Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 26/27.R.4.00

Description Period: 2026./27 academic year rudens semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

Somatic well-being and recovery

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
LSPA_725
Branch of Science
Health sciences
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Business Management; Dentistry; Health Management; Law; Medicine; Nursing Science; Pedagogy; Social Welfare and Social Work
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Karīna Irita Jenaki
Structure Unit Manager
Uģis Ciematnieks
Structural Unit
Department of Sports Theory
Contacts

karinairita.jenaki@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

To provide knowledge of the impact of daily stress on bodily wellbeing; to develop an understanding of habit formation and maintenance. To understand and be able to apply a variety of somatic recovery and stress-release techniques.

Preliminary Knowledge

Not required

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Explains how daily stress affects somatic well-being.

Individual work and tests

Assessment of Body Well-Being

2.Describe the mechanisms for developing habits and maintaining them.

Individual work and tests

Developing a new habit • Situation analysis

3.Defines various somatic recovery and stress-release techniques.

Individual work and tests

Situation analysis

Skills

1.Analyses signs of somatic tension.

Individual work and tests

Assessment of Body Well-Being

2.Uses theories of habit formation and maintenance to facilitate behavior change.

Individual work and tests

Developing a new habit • Situation analysis

3.Selects and applies appropriate somatic recovery and stress-release methods according to the situation.

Individual work and tests

Situation analysis

Competences

1.Understands how to integrate somatic recovery and stress-reduction techniques in one's daily well-being practice.

Individual work and tests

Situation analysis

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Developing a new habit
30.00% from total grade
10 points

Presentation - based on the previously provided situation, students work in groups to develop a behavioural change intervention using theories and strategies learned in the course. Students analyse the situation, define behavioural change objectives and present a practical intervention plan.

Evaluation criteria:

  • Situational analysis - identifies the main challenges faced by the individual and defines the objective of the intervention.
  • Application of theory - uses theories learned in the course to justify the selected behavioural change strategies.
  • Quality of the intervention plan - develops practical strategies that are appropriate and responsive to the needs of the situation.
  • Presentation skills - clearly and convincingly presents the intervention, justify decisions made, answers questions and engages with the audience.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Situation analysis
70.00% from total grade
10 points

Written assignment – Based on the given situation, the student identifies signs of somatic tension, applies suitable somatic recovery techniques, and provides suggestions for new habit formation and long-term maintenance.

Grading criteria:

  1. Understands the impact of stress on well-being—applies theories learned in the course to explain how stress affects a given individual.
  2. Selects and applies somatic methods—recommends appropriate somatic recovery and stress regulation methods, and describes the practical aspects of one selected method. Describes how to perform one selected method.
  3. Integration into daily well-being practices: Applies habit theory to recommend a way of incorporating a somatic exercise into one's daily well-being routine.
2.

Assessment of Body Well-Being
-
Test

Students observe and compare indicators of their somatic well-being through a mindfulness exercise conducted in three different contexts: a social setting, following a stressful event, and in a calm environment. Using either body mapping or a structured sensations table, students develop somatic literacy by accurately describing bodily sensations and analyzing their similarities and differences across contexts. The assignment concludes with an integrative analysis that enables students to draw conclusions about their current somatic well-being.

Grading criteria:

  1. Somatic literacy - using precise somatic language to describe bodily sensations.
  2. Comparative analysis- identifying, comparing and interpreting patterns across the three contexts.
  3. Integrative analysis - connecting personal observations to theoretical concepts to draw conclusions about one's current somatic well-being.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

The concept of stress and its types. Formation mechanism. The stress cycle.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

From Stress to the Stress Response: Individual Differences

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

The concept of stress and its types. Formation mechanism. The stress cycle.
From Stress to the Stress Response: Individual Differences

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatics and the nervous system: How internal and external stressors affect the body's well-being.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatics and the nervous system: How internal and external stressors affect the body's well-being.
Practical: assessment of body wellness

  1. Test

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Practical: assessment of body wellness
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
1.50
Contact hours:
10 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test (Semester)
Part 2

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

The Basics of Habits: Formation Mechanisms

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

The Basics of Habits: Formation Mechanisms

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Breaking (Bad) Habits

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Breaking (Bad) Habits

  1. Unaided Work

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Practical: developing a new habit

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Practical: developing a new habit

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Test

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Analysis of the situation and application of appropriate somatic methods.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
1.50
Contact hours:
22 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
PART-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

The concept of stress and its types. Formation mechanism. The stress cycle.
From Stress to the Stress Response: Individual Differences

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatics and the nervous system: How internal and external stressors affect the body's well-being.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

From Stress to the Stress Response: Individual Differences
Somatics and the nervous system: How internal and external stressors affect the body's well-being.

  1. Unaided Work

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Practical: assessment of body wellness

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

The Basics of Habits: Formation Mechanisms
Breaking (Bad) Habits

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Practical: developing a new habit

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Somatic recovery and stress-release techniques

  1. Test

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Analysis of the situation and application of appropriate somatic methods.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
16 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Harrington, R. (2012). Stress, health & well-being : thriving in the 21st century. (akceptējams izdevums)Suitable for English stream

2.

LaDyne, R. (2020). The Mind-Body Stress reset: Somatic Practices to Reduce Overwhelm and Increase Well-Being.Suitable for English stream

3.

Verplanken. (2018). The Psychology of Habit: Theory, mechanisms, change, and contexts.Suitable for English stream

Additional Reading

1.

Maté, G., MD. (2019). When the body says no: The Cost of Hidden Stress. National Geographic Books.Suitable for English stream

2.

Sapolsky, R. M. (1994). Why zebras don’t get ulcers. In Medical Entomology and Zoology.Suitable for English stream

3.

Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones.Suitable for English stream

4.

Grolnick, W. S., Heddy, B. C., & Worrell, F. C. (2024). Motivation myth busters: Science-based strategies to boost motivation in yourself and others. In American Psychological Association eBooks.Suitable for English stream

5.

Caldwell, C. (2018). Bodyfulness: somatic practices for presence, empowerment, and waking up in this life.Suitable for English stream

6.

Pelka, M., Kölling, S., Ferrauti, A., Meyer, T., Pfeiffer, M., & Kellmann, M. (2016). Acute effects of psychological relaxation techniques between two physical tasks. Journal of Sports Sciences, 35(3), 216–223.Suitable for English stream