Felix Wittman is a nervous system practitioner and naturopath based in Bavaria, Germany. Working with the body’s innate intelligence, he helps people break free from chronic stress and trauma patterns.
Felix trained under Verena König — one of the most renowned trauma therapists in Germany – achieving accreditation as a Heilpraktiker (or non-medical healing practitioner) in Neuro-Systemic Integration. His trauma-sensitive coaching combines systemic coaching, polyvagal theory, ego-state-therapy (parts work) and hypnotherapy.
His ongoing work reveals the potential of what’s possible when the nervous system is restored to its natural balance.
This March, Felix joins us at An Tairseach for the first time to share his somatic work through a series of courses. Ahead of his visit, we spoke with him about his approach.
– What surprises people most about somatic healing?
That we’re not fixing anything! It’s very different from the more mechanical, westernized approach- pathologising people and treating the body as a machine we are trying to fix. Rather, I’m here to hold space for whatever arises in that moment – to help people make sense of their experience.
Somatic work is quite unique in that it moves at the pace of the ‘patient’. Healing is not about applying pressure to heal as quick as possible. Rather, it’s about attuning to the body’s pace, and moving very slowly. As slow as the slowest part of you.
– Is your work spiritual?
My work is rooted in nervous system science – led by experts such as Peter Levine, Gabor Maté and Bessel van der Kolk. Alongside the ‘science’, my therapy evolves from my own lived experience and not a specific faith. However I do see lived experience itself as spiritual. The body has wisdom—and listening to it can feel sacred.
– If the body could pray, what would that prayer be?
I work a lot with embodied prayer – if people are open to spirituality, of course. Prayer through the body is felt through sensations. That’s the language of the body, right? So simply by connecting with your body, attuning to your needs – you’re already entering the space of prayer.
I do believe the body is holy. This underpins the development of my podcast titled The Holy Human Podcast. Every single client I’ve worked with has these gorgeous ‘Aha’ moments, when I explain to them how the nervous system works from a somatic perspective – it’s beautiful to witness.
– How does somatic healing help us feel more connected—to life and the Earth?
The body is our home. Our culture is simply a macrocosmic reflection of how we treat our body. Through the overuse and unhealthy relationship with technology today, our lived experience can feel disembodied and dissociated. The same relationship we share with our body, we share with the Earth. Our body is of the Earth, in a sense. If we want to change or save or heal our environment, Nature, the Earth, we will not be successful if we look outward. We need to look inward. Specifically toward our body.
When we restore a harmonious relationship with our biology, we restore a harmonious relationship with nature. If we can feel ourselves, our body again, we feel the Earth. Hence we couldn’t damage her without also feeling the same pain in our bodies.
– What will your one-day course include?
We’ll explore the evolutionary wisdom of the body —the science of our ancient nervous system, how it developed and how it shapes our lives. We will then bring that learning into an experiential movement practice. I’m looking forward to spending time at An Tairseach and offering this therapeutic work.
