Developed by dancer/choreographer Elaine Summers, kinetic awareness is a system of bodywork that aims to increase knowledge of the human body by understanding tension as a positive and necessary part of movement affecting health, attitude, and emotional well-being.

Designed to improve mental image, clients can gain a heightened sensitivity to posture and movement. All parts of the body are encouraged to be free to move in all directions possible. A goal of kinetic awareness is to free the body so it is always moving away from pain and toward pleasure.

There are five phases of awareness: attention to breathing, simultaneous movement of body parts, level of tension, speed of movement, and relation to others.