Queering the Male Somatic: Movement Workshop

Traditional masculinity often enforces binary expressions that reward dominance, emotional restraint, and physical strength while penalizing vulnerability, tenderness, and fluidity. These rigid norms impact everyone, but particularly queer men who may not conform to or wish to perform these expectations. These expectations can create tension and frustration that become stored in the body, manifesting as rigid tension, blocked movement patterns, and distorted posture.

This workshop aims to gently release tension, cultivate awareness through vulnerability, and experience the body holistically—thereby subverting typical representations of masculinity. Through rhythmic movements and mindful touch, we'll create space to reconnect with our bodies. We'll use visualization and body scanning techniques to foster deeper awareness in this personal, meditative exploration. This slow, deliberate practice suspends time, allowing us to focus entirely on sensation and authentic movement.

Definition 

Somatic refers to practices and approaches that focus on the body as experienced from within. In this workshop context, somatic practices involve developing awareness of bodily sensations, movement patterns, and physical responses. It's about reconnecting with the body's innate wisdom and exploring how societal conditioning becomes physically embodied.

Queering in this context refers to the process of challenging and subverting traditional norms and expectations, particularly around gender and sexuality. The workshop specifically examines how to disrupt rigid masculine norms that "enforce binary expressions that reward dominance, emotional restraint, and physical strength while penalizing vulnerability, tenderness, and fluidity". Queering involves creating space for more authentic and fluid expressions beyond conventional gender expectations.

Together, "Queering the Male Somatic" represents an approach to embodied exploration that questions and transforms traditional masculine conditioning that has become physically internalized, aiming to create more authentic ways of inhabiting one's body.