Tactile Anatomy Immersion: Get To Know Your Organs
Our organs play a crucial role in sustaining life and maintaining health, but how familiar are we with them? Can we truly perceive their presence within our bodies? For instance, the pancreas resembles a wet bag filled with overcooked oatmeal, while the heart functions more like a vortex than a traditional pump.
This immersive experience invites participants to join Bex Naj, Elena Lake, and Dr. Myles O’Donnell for a day dedicated to exploring the stories and sensations of our organs. Elena will introduce the concept of tactile sensing, helping participants discover their own tactile awareness. Dr. O’Donnell will discuss the locations, functions, and textures of various abdominal organs, sharing insights from their practice. Meanwhile, Bex will guide attendees through gentle movements, partnered touch, and group explorations that foster a deeper understanding of organ dynamics.
Throughout the session, participants may explore organs such as the lungs, heart, esophagus, stomach, blood, pancreas, liver, small intestine, large intestine, and kidneys. Using tactile and experiential methods, participants will engage with their own bodies, partners, and props—like cradling water balloons to simulate hydrostatic pressure and reenacting embryological patterns through group movements.
Participants will learn how organs can store mechanical tensions that may affect other areas of the body, such as the shoulders and neck. Dr. O’Donnell will demonstrate release techniques on audience volunteers, while Bex will facilitate partnered touch and dialogue, allowing for an experiential understanding of organs from the inside out. This exploration aims to enhance multi-dimensional self-awareness by considering the origins, structures, and interconnections of our organs.
Both Dr. O’Donnell and Elena are skilled bodyworkers specializing in visceral manipulation, a form of organ-focused bodywork that addresses the limitations of muscular-centric approaches. Bex, a Somatic Movement Educator, brings a wealth of knowledge in anatomy and embryology to her teaching, promoting body literacy and self-awareness.
About the Facilitators:
- Bex Naj is a lifelong dancer and mover, holding over 500 hours of yoga teacher training. With more than two decades of yoga practice and 15 years of teaching experience, Bex specializes in somatics and self-myofascial release. She is currently working towards becoming a Somatic Movement Therapist, drawing on her expertise in Body-Mind Centering® to enhance embodied experience and relational research through movement. Learn more at bexnaj.yoga.
- Dr. Myles O’Donnell, DC, is an Oakland-based somatic chiropractor with expertise in somatic trauma work, Bio-Geometric Integration, visceral manipulation, and osteopathic manual therapy. They focus on releasing trauma stored in the body’s tissues through gentle, precise touch, helping clients uncover their own healing potential. Learn more at somaconnectionchiro.com.
- Elena Lake combines her academic background in Math, Computer Science, and Physics from MIT with her passion for holistic healing. After a successful career as a machine learning engineer, she shifted her focus to the nervous system and tactile sensing, aiming to help individuals feel comfortable in their bodies. Learn more at elenalakebodywork.com.