The Enneagram system shows us how personality and character structure are based in three centers, or three levels of experience mind, heart, and body. All aspects of our lives, including our relationships, our inner work, and our daily experience of ourselves reflect this holistic reality. However, in our modern culture (and often in our Enneagram community), the rational mind holds center stage – work with feelings and body awareness may be neglected. To affect change in our cellular structures it is necessary to engage with body-based work, so we can integrate the wonderful intellectual knowledge of the Enneagram.

In this workshop we will present an overview of a holistic approach to working with type and character structure, one that combines mindfulness with a somatic, or body-based approach to healing and relationship. We’ll briefly talk about the particular challenges faced by the nine personality types in the areas of body armor, resistance to feelings, and breathing patterns, and how we can renegotiate the relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us. We’ll lead some simple exercises that support awareness and presence in the body. The workshop will be 50/50 presentation/experiential work.

Peter O’Hanrahan is a leading teacher of the Enneagram with a focus on Subtypes and Somatics. He has been practicing counseling and bodywork for 30 years, with extensive training in Reichian and Bioenergetic methods. He is currently the program director and an associate trainer for the Palmer/Daniels Enneagram Professional Training.

Marion Gilbert R.P.T. is the co-owner of Spring Hill Physical Therapy and Stillpoint Studios in Grass Valley CA. Marion has been a physical therapist for 29 years and has trained extensively in CranioSacral therapy, SomatoEmotional release and Trauma Resolution Therapy.

She is a Certified Enneagram teacher in the Narrative tradition, and has been using the Enneagram professionally and personally for the past 8 years. Her emphasis is on integrating her vast somatic experience as to facilitate personal transformation in the Enneagram Tradition . Through accessing the sub- and unconscious patterns in the somatic structure one can renegotiate and relax fixated and/or outdated responses in the three centers. This can aide the transformation process of each personality type and relax the character structure in its core organization.