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The International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association
A collaborative of individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing the profession
of Somatic Movement Education and Therapy since 1988
ISMETA presents an in-person Special Topic Conference
Dynamic Balance: Somatic Movement in Times of Change
September 16-18, 2027 at Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, Vancouver, Canada
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
What Is Somatic Movement?
SOMA – (Greek) - the living body as experienced from within ~ Thomas Hanna, author of Somatics (1988)
SOMATICS – the study of the self through a first-person lens, the perspective of one’s lived experience
~ Thomas Hanna, author of Somatics (1988)SOMATIC MOVEMENT – movement that is consciously, internally sensed
Somatic Movement Education & Therapy
A credentialed profession focused on improving how people perceive, experience, and move their bodies. Its main purpose is to increase body awareness so that movement becomes more efficient, easeful, expressive, and connected to emotional and mental well-being.
Practitioners use guided movement, touch, breath work, posture awareness, and sensory attention to help people notice and change habitual patterns that may contribute to pain, tension, stress, injury, or nervous system dysregulation.
Unlike passive treatments, Somatic Movement Education and Therapy approaches are educational; instead of “fixing” the body from the outside, they aim to help people learn new movement and awareness patterns from the inside out.
Want to experience free mini Somatic Movement sessions?
Visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
PROFESSIONAL MEMBER BENEFITS
• Access to affordable Professional Liability Insurance
• Special discounts on ISMETA Professional Development Center courses, conference fees, Bookstore, and more!
• A professional profile page in the Practitioner Directory on the ISMETA website
• Invitation to submit a video of your work for the ISMETA YouTube channel
• Ability to post your events in the worldwide ISMETA Events Calendar
• Participation in community-building events such as member-only Somatic Cafes
• Access to the ISMETA Research Database and other member-only resources
• Invitation to the Annual ISMETA Membership Meeting
• Voting rights in ISMETA governance
What Our Members Say
"As a Somatic Movement professional it is important for me to be part of the ISMETA community to network, gain knowledge and support."
"The ISMETA community is a place for me to share, contribute and grow."
"I love being a part of a community of Somatic Movement professionals committed to high, ethical standards of practice."
"I greatly admire ISMETA's dedication to bringing Somatic Movement to the world while helping the field move forward."
"ISMETA is recognized as an association that can bring relevance, trust and worthy credentials to those of us in Somatic Movement therapeutic work."
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