TRAUMA-INFORMED EMBODIED SOMATICS FACILITATOR TRAINING

Our Trauma-Informed Embodied Somatics Facilitator Training is a comprehensive 100hr professional course designed for somatic practitioners, wellbeing facilitators, yoga and meditation teachers, and Allied Health professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of trauma-informed facilitation and support others through embodied, nervous system-aware practices.

Led by a multi-disciplinary faculty of trauma, psychology and somatics specialists, you’ll discover how trauma can impact the nervous system, body, behaviour, relational dynamics and sense of safety within practice spaces, while developing the practical skills required to facilitate movement, breath, meditation, sound and other multi-modal techniques in ways that support nervous system regulation, participant agency and embodied awareness.

Recognising trauma not as a pathology to be treated, but a nervous system response and adaptation, this training explores a broad spectrum of trauma experiences – including acute and chronic stress, developmental and attachment trauma, complex and cumulative trauma, interpersonal trauma, medical and birth trauma, and vicarious trauma – along with the impact of systemic, cultural and identity-related trauma from experiences shaped by race, gender, neurodivergence, disability and social or environmental conditions.

Grounded in both contemporary trauma research and the wisdom of traditional yogic practices, the clinical, cognitive and embodied dimensions of trauma are explored together – equipping you with the knowledge, language and techniques to create safe, inclusive spaces where somatic and contemplative practices can be experienced with greater choice, regulation and autonomy.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of our 2026 training – starting 3 September – and claim your Early Bird discount by enrolling today!

PRANAYAMA TASTER & INFO EVENING

WHY THIS TRAINING

Across yoga, wellbeing and therapeutic spaces there is a growing recognition of how many people arrive to practice carrying experiences that have shaped their nervous system, sense of safety and relationship to the body. For some, movement, breath, meditation or stillness can be deeply supportive. For others, these same practices may evoke activation, overwhelm or disconnection when not offered with appropriate awareness and care.

While the term “trauma-informed” has become widely used in recent years, meaningful application requires the language of trauma to be underpinned with a thorough depth of understanding, embodied skillset and professional integrity to work responsibly with the nervous system. This training was created in response to the growing need for those capable of holding space with clarity, humility, proficiency and confidence in bringing trauma-informed awareness to their facilitation.

The program is delivered by a highly experienced team of trauma-informed yoga teachers, somatic practitioners, psychologists and social workers specialising in trauma-sensitive facilitation across a range of contexts, ensuring the training is both clinically informed and deeply embodied. With an emphasis on professional scope, ethics and facilitator sustainability, participants are supported in not only fully comprehending trauma-informed practice, but also how to maintain clear professional boundaries, navigate complexity and care for their own nervous system when working with others.

COURSE DETAILS

The curriculum is structured across six progressive modules, guiding you from foundational trauma literacy and nervous system awareness through to practical teaching methodology, ethical practice and supervised facilitation. Each module combines theory, experiential learning, reflective inquiry and practical teaching labs supporting you to confidently translate knowledge into safe and responsive facilitation.

You’ll be introduced to the underlying physiology and neurobiology of contemporary trauma frameworks, deepening your understanding of the autonomic nervous system, neuroception and polyvagal-informed perspectives. We’ll explore somatic and contemplative practices that support regulation – including gentle movement, breath awareness, grounding, orienting, pendulation and titrated exploration of sensation – and develop your practical skills in trauma-sensitive language, invitational cueing, pacing, sequencing and choice-based teaching to ensure your facilitation is offered in ways that are deeply supportive, accessible and ethically grounded.

A comprehensive breakdown of all Modules and Units covered in the training is detailed below:

Full Modules & Units

TRAUMA-INFORMED EMBODIED SOMATICS FACILITATOR TRAINING – 100 Hours

Contact Hours: 70

6 x Training Modules (Thursdays 5pm – 9pm; Saturdays 9am – 6pm incl breaks) hosted at Moksha Yoga, Bentleigh VIC.

Non-Contact hours: 30

Participants are expected to engage in a combination of reflective, theoretical, and practical exercises outside of the face-to-face training. These activities consolidate learning from the group learning environment, encourage personal embodiment of trauma-informed principles and preparation for professional teaching.

COURSE OVERVIEW:

Module 1 – Foundations of Somatic Trauma-Informed Yoga

Module 1 lays the foundation for your training, helping you develop a shared understanding of trauma-informed principles and how they apply to all aspects of yoga practice – not just āsana, but also the breath practices of prāṇāyāma, meditation, mantra, chanting, sound, contemplative journaling and Yoga Nidrā. You’ll learn a common language for describing nervous system states and embodied experience, explore the relational and ethical foundations of facilitation, and begin to understand how to create safe, supportive, and responsive learning environments. Module 1 focuses on why and how we teach, giving you the conceptual and embodied tools to guide students safely and skilfully before moving into specific techniques and practices.

Units:

Trauma-Informed & Embodied Foundations
Embodied Somatics & Bottom-Up Regulation
Embodied Sensation vs Narrative & Story
Introduction to Trauma-Informed Language
Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice
Embodiment & Introduction to the Nervous System
Interoception, Proprioception & Exteroception
Yoga Beyond Āsana – A Nervous System Lens
Introduction to the Multi-Modality Approach
Practitioner Regulation & Co-Regulation

Module 2 – Trauma Theory, Neurobiology & Research

Module 2 builds a deep, evidence-informed understanding of trauma and its effects on the nervous system, giving you the tools to facilitate and hold space in ways that are inclusive, safe, and responsive. Here you will explore how trauma is experienced across a broad spectrum, including interpersonal, developmental, systemic, cultural, gendered, and neurodivergent contexts and learn how the nervous system reacts, adapts, and recovers. This module is designed to give you both conceptual literacy and practical insight, so that you can confidently translate trauma and nervous system knowledge into all aspects of your facilitation, from movement and breath to meditation, mantra and Yoga Nidrā.

Units:

Understanding Trauma – Definitions & Context
Understanding Diverse Trauma Types & Experiences including yet not limited to:
- Interpersonal & Relational Trauma
- Medical, Birth, & Physical Trauma
- Racial & Systemic Trauma
- Gender-Based Trauma
- Disability-Related Trauma
- Complex, Cumulative & Intergenerational Trauma
- Attachment & Early Life Trauma
- Vicarious & Secondary Trauma
- Community & Environmental Trauma
- Systemic, Cultural & Historical Trauma
- Socioeconomic or Structural Trauma
- Identity-Related Trauma
- Neurodivergent & Sensory Trauma
Neurobiology of Trauma & Neuroscience Foundations
Signs & Symptoms of Dysregulation & Resilience
Autonomic Nervous System & Regulation
Adaptive Survival Responses – Hyper & Hypo Arousal
Window of Tolerance & Nervous System Capacity
Titration & Pendulation – Regulating Activation & Rest
Research on Yogic Practices & Nervous System Regulation
Embodied Somatics & Interoception Research
Mindfulness and Emotional regulation
Yoga Nidrā and Parasympathetic NS Activation
Practical Teaching Lab 2

Module 3 – Ethics, Scope & Trauma-Informed Professional Practice

Module 3 is designed to ensure that you, as a facilitator, can create safe, ethical, and professional environments while protecting both yourself and the students who attend your classes. This module establishes the frameworks, boundaries, and professional principles necessary to maintain the integrity of trauma-informed yoga and somatic facilitation. You will explore how to navigate complex situations, maintain ethical practice, and operate within your scope, while also supporting students’ nervous system regulation and practice. This module emphasizes prevention, clarity, and professional responsibility, ensuring that facilitators can work confidently and safely in diverse settings while upholding the standards of the field.

Units:

Scope of Practice
Ethical Trauma-Informed Facilitation & Professional Boundaries
Informed Consent in Individual & Group Settings
Power, Authority, & Influence
Transference & Dependency
Modelling Accountability
Cultural Humility & Inclusion
Historical & Systemic Awareness
Intersectionality and Complex Identity Factors
Honouring Lineage without Appropriation
Authentic & Grounded Facilitation
Recognising & Preventing Spiritual Bypassing
Facilitator Sustainability & Self Care
Practical Lab 3 – Ethical Case Study

Module 4 – Somatic Movement, Breath, Rest & Sound as Regulation

This module equips facilitators with practical, trauma-informed skills to support nervous system regulation across all yogic modalities. Trainees will learn to integrate somatic movement, prāṇāyāma, meditation, mantra, chanting, sound, and Yoga Nidrā as tools for promoting self-regulation, resilience, and embodied awareness.

Through experiential practice, observation, and reflective exercises, facilitators will develop the ability to notice nervous system cues in themselves and participants, respond to hyper- and hypo-arousal, and safely guide co-regulation and resourcing. This module emphasizes trauma-informed sequencing, participant choice, and inclusive adaptation for diverse needs, including neurodivergence and sensory sensitivities.

Facilitators will explore restorative practices and sound-based methods to support grounding, emotional release, and integration, while learning how to ethically and effectively apply multiple modalities in a session. This module provides you will a comprehensive, practical toolkit for supporting participants to regulate their nervous system in safe and empowering ways.

Units:

Trauma-Informed Somatic Āsana
Mindful Embodiment, Orientation & Grounding
Trauma-Informed Prāṇāyāma
Contraindications & Safety Considerations
Mediation, Mindfulness & Attention Practices
Modified Trauma-Informed Yoga Nidrā
Nāda Yoga – Sound, Vibration & Regulation
Trauma-Informed Sequencing
Case Studies & Scenarios
Integrated Practice Lab 4

Module 5 – Trauma-Informed Teaching Methodology

Module 5 focuses on developing the practical skills and embodied presence required to facilitate trauma-informed sessions safely and effectively. Trainees will learn how to apply the concepts, neurobiology, and trauma literacy from Modules 1–4 into real-world teaching scenarios, integrating Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, mindfulness, sound, mantra, and deep rest in ways that honour participant autonomy, choice, and nervous system regulation. This module emphasises facilitator presence, ethical decision-making, and responsive teaching, equipping trainees with strategies to create inclusive, safe, and supportive learning environments for diverse participants. It is experiential, reflective, and hands-on, blending observation, practice, and feedback to foster confidence and skilful application.

Units:

Trauma-Informed Language & Cueing
Neural & Non-Directive Phrasing
Encouraging Participant Autonomy
Sequencing for Nervous System Regulation
Holding Space for Groups Safely
Group Nervous System Dynamics
Responding to Activation
Post-Practice Boundaries
Adapting Classes Across Teaching Contexts
Practical Teaching Labs 5

Module 6 – Advanced Applications & Supervised Practicum

Units:

Advanced Nervous System Literacy
Advanced Non-Diagnostic Needs-Based Sequencing
Matching Modality to State
Staying Within Scope Under Pressure
Case Reflection & Integration
Professional Integration & Ethical Pathways
Advanced Facilitation Requirements
Complex Scenario Application
Practical Teaching Lab 6
Teaching Multi-Modality Trauma-informed Session
Supervised Practicum
Practice Integration & Reflection
Closing Circle

2026 Attendance Dates:

Module 1 – Thursday (evening) 3^rd & Saturday 5^th September
Module 2 – Thursday (evening) 24^th & Saturday 26^th September
Module 3 – Thursday (evening) 15^th & Saturday 17^th October
Module 4 – Thursday (evening) 5^th & Saturday 7^th November
Module 5 – Thursday (evening) 26^th & Saturday 28^th November
Module 6 – Thursday (evening) 10^th & Saturday 12^th December

Attendance Times: Thursdays 5pm – 9pm; Saturdays 9am – 6pm (incl breaks)

Location: Moksha Yoga, 437A Centre Road, Bentleigh VIC 3204

Qualifies as 100hrs Continuing Professional Development for Yoga Teachers

MEET THE FACULTY

Emma Palmer

Emma Palmer (She/Her)

Senior Yoga Teacher & E-RYT-500

Founder & Director of Moksha Yoga & The Moksha Academy

Emma Palmer brings over two decades of dedicated teaching and one-on-one mentorship into the Trauma Informed Embodied Somatic Facilitator Training. Since graduating in 2003, she has worked closely with students from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and needs, developing a deeply attuned, responsive approach that honours the individuality of each person’s nervous system, history, and capacity.

As a Senior Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500) and Yoga Australia (Level 3), Emma integrates a wide range of yogic practices, including Āsana, Somatic Movement, Prāṇāyāma, Meditation, Mantra, Philosophy and Yogic Psychology through a trauma-informed and somatically aware lens. Her teaching emphasises safety, choice, pacing, and self-agency, supporting students to reconnect with their bodies in ways that feel grounded, sustainable, and empowering.

Emma’s work is rooted in the understanding and experience that trauma is held not only in the mind, but within the body and nervous system. Through breath, awareness, and carefully guided practices, she supports students to build capacity, regulate their internal state, and cultivate a deeper sense of steadiness and presence. Her approach bridges ancient yogic wisdom with contemporary understanding of embodiment, offering practical tools that students can integrate into their daily lives.

Alongside her group teaching and lead facilitators across the Moksha Academy’s Teacher Trainings, Emma has spent over 23 years working one-on-one with students in mentoring spaces, where she brings a compassionate, spiritually informed perspective to support integration, self-inquiry, and personal transformation. This depth of experience informs her ability to hold space with sensitivity, clarity, and discernment, particularly when working with trauma.

Emma is also the founder of Moksha Yoga (2005) and The Moksha Academy (2010), where she has trained and mentored hundreds of teachers. Her teaching within this training is grounded in lived experience, long-term practice, and a genuine commitment to supporting facilitators to work in ways that are ethical, embodied, and deeply attuned to those they serve.

Satvir Gill

Satvir Gill (She/Her)

BA (Hons) Psychology, M. Psychology (Clinical)

Satvir Gill is a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in trauma, and a Trauma-informed Yoga Teacher.

She has worked as a psychologist for 18 years across public and private health sectors, now focusing on private practice where she provides medium to long-term therapy to adults who have experienced numerous kinds of trauma, especially within relational, attachment and family of origin systems.

Satvir became a Yoga Teacher more recently after many years of personal practice and runs classes and workshops in a range of studio and community settings, with a focus on offering yoga to marginalised populations.

Additional training:

350-hour Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching

100-hour Trauma-Informed Yin Yoga Teacher Training

20-hour Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga

Certificate in Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies

Mish Kumar-Jonson

Mish Kumar-Jonson (They/Them)

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
AMHSW, EMDRAA, EMDRIA, MSW, YMHFAT

Mish Kumar-Jonson is a South Indian, non-binary, queer, neurodivergent and disabled Accredited Mental Health Social Worker based on unceded Kulin Nation lands.

As a Therapist, Researcher, and EMDR Consultant, Mish integrates anti-oppressive and healing-centred approaches to trauma work, especially with people of the global majority to create spaces where folks can connect, heal and embody their favourite selves.

Mish explores culturally affirming frameworks within psychotherapy through their therapeutic and structural practices, centring on cultural humility, identity-affirming care and joy as tools for liberation and identity reclamation.

ARRANGE A CALL WITH EMMA

Have questions about the course or exploring further into Trauma-Informed Embodied Somatics?

Why not arrange a 15-minute call with Moksha Academy Director of Education and Lead Facilitator Emma Palmer!

Simply drop us an email at ytt@mokshayoga.com.au with your contact details and we’ll set it up.

Alternatively, feel free to give us a call anytime on 03 9557-5885

SET UP YOUR CALL WITH EMMA NOW!

EMAIL YOUR DETAILS

FREE PRANAYAMA TASTER & INFO EVENING

Join Emma for a very special evening to experience the true potential of Prāṇāyāma for yourself and gain a direct felt-sense of just how deep-reaching its beneficial impacts can be as they permeate through every layer of your being.

You’ll take away some key techniques for shifting your state and influencing Prāṇic flow, as well as some invaluable pointers for refining your own Prāṇāyāma practice if you already have one.

It’s also your opportunity to have all your questions answered about our 80-hour Pranayama Teacher Training, as Emma shines her light of insight and inspiration across all you can expect from this incredibly rewarding course.

We’d love to meet you face-to-face at Moksha and the event will also be made available to join live and interactive online for those who can’t make it to the studio to experience in-person.

Friday 9 February 2024, 6pm – 8pm

SPACES ARE LIMITED SO BE SURE TO BOOK YOUR FREE SPOT NOW:

ENROL NOW

Places are limited so be sure to secure your spot at the training by booking online early.

By enrolling for the course you are confirming your agreement to all of the following Terms & Conditions (including General Entry Requirements, Certificate Completion Requirements, Training Consent and our Student Refund Policy), so please be mindful to read them thoroughly first.

Terms & Conditions

ENROLMENT PROCEDURE

All enrolments can be made online through the Moksha Yoga website at https://www.mokshayoga.com.au/trauma-informed-embodied-somatics

Participants undertaking this course are required to make payment at the point of enrolment. The Early Bird Rate for the training closes on Wednesday 5 August 2026, after which the full training price will apply. Final date for all enrolments is Friday 28 August 2026.

Payment via Instalments requires a non-refundable $995 deposit to be made on enrolment, with the balance payable via 3 x equal instalment payments of $480 to be automatically deducted on the 1^st day of each month following course commencement (1 October, 1 November & 1 December 2026)

Once enrolment and payment has been made, the Moksha Academy Student Withdrawal and Refund Policy will apply (detailed below).

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

70 Contact hours: 6 x training modules (Thursdays 5pm – 9pm; Saturdays 9am – 6pm incl breaks) hosted at Moksha Yoga, Bentleigh VIC. A minimum 85% attendance rate is required.

30 Non-contact hours: Home Study, Integration Exercises & Teaching Practice

GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

We welcome applications from participants 18 years of age and over.

The Moksha Academy’s primary intention when considering an enrolment is that the applicant demonstrates potential to successfully complete and succeed on their chosen course, including: effective interpersonal and communication skills; a genuine, empathic and compassionate nature; a mature and responsible outlook; a dedicated willingness to commit to the course and a consistent personal meditation practice.

TRAINING CONSENT

By enrolling in this training, you acknowledge and agree that:

This training is educational in nature and is not therapy, counselling, or a substitute for medical or psychological support.

Participation does not establish a therapist-client relationship with any facilitator or staff member.

The training may include experiential somatic practices that could feel activating or emotionally challenging.

You will take full responsibility for your own wellbeing, including engaging at a pace that feels appropriate for you.

You will seek external professional support if needed, beyond the scope of this training.

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL & REFUND POLICY

We strongly recommend that before enrolling you ensure you are able to make the commitment to the course in its entirety in order to successfully meet the assessment criteria and graduate. All requests to withdraw from the training must be made in writing and sent via email or post to the Moksha Academy of Yoga.

Where notification of withdrawal is received at least 4 weeks prior to course commencement, the Academy will refund any fees less the non-refundable deposit of $995 plus an administrative fee of $200 to cover the cost of backfilling the vacancy and updating the schedules (total $1195)

Where notification of withdrawal is received 2-4 weeks prior to course commencement, the Academy will refund any fees less the non-refundable deposit of $995 plus an administrative fee of $500 to cover the cost of backfilling the vacancy and updating the schedules (total $1495)

Where the Academy receives notification in writing to withdraw from the course less than 2 weeks prior to course commencement, students are not entitled to any refund of course fees.

Please note, the Moksha Academy of Yoga reserves the right to cancel or amend any training course in the unlikely event of insufficient enrolment. Notice will be provided with the option to reschedule for a future course date or to receive a full refund of fees.

Payment in Full: $2435

Special Early Bird Rate: $2195 until Wednesday 5 August 2026!

Payment via Instalments: $2435

(Deposit payable of $995, followed by 3 x monthly instalments of $480 upon course commencement – see T&C’s for full details)

PROCEED TO ENROLMENT AND PAYMENT

ENROL NOW

Finances an obstacle? We’ve got you covered – ask us about an instalment program by emailing ytt@mokshayoga.com.au

MORE INFORMATION

We welcome any questions you may have about the course or your calling to delve deeper into the teachings of Prāṇāyāma – drop us an email at ytt@mokshayoga.com.au or feel free to call us for a chat on 03 9557-5885

GET IN TOUCH