In-Person & Livestream Courses
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100-HOUR IN-PERSON TRAINING PROGRAM
Gentle Somatic Yoga® (GSY) and Somatic Wellness™ Program (Level’s 1, 2, & 3)
“Why Choose Gentle Somatic Yoga?”
- Relieve chronic pain through mindful movement
- Reduce stress and promote relaxation
- Improve flexibility, posture, and body awareness
In-person training courses facilitated by James Knight, Founder of GSY, and/or GSY Faculty.
GSY Training Level’s 1, 2, & 3 are offered at various locations worldwide, as well as livestreamed, and self-paced online. It is possible to mix and match the courses in-peson or virtually if you purchase a bundle. Visit our Online Training Page for more details.
Please see our Events Page for our current schedule.
CERTIFICATION & CONTINUING EDUCATION (CEUs)
These courses are not only designed for yoga teachers, yoga therapists, bodyworkers, and health care professionals but also for the everyday person who wants to invest in learning how to develop a home practice of deep self-care.
Certification for GSY Levels 1 & 2 is optional and encouraged for those who want to teach and share this method with others. Up to 100 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for yoga teachers and therapists upon request.
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OUR NEXT IN-PERSON TRAININGS
- August 2025: GSY Level 1 Hybrid Training & GSY Level 2 Hybrid Training ~ Hybrid training is a balance between livestream sessions and 3 full days in-person at the beautiful Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Both of these courses are offered back-to-back for those who want to be trained in both). If interested, please put your name on our waitlist(s) below and we will contact you as soon as the registration page is open.
- October 2025: GSY Level 1 Training at Yogaville, Satchidananda Ashram, Virginia, USA.
- September 2025: GSY Level 1 In-person Training held in the United Kingdom. Dates and location to be announced soon. Please add you name to the waitlist down below.
Facilitated by GSY founder, James Knight
Theme: Your Self-Care Journey Begins with a Supportive Foundation. Learn 25+ Somatic Movement Flows®, the neuroscience, philosophy, and method of GSY. This course is not only designed for yoga teachers, yoga therapists, body workers, and health care professionals but also for the everyday person who wants to invest in learning how to develop a home practice of deep self-care. Certification optional.
About the venue for the in-person portion of this event:
Established in 1868, Tanque Verde Ranch is recognized as the last luxurious outpost of the Old West — providing guests with comfy accommodations, unparalleled amenities, and a vast array of exciting activities including horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, arts and crafts workshops, hiking, and more! It is no wonder that the Ranch was awarded by Conde Nast Traveler as the #1 top resort in the American Southwest.
More about what you will learn in this course:
- How and why Somatic Movement Flows® get to the root cause of persistent pain, stiffness, poor posture, anxiety, and lack of energy
- Ways to practice nourishing movements that are suitable and effective for your soma (body). Emphasis will be on finding your own inner teacher and relying less on “doing it right” according to instruction or demonstration
- How GSY is firmly rooted in leading-edge neuroscience and balanced with heart-based wisdom
- How to replace static stretching with innovative brain-to-muscle re-education
- CEU’s available for yoga teachers and yoga therapists
Facilitated by GSY founder, James Knight
*Pre-requisite: Completion of GSY Level 1
Building upon the foundation of our GSY L1 training, continue your exploration of Gentle Somatic Yoga® by expanding your knowledge of the subtle energy body (aura and chakra’s) and how emotions affect the soma.
In this course, James will invite you to dive deeper into the other systems of the soma (mind/body/emotions/energy/spirit) to help gain insight of how to integrate past traumas and to experience whole-self nourishment.
While many participants who attend these trainings are movement educators, yoga teachers, yoga therapists, bodyworkers, and healthcare professionals, this course is inclusive to anyone interested in investing in their health. Certification is optional.
About the venue for the in-person portion of this event:
Established in 1868, Tanque Verde Ranch is recognized as the last luxurious outpost of the Old West — providing guests with comfy accommodations, unparalleled amenities, and a vast array of exciting activities including horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, arts and crafts workshops, hiking, and more! It is no wonder that the Ranch was awarded by Conde Nast Traveler as the #1 top resort in the American Southwest.
More about what you will learn in this course:
- 29+ Additional therapeutic Somatic Movement Flows® for self-care, emotional resilience, general health and well-being.
- Enlivening practices from the body-oriented psychotherapy of Core Energetics and Bioenergetics to increase harmony and balance within your auric field & chakra system
- Learn how to release defense structures and trauma held within the soma
- Deeper understanding and embodiment of the neuroscience and philosophical underpinnings of Gentle Somatic Yoga®
- CEU’s available for yoga teachers and yoga therapists
Explore this Life-Enhancing Curriculum that you won’t find anywhere else!
Who Would Benefit From Attending The Gentle Somatic Yoga & Wellness® Program?
This Program is designed for EVERY BODY – from the everyday person looking to empower their self-care, to the highly-experienced Movement Educator looking to enhance the leading edge of their skill set.
Gentle Somatic Yoga & Wellness attracts a wide variety of movement experts including yoga teachers, yoga therapists, body-workers, dance teachers, occupational therapists, as well as other health care professionals who would like to expand their scope of practice to include a more therapeutic approach to mindful movement. Upon successful completion of the Program, you will be qualified to integrate 85+ Somatic Movement Flows® (SMFs) into your classes and/or private practice to ensure remarkable results while expanding your specialty niche.
With that in mind, however, it is not necessary to be a movement educator in order to benefit from what these courses offer. They are open and available to ANY and EVERYONE interested in empowering themselves with skills to enhance their health and well-being.
Add-on Certification Option
After you have successfully completed a Course (GSY Practitioner Levels 1, 2, & 3) you receive a GSY Certificate Of Completion demonstrating your commitment to the art and science of Gentle Somatic Yoga & Wellness®. Additionally, you have the opportunity to go the extra mile and become a Certified Practitioner by purchasing the Certification Option and passing the certification’s Final Teachback requirement.* This is done by submitting a Final Teachback video (full instructions HERE). Your teachback video will then be evaluated by our Certification Staff, after which you will receive a detailed report card with personal feedback. Once certified, you will be acknowledged with a Practitioner Certificate as having demonstrated your competence and skill for providing Gentle Somatic Yoga & Wellness in an official capacity, either one-on-one or in a group setting, as part of your professional instruction service(s).
*Prerequisite: Successful completion and certification of each Level is required before taking the next Course. For example, you must have successfully completed the Level 1 Course in order to be eligible for Level 2 Course. The certification option must be purchased separately for each Level completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical Gentle Somatic Yoga (GSY) Levels 1 and 2 training day includes:
- GSY Class – Start off with a highly experiential science-based and heart-inspired practice, beginning with a GSY class consisting of 5 – 7 Somatic Movement Flows® (SMFs) that are designed with a specific anatomical focus, for example: Neck and shoulders, lower back, pelvis and hips, or legs and feet. Instead of focusing on stretching, you will learn a progressive therapeutic technique called pandiculation*. In GSY Level 1 you learn 25 SMFs. in GSY Level 2 you learn an additional 29+ SMFs.
- Note: Once the Somatic Movement Flows® are learned and embodied, one can use these as stand-alone therapeutic sequences, or they can group together to create a home practice and/or a group movement class.
- Learning Lab – After ever GSY Class, each Somatic Movement Flow is reviewed from beginning to end and students can ask questions pertaining to their own body, or of their student/client. In these learning labs emphasis will be on exploring tips and modifications. This process occurs within a non-hierarchical environment where we all learn together.
- Discussion – presentations to expand the neuroscience, history, philosophy and methodology of GSY.
- Practice Teachback – Participants pair-up and teach the day’s Somatic Movement Flows to one another; this further supports the embodiment of the practice.
- Review – Case studies pertaining to common physical conditions and challenges; integration; closing circle.
*WHAT IS PANDICULATION?
Pandiculation is the science and main technique used in Gentle Somatic Yoga to help a soma (body) unwind from deep unconscious holding patterns of stress, pain, and stiffness. In GSY we call this Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA). The technique of pandiculation is the intentional and mindful contraction (engagement) of muscle groups, followed by a slow disengagement of the muscular contraction, and then ending the movement with no muscular effort (full relaxation, or neutral).
What is the difference between pandiculation and stretching?
When you stretch, you create tension through applied force to lengthen a muscle or group of muscles, placing stress on the surrounding connective tissues (tendons, ligaments, etc.) Whereas, when you pandiculate a muscle, you alternate muscular engagement with relaxation to release muscular tension. The explorations within the Somatic Movement Flows help to permanently reverse chronic pain and postural misalignments. The immediate beneficial effects include a significant increase in flexibility & mobility, strength, and balance & coordination.
A typical Gentle Somatic Yoga (GSY) Level 3 training day includes:
- GSY Class – Start off with a highly experiential science-based and heart-inspired practice, beginning with a GSY class consisting of 7 – 10 Somatic Movement Flows® modified for the chair as a prop. Instead of focusing on stretching, you will be guided into a synthesis of pandiculation (our signature therapeutic technique that offers immediate and long lasting results), pranayama, and meditation; by joining together in a somatic movement class each morning, we set the tone for the day and prepare our Soma’s to receive and learn new information.
- Learning Lab – After each GSY Class and/or demonstration of Assisted Pandiculation* protocols, we deconstruct the Somatic Movement Flows into their constituent parts and pieces, with a goal to highlight and explore tips and modifications; this occurs within a non-hierarchical environment where we all learn together.
- Discussion – presentations to expand the neuroscience, history, philosophy and methodology of GSY.
- Practice Teachback – Participants pair-up and teach the day’s Somatic Movement Flows to one another; this further supports the embodiment of the practice.
- Review – Case studies pertaining to common physical conditions and challenges; integration; closing circle.
*Assisted-Pandiculation is a highly-effective customized hands-on technique that utilizes one’s own body weight and the force of gravity to assist with strengthening the brain-to-muscle connection (neuromuscular re-education). These anatomically focused protocols have been designed to help a client/patient/student manage or dissolve chronic pain, significantly increase range of motion & flexibility, and support healing from a variety of common challenging physical conditions.
Adjunct Module Options
These are optional GSY specialties are being created and offered soon. To be put on a waiting list please email us at: customercare@gentlesomaticyoga.com
- SomaDynamics™ Module – Learn and embody unique stance and gait Somatic Movement Flows that incorporate the latest scientific discoveries in regenerative and nutritious movement.
- Presence Module – The quality of Presence is a defining factor in the art of movement that is uniquely Gentle Somatic Yoga. This quality has been embedded into the practice through James Knight’s own personal teaching style. In order to cultivate and incorporate one’s own intuition as an enhancement to the skill of teaching, this module introduces the dimension of “sacred container” as a space in which information becomes available and exchanged.
- Trauma and PTSD Module
How Can I Apply My Education (Certification is optional)
- Our training courses have recently been expanded to include anyone (not just yoga teachers or therapists) who wants to learn these powerful and effective self-care and self-healing skills, and age gracefully. Our biggest investment we can make is our health and wellbeing.
- Experienced yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and movement educators can develop advanced classes and workshops to support the next step in movement as a healing art for their students. Apply the principles of Gentle Somatic Yoga and provide workshops and programs to help with common physical conditions such as neck and shoulder tension, chronic back pain, tight hips and hamstrings. If you are already working with specialty populations, Gentle Somatic Yoga will distinguish your expertise in the field. CEU’s are offered.
- If you are a teacher/educator looking to address a niche demographic such as the desk worker, Senior, beginning yoga students, plus sizes, pregnancy, cancer survivors, PTSD/trauma, etc., this practice is a terrific way to establish yourself as a specialist in the field.
- Physicians, Chiropractors, Physiotherapists, Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers, and other practitioners can teach stand-alone Somatic Movement Flows to their clients and patients. The new skill set you will learn through this Gentle Somatic Yoga training will dramatically advance all therapeutic and healing processes.
For more information or if you have questions, please email us.
EARN 100 HOURS OF YOGA ALLIANCE APPROVED CEUs
