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Eleanor Criswell Hanna Ed.D

Woman. Outsider. Horse-lover. Visionary. Inspiration. Human. (1939-2024)

A brief bio of the originator of Somatic Yoga, creator of Equine Hanna Somatics® & Canine Hanna Somatics®, and co-creator of Hanna Somatic Education.

Eleanor Criswell Hanna, EdD, was a preeminent pioneer in the fields of somatics, biofeedback, and yoga education in the United States. She was an emeritus professor of psychology at Sonoma State University, where she taught for nearly 40 years.

Eleanor had a master's degree in counseling and guidance from University of Kentucky, and a doctorate in educational psychology from University of Florida. She was a founding director of the Humanistic Psychology Institute (now Saybrook University in Pasadena, CA), and was the director of the Novato Institute for Somatic Research and Training until her death in 2024.

She's authored multiple books & articles (linked below), created numerous educational programs and was always studying, always learning.

Interviews

Equine Hanna Somatics and HSE for Equestrians - AHSE Presentation by Eleanor Criswell Hanna & Alissa Mayer https://www.associationforhannasomaticeducation.com/public-recordings-/equine-hanna-somatics-and-hse-for-equestrians-kgrb3

A Conversation about the history of Equine Hanna Somatics, with Eleanor Criswell Hanna https://youtu.be/fwowbF0MuFs?si=0FfRL_hUSBm0_E0a

The Saybrook Genesis Story with Co-Founder Dr. Eleanor Criswell https://saybrookinsights.buzzsprout.com/947326/episodes/8047783

Articles

One Woman's Path

Criswell Hanna, E. (2022). One woman’s path. The Humanistic Psychologist, 50(3), 333–341. https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000287

Eleanor Criswell on Creating Equine Hanna Somatics® (1995) https://blog.equinehannasomatics.org/post/creating-equine-hanna-somatics

Somatics¨ Magazine - Journal of the Mind/Body Arts & Sciences (1977-2024)

Books by Eleanor

How Yoga Works: An Introduction to Somatic Yoga (1989)

Biofeedback and Somatics: Toward Personal Evolution (1995)

Cram's Introduction to Surface Electromyography (2010)

Disclaimer: Equine Hanna Somatics® is not bodywork and is not a diagnostic or treatment tool. The information included on this website and in any affiliated programs is not meant to take the place of professional veterinary or medical advice, may not be current, and is subject to change without notice.

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