In 1997, as one of the requirements to complete my master’s degree in Somatic
Psychotherapy at Naropa University, I designed and implemented a three day
workshop, Teaching the Body to Play with Spirit, and subsequently wrote a 130 page
thesis describing the process and the concepts taught. In this paper, I have
excerpted key theories relevant to Reclaiming an Adult Relationship with Play. The
thesis was a journey through the Moving Cycle, postulated and taught by Christine
Caldwell, the founder and director of the Somatic Psychology department at Naropa.
In this paper, you’ll find benefits and impediments to play, a brief description of the
Moving Cycle, and how to use the Cycle to uncover personal blocks to play, as well
as suggestions for bringing play into your adult life.