Somatic Toolkit for a Healthier Nervous System
with Michelle Murray, Katrin Heuser and guest tutor Kirsten Wilkinson
Learn somatic practices and skills to integrate into your existing work, and create a safer and more trauma-informed environment. Develop a greater capacity for nervous system regulation, both personally and professionally, so you can support your clients without feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
An accredited 50-hour trauma-informed training for yoga teachers, bodyworkers, coaches, retreat facilitators and all others in a therapeutic profession.
Next cohort starts 20th September 2023
In-person, at Little Yoga Space, Lisbon + 4 online places available
An accredited 50-hour trauma-informed training for yoga teachers, bodyworkers, coaches, retreat facilitators and all others in a therapeutic profession.
Next cohort starts 20th September 2023
In-person, at Little Yoga Space, Lisbon + 4 online places available
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You’re passionate about your work, and find it increasingly difficult to show up for your clients and students in a meaningful way.
These days, so many people suffer from anxiety, depression, pain, chronic conditions, and unresolved trauma. You may feel overwhelmed and ill-equipped to deal with these issues and the heaviness of the stories your clients share with you. You’re doing your best to hold space, and you also realise that your skillset and toolbox of practices continuously need to evolve. Creating an environment that feels safe and inclusive for clients with complex conditions can be challenging, and even exhausting, if you don’t have the necessary skills or experience. Most training courses have not evolved to be either trauma-informed, or specifically informed about the nervous system, even though people’s needs have changed significantly. |
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In order for your work to be both sustainable and effective, it is essential that you:
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This 50-hour in-person Continued Professional Development (CPD) training gives you the missing educational piece as well as the space to explore somatic practices that will be useful for you both personally and professionally. Together we will explore themes around boundaries, the body-mind connection, nervous system regulation, co-regulation, trauma, safety and inclusivity, embodiment and resiliency.
Our approach is both bottom-up drawing on somatic practices including movement, breathwork, sensory tracking and enquiry; and top-down with education around neuroscience and trauma.
There are no quick fixes to the systemic issues we all face, but during this training you will have the opportunity to develop your own personal Somatic Toolkit to resource from, as well as use with your clients. Our hope is that you will feel deeply nourished by new insights, somatic practices, real connection and community, and being in an authentic space of exploration.
Our approach is both bottom-up drawing on somatic practices including movement, breathwork, sensory tracking and enquiry; and top-down with education around neuroscience and trauma.
There are no quick fixes to the systemic issues we all face, but during this training you will have the opportunity to develop your own personal Somatic Toolkit to resource from, as well as use with your clients. Our hope is that you will feel deeply nourished by new insights, somatic practices, real connection and community, and being in an authentic space of exploration.
Course overview
Starts 20th September 2023
Every Wednesday for seven weeks, 10:30-13:00 & 14:30-17:00 (Lisbon/London time)
At Little Yoga Space, Rua da Assunção 42, 1100-044 Lisbon + 4 online places available
Every Wednesday for seven weeks, 10:30-13:00 & 14:30-17:00 (Lisbon/London time)
At Little Yoga Space, Rua da Assunção 42, 1100-044 Lisbon + 4 online places available
What to expect
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This 50-hour CPD training includes 35 in-person/live contact hours, plus 15 hours of home study, practice, enquiry and reflection which will be fundamental for integration. Typically, the morning sessions will include a presentation, with time for both personal enquiry and discussion in small groups. The afternoon sessions will be practice-based, followed by reflection and time to apply the toolkit in small groups - this experiential learning will support integration and also help you develop your capacity to facilitate others. Each module will offer new resources for your somatic toolkit which we will be building up over the duration of the seven weeks.
The group size will be 12 maximum (8 in-person and 4 online) to ensure personal attention and meaningful connection throughout the training. Course materials and module recordings will be made available on a well-structured online platform, including comprehensive hand-outs to support learning and deepening your enquiry, suggested reading material, videos for further study, plus bonus practices. Email support is available throughout the duration of the training course for any question about practices, your process and materials covered. |
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Course modules
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Wednesday 20th September
MODULE 1: Boundaries & the Responsibility of Self-Care - Why is it fundamental to you and your clients’ wellbeing?
Wednesday 27th September MODULE 2: Body-Mind Connection
Wednesday 4th October MODULE 3: Understanding the Nervous System
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Wednesday 11th October
MODULE 4: Trauma
Wednesday 18th October MODULE 5: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Space
Wednesday 25th October MODULE 6: Embodiment for Resilience
Wednesday 1st November MODULE 7: Integration This module is intentionally left open to allow for integration of whatever arises during the training. Integration is the key to real and lasting transformation so this module is as important as the others, and perhaps even more so. |
Who is this training for?
There are a few prerequisites for joining this training:
You might particularly enjoy this course if:
This course may not be the right fit for you at this point in time if:
If you are reading this and the course really resonates with you, even though you are not in a supporting profession, please get in touch with us, so we can organise a quick chat to see if the course is a good fit for you.
- you are a qualified yoga teacher, bodyworker, coach or retreat facilitator;
- or you are in a supporting profession such as counsellors, social workers, front-line workers;
- you take your continued education responsibility seriously and want to do further training;
- you are open to a non-dogmatic approach to somatic facilitation;
- you have a solid self-practice;
- you are open to work on yourself.
You might particularly enjoy this course if:
- you have experienced and enjoyed Embodied Yoga, Somatic Movement, Feldenkrais or Qi Gong;
- you love and practice regular self-care rituals;
- you are increasingly coming to trust your gut and body signals when they say no to situations;
- you are a great listener;
- you get quite excited by neuroscience, physiology and research studies;
- you love movement and want to experience more freedom in the way you move.
This course may not be the right fit for you at this point in time if:
- you are not able or willing to invest 50 hours for this training;
- you are not able to join a minimum of 5 of the Wednesday modules in person;
- you are currently dealing with your own deep trauma process. This training could be too overwhelming for you and not aid your own healing process at the moment.
If you are reading this and the course really resonates with you, even though you are not in a supporting profession, please get in touch with us, so we can organise a quick chat to see if the course is a good fit for you.
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What people say about working with Michelle and Katrin
I want to thank you both for this training and your facilitation! My Wednesdays started having a different meaning since the beginning of this course: self-care and nurturing my own needs. :) I will miss them. The content was clear and very useful, mixing theoretical reflection and bodywork practices. The fact that you made us (me) feel that there was no rush or pressure whatsoever and we could take our time to study and reflect was important to keep that spirit of respect and awareness of our own needs at the moment. The learning platform was very useful as well. This course made me want to deepen my knowledge and resources about trauma and how I can be able to support myself and others in life through our bodies. The duration and weekly basis worked very well for me and enable me to introduce some practices into my own work and experience both as receiver and facilitator. I learned so many new poses and techniques for releasing tension/ trauma in the body, soothing the nervous system and relaxing. Katrin’s approach is deceptively simple yet the benefits are profound. The careful attentive approach and the kindness of the Yoga make it suitable for people of any age, and I continue to learn from Katrin's subtle insights into the body/mind connection. It’s all about ease and becoming friends with your body once again. Quite a complex task, but Katrin is very good at navigating you through. She has all the qualities I value in a teacher - caring and dedicated to her students, paying attention to their individual needs, being serious and fun and giving clear instructions and explanations. |
Michelle’s yoga class is a wonderful experience. Highly recommended! The practice feels like a journey to your “true home“. On the way you learn to be soft to your body, to nourish it, to listen to what you need. Michelle is the most incredible Breathwork Therapist I ever worked with. She showed me three different Breathwork tools and I instantly could feel a difference after the session with her. Michelle is a warm-hearted and gifted woman! I really appreciate working with her on my health. I think you've done a very good job in dealing with all the different needs of the people. I felt seen and I also had the impression that you took me seriously not only as a customer but also as a person. Thank you for that. Michelle is so kind, generous with her time, words and patience. Her zest for life and her deep self-love and appreciation radiated through the room during our hours of yoga in the morning and at night. I have come back home with my very own practice. It has given me so much joy to continue this practice on my own. It is a much-needed approach to teaching yoga and has been of a great help, personally, to navigate current times. Learning to create safe and inclusive spaces and deepening the understanding of the body in all its dimensions have been only a few of the many valuable teachings. |
Certification
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We and all courses are registered with the Complementary Medical Association, who promote ethical, responsible, professional complementary medicine to the public and the medical profession.
In addition, the training is accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals, an internationally recognised organisation promoting best practices for teachers and trainers. On satisfactory completion of the training you will receive a certificate to record your CPD. Note: To meet the requirements for certification, you need to attend at least five of the seven sessions live/in person and catch up on the missed modules via the recordings that will be available. |
Register now
This training course is offered with a scaled pricing structure with three options rather than one fixed price. The intention is to allow more people to access the course, supported by the community and those who have access to more funds. Please choose the option that feels appropriate to you and your circumstances. You will not be asked to justify your choice.
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TIER 1
REBALANCING For those with good financial resources and wish to support the participation of others to help rebalance systemic inequity. EARLY BIRD: €419 until 31st May, the full value is €499 |
TIER 2
FAIR For those with medium incomes and who have sufficient financial resources and can pay the fair value for the training. EARLY BIRD: €369 until 31st May, the full value is €449 |
TIER 3
SUPPORTED For those who currently have limited financial resources and can benefit from a place supplemented by the community. EARLY BIRD: €319 until 31st May, the full value is €399 |
There are 8 spaces available for people to join us at Little Yoga Space, and 4 spaces online (note, only for anyone who does not live in Lisbon)
ScholarshipThere is one scholarship place available at €249 for people experiencing financial need and/or working with vulnerable communities. Applications can be submitted until midnight on 20th August 2023.
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Booking terms and conditions
Whether you are paying in full or in instalments, the following T&Cs apply: In order to guarantee your place on this training, you need to make a minimum payment of at least one instalment. If you choose to pay in instalments, the first one is due on registration, and the remaining three will be charged in one-month intervals from the date of your booking. Cancellations made on or before 1st September 2023: you may transfer your place to another person you know. Alternatively, if we are able to fill your space from the waiting list, we will offer you a full refund minus a €25 admin fee. Otherwise, no refunds of payments made are available. Cancellations made after 1st September 2023: payments are non-refundable. However, you may transfer your place to another person you know. Cancellations made after the start of the course: no refunds will be given for no-shows. In the unlikely event that Katrin and Michelle should need to cancel the whole course due to unforeseen circumstances, all monies paid will be refunded without penalty. |
Frequently asked questionsI can’t attend some of the Wednesdays. Can I still sign up for this training?
We ask that you attend a minimum of 5 out of the 7 Wednesdays. Part of this training is to make a commitment to yourself, and regular attendance supports the group dynamic. The workshops build upon one another, and are designed to give you a meaningful toolkit, which requires practice and time to integrate. I’m a qualified professional but nor working at the moment. Can I still join the course? Yes, absolutely. Maybe this course will inspire or enable you to go back to sharing your work. The last couple of years have been challenging financially. Is it possible to pay by instalments? Yes, we want to make sure it’s possible for you to join. You can choose from a one-off payment or 4 instalments. So many people I work with deal with high levels of anxiety. Will these tools be immediately helpful to me and my clients? Absolutely. We encourage you to implement as many of the tools as much as possible as soon as you feel you have embodied them. I am worried I might get triggered during the course. Will there be support available? When working with the nervous system, things may come up for you. If this happens during class and you need support to ground yourself, please let Katrin or Michelle (whoever is not teaching at that moment) know. Exploring these themes in a group setting means that our own bodies, and our reactions to other participants, may bring stuff up and this will be a valued part of the learning experience. For questions about your process, the practices or topics covered, additional support is available via email between workshops. If something comes up for you that you need more in-depth support with, then you are welcome to book a 1:1 session with either Katrin or Michelle, or we can refer you to another practitioner if that feels more appropriate for you. |
Do you have any other questions?Interest to join the next round?Feel free to register your interest for the next round, and you will be the first to know the dates.
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About Michelle and Katrin
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Michelle has been a yoga practitioner since 1997, and working in private practice and retreat settings as a massage therapist and teacher of yoga, meditation and breathwork since 2002. In recent years, she has taken a deep dive into the field of trauma healing, and continues to deepen her understanding of developmental, relational and intergenerational trauma with ongoing study. Working in all these fields gives her a unique insight, and intuitive approach, into how best to support others in recovering their own wellbeing.
Michelle is passionate about many things, but in particular nervous system regulation, the body-mind-breath connection, and how somatic enquiry can support transformation of old wounds and invite a deep relaxation and ease from the inside out. Integration, wholeness and freedom are the driving forces behind everything she offers and she celebrates radical authenticity, self-love and self-acceptance. Although Michelle has taken a deep dive with many amazing teachers and facilitators over the years, her approach to facilitating others is based on personal exploration and experience, and is responsive to what arises in the moment. Read more about Michelle on her website: michellemurray.eu |
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Her whole life, Katrin has been interested in the body and movement. After many years of dance, her Scoliosis led her to Pilates and finally to Yoga and Thai Massage, which then became her path in life.
For Katrin, her work is about the never-ending exploration of the body and mind, and a way of discovering the beauty of life. As we bring awareness to what is happening inside and where we are in the present moment, the body is encouraged to release where it is holding. Then we can embark on a journey of restoration and transformation. She holds a 500h Level 4 NVQ Yoga Teaching qualification, trained in Manual Lymph Drainage and has studied extensively in Thai Yoga Massage and Osteothai, including a Master Osteothai qualification, over the past years. Through her work as a bodyworker comes also her understanding of trauma, chronic conditions and pain, as well as the influence of working with fascia, the craniosacral system, structural support and regulation of the nervous system. Katrin used to run a Yoga Festival in London and launched an online anti-stress breathing programme. Since 2015 she has lived in Lisbon and runs Little Yoga Space, where she teaches and gives Osteothai treatments, and she is the director of Hadadi, offering foundation and advanced training courses in Thai Massage and Yoga worldwide. |
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With guest tutor Kirsten Wilkinson
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MA, TCTSY-F, E-RYT 500, RCYT, Qi Gong and iRest Certified, Thai Yoga Massage Certified, Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, Mind/Body Practitioner, Breathe to Heal Facilitator
Somatic Experiencing Advanced Cohort CSU Psychology and Mental Health Counselor Masters Candidate Kirsten has over 20 years of working with moving bodies, trauma, and building trauma informed curriculum. She is the Executive Director of Legacy Motion, an NGO that supports individuals and communities impacted by trauma by offering sustainable programing and trainings to community members in trauma informed, restorative movement based practices and somatic therapy modalities. Each program and project honors traditional healing methods, supports the collective human experience, and provides learning opportunities to aid in accessible and equitable mental healthcare through the mind/body connection. She is also the founder of Healing Motion, a private practice that offers somatic coaching and embodied practices that support mental health by assisting individuals in discovering their innate wisdom, restoring their embodied strength, and transcending to holistic wellbeing. For more information: www.healing-motion.org / @healingmotionkw www.legacymotion.org / @legacymotionorg |