Specialties
Feldenkrais® Hands-on and Verbally Directed Sessions for Adults, Children, & Seniors. Through gentle yet precise, directive touch as well as verbal guidance, Sonja empowers you to form new ways of moving, feeling, and functioning with greater ease and enjoyment. People often come to Sonja seeking relief from aches and pains from acute or chronic injuries. Many come to learn how to move more efficiently, easily, and gracefully. This includes athletes, musicians, performing artists as well as persons with neurological conditions such as brain trauma, stroke, Cerebral Palsy, or Parkinson's. Some people come who are interested primarily in personal growth. Most everyone wants to learn how they can influence their actions, feelings, and responses to life's challenges. Sonja addresses all of these needs, desires, and interests.
History
Established in 1997.
Sonja is a Guild-certified Feldenkrais® Assistant Trainer and practitioner with a private practice in Berkeley since 1997. Since January 2022, Sonja is also seeing clients in Walnut Creek. Her practice is deeply informed by eighteen years of extensive individual and professional studies with the founder of Formative Psychology®, Stanley Keleman. Sonja holds a black belt in Aikido and a Master's in Dance. Her training in Aikido and modern dance have also significantly influenced her work.
Meet the Business Owner: Sonja S.
Sonja H. Sutherland is a Feldenkrais Guild-certified Assistant Trainer and practitioner® with 18 years of extensive studies in Formative Psychology®. Sonja maintains her private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area where she offers individualized hands-on sessions for adults, seniors, and children. Through gentle yet precise, directive touch combined with verbal guidance, Sonja helps people learn how to move with greater ease, awareness, and enjoyment. She also leads somatic workshops and retreats, empowering people to develop fuller, more satisfying ways of moving through their lives. In addition, for over 20 years Sonja has been developing and teaching Creative Learning Through Movement, a somatic approach to social-emotional learning for children.