration, providing us context and guidance for:
Orientation to Self, Other & the World
Co-Regulation as a Collective Practice
Embodied Markers for Responsibility and #Autonomy
Embodied Integrity, Intention and Invitations
“Meeting resistance with resistance - make it an invitation with clear boundaries and we are all experts of our own bodies and lived experiences. Boundaries of the container actually help everyone to lean in the way they need at the moment, and actually empowering them to be curious and accountable for their presence.”
“When we are all allowing ourselves to be at the capacity that we can be together is really, really powerful before any sort of experience...”
'Informational + Relational = Transformational learning'
"It's your birthright to fully inhabit your body."
(Cacky Mellor)
Regarding being at capacity Cacky and Emmanuela bring in the super simple INVITATION of :
This ONE :P always amazes me by it's efficacy and simplicity. In both ways; less and more...
Well I am now starting to 'bath you will all these goodies' after all... I'll close off with a MUST
And that Emmanuela takes her Little Little ones on a beautiful journey From Grief to Growth. Where she gently and playfully guides children of different ages (Little Little ones around 3 year old till teens) in the process of grieving. She explains embodied tools to help the children:
Regulate
Co-regulate
Express emotions
Experience the group
Acces their Autonomy - also on an embodied level
Below you can get an impression of the GRIEF CREATURES, and the words the kids wrote to put inside the Creature, to hold their emotion(s) around the grief. And I can picture the embodied GRIEF CREATURES moment!
And come watch to learn about guidelines that empower and help set up a container for ownership of body, relating and learning - as children in the learning space!
1%
Grief Creatures
Impression of the Grief Creatures Emmanuela's Little Little's create to embody their emotions / stories / beliefs / pains around loss.
// RESOURCES
Books
Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine
In an Unspoken Voice by Peter Levine
Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection by Deb Dana
Radical Belonging by Lindo Bacon
Website
The Children’s Room: https://childrensroom.org/
Somatic Experiencing International: www.traumahealing.org
Trauma Solutions - Dr. Diane Poole Heller: www.traumasolutions.com
International Somatic Movement Therapist & Educator Association: www.ISMETA.org
Centre of Holding Space - Heather Plett on Highjacking Space: https://heatherplett.com/2016/07/whats-opposite-holding-space/
Breathing Resources for working with children:
Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard PsyD, Daniel Rechtschaffen MA and Holly Clifton-Brown
Breathe like a Bear by Kira Willey and Anni Betts
The Breathing Deck by The Calm Classroom
Mindful Kids: 50 Mindfulness Activities for Kindness, Focus and Calm by Whitney Stewart and Mina Braun