Top Somatic Coaching Programs And How To Choose One

Life has a way of storing things in our bodies. From past stuck emotions to stored trauma to stress and tension, your body, especially your nervous system, is holding what happens to you.

You might not realize it, but that tightness in your shoulders or the lump in your throat? Those physical sensations are your body’s way of trying to speak to you.

Just like you stretch and strengthen your muscles in yoga, somatic coaching invites you into an even deeper journey of personal development.

This body oriented coaching is about more than just movement—it’s about using somatic practices for trauma healing and rewiring neural pathways.

If you’re ready to get your somatic coaching certification, then you’ll be able to use the art of somatic coaching to help others release what’s stuck and reclaim the wisdom their bodies already hold, all while moving at their own pace.

Today I want to share my picks for top somatic coaching programs. If you’re feeling called to deepen your personal healing—or help others do the same—then a somatic coaching certification is your right next step.

What Does A Somatic Coach Do?

Somatic coaching helps people access the wisdom of the body to support emotional healing, personal growth, and nervous system regulation.

Unlike traditional coaching, which focuses primarily on mindset and behavior, somatic coaching incorporates body-based tools and somatic practices into the coaching practice, like body awareness, breathwork, movement, physical sensations awareness, and grounding techniques to process stuck emotions and create lasting change.

I like to think of somatic coaching as embodied coaching. As a somatic coach, you practice embodied leadership and you’re more than a guide. You’re an executive coach for greater self awareness and embodied transformation. Or the support team for the nervous system using a powerful body oriented framework.

Somatic coaching requires you to be anchored deeply in the present moment. You’re a space holder for deep somatic transformation and deep healing. Whether you do somatic work like body scanning or emotional mapping, your coaching sessions include transformative conversations, somatic awareness, somatic coaching exercises, and most importantly, movements to regulate the nervous system.

The body doesn’t just store trauma; it also holds profound insight, emotional resilience, and healing potential. Somatic coaching allows you to help clients tune into this inner knowing, unlocking what’s been buried and gently releasing what no longer serves.

Your somatic coaching practice is powerful, embodied work that honors the truth that personal development and real healing happen from the inside out.

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What’s the difference between somatic coaching vs somatic therapy? 

The difference between a somatic coaching practice and somatic therapy lies in scope and training.

While somatic coaching does have a recognized somatic coaching academy, and there is an international coaching federation, it’s main requirement is a somatic coaching certification.

Somatic therapy is a clinical practice provided by licensed mental health professionals to treat trauma, anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions using body-based methods.

Somatic coaching, on the other hand, is a non-clinical approach that uses similar body-awareness techniques to support personal growth, stress relief, and self-regulation, but it does not diagnose or treat mental health disorders. However, a training program curriculum is highly recommended before you begin hosting your own somatic coaching sessions.

While both methods require leadership skills and use training materials to identify behavior patterns while maintaining an ethical practice, they each use a different proven framework. Both paths recognize the body as a gateway to healing, but somatic coaching empowers clients to become their own healers.

Somatic coaching sessions create a safe, supportive space in practice sessions for people to explore their inner landscape, tune into their nervous system, build resilience, and reconnect with their innate wisdom through somatic tools, without needing to “fix” anything. Somatic coaching is about guiding people back to themselves, one embodied moment at a time. It’s important to learn what somatic training covers.

What exercises are used in somatic coaching?

Somatic coaching uses a wide variety of practices to foster deep healing.

Many somatic coaches include breathwork, body scans, grounding practices, mindful movement, vocalization, and guided visualization. Other somatic coaches focus on subtle cues, conversation, self awareness, and forming a deeper connection through a holistic approach to well being that will create lasting, sustainable change. This might include journaling, chanting, yoga, walking, shaking, and other body based practices. The main goal is to restore balance. A well rounded coach and experienced practitioners usually use a combination of somatic coaching tactics and practices.

These self development techniques help clients become more aware of bodily sensations, release stored tension, and regulate their nervous system.

Somatic coaching exercises aren’t just tools, they’re doorways into deeper self-connection and learning how to effectively deal with all that life throws at you. Somatic coaching invites clients to trust the body’s wisdom, using simple yet powerful practices to unlock stuck energy, access intuition, and cultivate a sense of safety within. It’s about coming home to the body, one breath, one sensation, one movement at a time.

Best Somatic Coaching Certification Programs

Are you ready to support others in healing through the wisdom of the body? Then you’re ready for somatic school!

A somatic coaching certification program is ideal for yoga teachers, wellness practitioners, therapists, life coaches, and anyone who is focused on well being and ready to help others have a transformational experience. A somatic school offers you a way to teach embodied transformation through a certification course.

Whether you want to enhance your current online learning offerings or begin a new path entirely with other certified coaches, each program curriculum combines science-backed tools with embodied presence to help you guide powerful transformation. Each somatic coaching academy offers different standards for successful completion and final assessment.

Here are five top somatic certification programs to explore:

1. Best for Yoga Professionals and Wellness Enthusiasts: Uplifted™ Somatic Yoga & Life Coaching Certification

150 Hours | 6-Month Hybrid Program | Uplifted™ Yoga

This program uniquely combines somatic coaching with yoga, breathwork, and nervous system regulation, culminating in dual certification as a Somatic Yoga Teacher and Somatic Life Coach.

Led by me, it includes six months of intimate training, coaching, and business support within a hand-picked online cohort.

Designed for 300-Hour Certified Yoga Teachers, health professionals, therapists, and social workers, the program requires an interview to apply. Plus, this certification program shows you how to market your new business, so you can reach the right clients for YOU.

Who Should Take This Course: Experienced yoga teachers and wellness professionals seeking to deepen their practice with somatic coaching.

Program Focus: Integrates yoga, breathwork, and somatic work for embodied transformation.

Key Course Features:

• Life Coaching Certification rooted in yoga to facilitate lasting change
• Embodied Yoga Method detailed somatic pose manual
• Diagnostic tools fusing Ayurveda, Tantra, and the chakras
• Comprehensive coaching tools manual and business guidance
• Intimate mentorship and live somatic yoga practices
• Lifetime access to meticulously crafted curriculum
• Accredited by ICF up to the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) level

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2. Best for Leadership Development: Strozzi Institute Somatic Coaching Certification

8-Month Hybrid Program | Four 4-Day In-Person Retreats | Accredited by ICF

The Strozzi Institute offers a comprehensive somatic certification that includes four 4-day in-person sessions, an introduction to somatic bodywork, and one-on-one mentor coaching. The program is designed for those looking to integrate somatic wisdom into their coaching methodology.

Who Should Take This Course: Coaches and leaders seeking to incorporate somatic practices into their work.

Program Focus: Embodied leadership and somatic coaching practices.

Key Course Features:

• In-person retreats focusing on somatic exercises and mindfulness
• One-on-one mentor coaching sessions
• Group mentoring for community building
• Supplementary webinars and online resources
• Accredited by ICF up to the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) level

3. Best for ICF Coaches: The Somatic School – ICF Level 2 Accredited Program

Online Program | Monthly Peer Practice Calls | Led by Experienced Trainers

This training offers the world’s first somatic training to be awarded a Level 2 accreditation by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The program provides a body-oriented framework to help clients become wholly themselves and feel fully alive.

Who Should Take This Course: Aspiring and existing coaches seeking an ICF-accredited somatic coaching program.

Program Focus: Body-oriented coaching to support clients in becoming wholly themselves.

Key Course Features:

• Monthly peer practice calls with live feedback
• ICF mentor coaching sessions
• Access to an online community of body-oriented coaches
• Comprehensive library of coaching demos and business resources
• Seamless path to ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential

4. Best for Trauma Resolution: Somatic Experiencing® Professional Training

2.5 to 3-Year Program | 6-8 Modules | Developed by Dr. Peter Levine

Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) is a body-oriented approach to healing trauma and stress disorders. The professional training program is delivered through a combination of lecture, demonstration, and guided practice sessions. Course material is taught in 6-8 training modules of 4 to 6 days in length, spaced out over 2½ to 3 years.

Who Should Take This Course: Professionals seeking to specialize in trauma healing through somatic methods.

Program Focus: Healing trauma through body-oriented techniques.

Key Course Features:

• In-depth understanding of trauma physiology and the autonomic nervous system
• Experiential learning with live demonstrations and guided practice
• Integration of Polyvagal Theory and SE™ model of SIBAM
• Certification as a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP)
• Applicable for psychotherapists, bodyworkers, coaches, and medical professionals

5. Best for Creative Movement Integration: Embodied Flow™ 200-Hour Yoga & Somatics Teacher Training

200 Hours | In-Person and Online Options | Led by Tara Judelle and Certified Faculty

Embodied Flow™ offers a 200-hour training that integrates hatha yoga, somatics, movement meditations, tantric philosophy, and transpersonal psychology. The program aims to elicit the experience of stepping into flow as meditation in action.

Who Should Take This Course: Yoga practitioners and teachers interested in deepening their practice with somatic and movement-based approaches.

Program Focus: Integrative blend of yoga, somatics, and movement meditation.

Key Course Features:

• Comprehensive curriculum covering embodied anatomy, asana, and creative sequencing
• In-depth exploration of non-dual tantric philosophy and classical yoga texts
• Introduction to free movement and authentic movement practices
• Development of teaching methodology and authentic voice as a facilitator
• Certification with the Embodied Flow School of Yoga and eligibility for Yoga Alliance RYT 200® registration

6. For Yoga Teachers: Uplifted™ Somatic Yoga Certification

This program stands out for its yoga-centered approach to somatics, integrating nervous system education, biomechanics, and trauma-informed teaching within the framework of classical yoga. This training is designed specifically for yoga teachers who want to add depth to their practice while staying within their professional scope. Information about the exact cost, schedule, and prerequisites isn’t clearly listed on the website unless you opt in with your email, which could be a barrier for those wanting to make quick comparisons—but the depth of yoga-specific content may make it worthwhile for instructors focused on this modality.

• Focus: Yoga-based somatic education rooted in nervous system science and embodied movement.
• Length: Self-paced with access to a structured online training platform.
• Accreditation: Yoga Alliance–approved continuing education credits available.
• Who this is for: Yoga teachers who want to incorporate somatic tools into their teaching while staying grounded in yogic tradition.

How To Choose A Somatic Coaching Training

Because somatic coaching draws from diverse disciplines, like trauma-informed care, neuroscience, embodiment practices, and depth psychology,it can be tricky to know which training is the right fit.

Some programs lean heavily on therapeutic modalities, others are rooted in spiritual practice or movement. Depending on your background and goals, a somatic coaching training might deepen your personal healing journey, prepare you for client-facing work, or both. You might really want an internationally recognized certification program.

With the rise in popularity of somatic work, not all offerings are created equal. Some trainings provide transformational, evidence-based frameworks; others are vague, unstructured, or even exploitative.

Here are a few key things to consider before choosing your somatic coaching training and learning how to become a coach:

Your Personal and Professional Goals

Are you doing this training for personal growth, to enhance an existing practice, or to pivot into a new career? Do you want to start a coaching business?

Some somatic coaching trainings are more focused on personal embodiment and nervous system regulation, while others emphasize client-facing techniques and trauma-informed frameworks.

Read the program description carefully to see if the curriculum aligns with your intended use. Make sure the training offers applicable tools you can ethically use with clients, including scope of practice guidelines.

Approach to Trauma and Safety

Somatic work often touches on deep emotional and nervous system imprints, so it’s critical that your training centers trauma-informed care.

Look for programs that explicitly address psychological safety, consent, and scope.

Do the instructors have a background in body-based therapy or trauma-informed coaching?

The best trainings will help you recognize your limits as a coach and refer out when necessary, rather than positioning somatic practices as a cure-all.

Teaching Lineage and Methodology

Who developed the curriculum, and what are their influences?

Some somatic coaching approaches stem from pioneers like Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing), Pat Ogden (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy), or Richard Strozzi-Heckler (Strozzi Institute).

Others are rooted in newer fusions of neuroscience, movement, and mindfulness.

Research the methodology and ask whether it resonates with your values and learning preferences. Programs grounded in a clear, research-backed lineage tend to offer a more coherent learning experience.

Format and Support

Somatic coaching trainings can be online, in-person, or hybrid—and the format you choose should support your ability to fully engage.

If the course is online, are there live calls, group practice labs, or access to mentors?

If it’s in person, does it allow time for integration between sessions?

Look for a structure that includes ongoing support and peer connection. Learning somatic work is experiential by nature, so community and embodiment are key.

Ethics, Diversity, and Cultural Awareness

Somatic practices arise from a variety of cultural and ancestral traditions. A responsible somatic coaching training should address power dynamics, social location, cultural appropriation, and equity.

Look for programs that include faculty or guest teachers with diverse lived experiences and those that explicitly acknowledge the sociocultural context of embodiment.

Ethical somatic coaching includes not only individual healing but also awareness of systemic impacts on the body.

How To Become A Certified Somatic Coach

Now that you understand the power of somatic coaching and what it offers, let’s get into the practical steps of how to actually become a certified somatic coach.

Whether you’ve just heard the term or you’ve already experienced the benefits of body-based healing firsthand, this path is as transformative for you as it is for your future clients. Past students of somatic coaching programs often describe their journey as life-changing—not only because they learned to hold space for others, but because they healed themselves in the process.

Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to becoming a certified somatic coach, including tips to help you choose the right program, how to choose your coaching niche, and build a thriving practice rooted in presence, embodiment, and deep listening.

Step 1: Choose the Right Somatic Certification Program

The first—and most important—step is to find a program that resonates with your body and your values. Somatic work is deeply personal, so it’s essential to choose a school that feels aligned with your healing journey and your goals as a coach. Past students from top programs often say they knew it was the right program the moment they heard the founder speak or experienced a sample session.

Look for programs that offer trauma-informed frameworks, plenty of practice hours, and a blend of theory, neuroscience, and experiential learning. Whether online or in-person, make sure your training includes embodied practice, not just lectures. And remember: the best program is the one that calls to your nervous system, not just your intellect.

Step 2: Define Your Somatic Niche

Coaching is a vast field—so who are you here to serve? Defining your niche helps you get clear on your purpose and builds trust with potential clients. Are you drawn to working with women healing from burnout? Do you feel called to support men learning emotional regulation?

Maybe you’ve overcome chronic pain or eating disorders and want to help others do the same. Past students often discovered their niche by exploring their own stories or offering free sessions to friends. Your niche should come from both lived experience and deep listening—what is your body whispering is yours to guide?

Step 3: Complete Your Somatic Coaching Education

After identifying your niche or area of interest, it’s time to enroll in a somatic certification program that fits your goals. Look for programs accredited by recognized coaching bodies or led by experienced somatic practitioners whose teaching style resonates with you.

Many past students recommend choosing courses that blend theory with practical somatic embodiment exercises to truly integrate mind and body coaching techniques. Whether online or in-person, make sure the program offers mentorship, peer practice, and feedback — these are crucial for deep learning and confidence as a coach.

Step 4: Build Your Somatic Coaching Practice

Mostly, you want to know how to get coaching clients. Once certified, start building your practice by applying what you’ve learned with real clients. Many graduates suggest beginning with pro bono or low-fee sessions to refine your skills and gather testimonials.

This hands-on experience will help you gain clarity on your coaching approach and grow your confidence. Remember, somatic coaching is deeply relational and experiential, so prioritize building trust and connection with each client.

Step 5: Establish Your Niche and Brand

Early on, define your unique somatic coaching niche — who do you serve and how do you help them transform? Past students often found their niche by reflecting on their own healing journeys or professional backgrounds.

Your niche might be trauma recovery, leadership embodiment, creative blocks, or stress resilience. Craft your messaging around this niche so clients can clearly understand how you help and why you’re the right guide for them.

Step 6: Set Up Your Business Foundations

To run your coaching practice smoothly and professionally, set up the legal and financial groundwork. This includes choosing a business structure (like an LLC), obtaining any required licenses, and securing business insurance.

Creating clear coaching contracts and agreements protects you and sets clear expectations for your clients. Several somatic coaches recommend working with a legal professional to tailor these documents, ensuring they align with somatic coaching’s unique nature.

Step 7: Create Your Online Presence and Community

Build a simple, authentic website and social media profiles that showcase your somatic coaching philosophy and services. Past students emphasize the importance of sharing your story and somatic insights to attract your ideal clients.

Engage with communities online or locally where your niche audience gathers. Offer free workshops, somatic movement classes, or Q&A sessions to build trust and visibility.

Step 8: Design and Price Your Services Thoughtfully

Pricing can be tricky but essential. Reflect on the value you provide, your experience level, and the time commitment you’re offering clients. Many successful somatic coaches recommend starting with package deals (e.g., 3-month coaching programs) that give clients time to integrate changes.

Be transparent about your pricing and flexible with payment plans to make coaching accessible without undervaluing your expertise.

Step 9: Set Up Payment and Scheduling Systems

Choose user-friendly platforms to accept payments and schedule sessions—tools like Stripe, PayPal, or Square are popular and professional.

Many coaches use calendaring apps (Acuity, Calendly) to streamline bookings. Having these systems in place keeps your practice organized and allows you to focus on coaching rather than admin tasks.

Closing Thoughts

Exploring the path of coaching can be a deeply meaningful and life-changing experience. By reflecting on your intentions, exploring various training options, and tuning into your inner guidance, you can find a program that aligns with both your personal growth and professional aspirations.

Whether you’re a coach looking to bring more embodiment into your sessions, a wellness practitioner wanting to support clients on a deeper level, or someone drawn to the mind-body connection for your own healing, there’s a somatic coaching program designed for your journey.

The most important thing is to stay curious and open as you step into this work. Let yourself be shaped by the wisdom of seasoned teachers, inspired by the stories of your peers, and stretched by the practices that invite presence, awareness, and change.

With a spirit of exploration and a dedication to embodied learning, somatic coaching can become more than just a career — it can be a catalyst for transformation in your own life and in the lives of those you’re here to serve.

Next Steps

Feeling called to teach in a way that honors the body’s wisdom and supports true nervous system healing? The Somatic Yoga Training & Certification offers a science-backed, heart-centered approach to teaching yoga that goes beyond poses. In this immersive program, you’ll learn how to guide students through trauma-informed, nervous system-aware practices that foster deep self-awareness and transformation.

Ready to go beyond traditional yoga and step into the future of embodied transformation? You can learn how to teach somatic yoga with The Somatic Yoga Certification is your invitation to deepen your practice, expand your impact, and learn cutting-edge techniques that blend neuroscience, nervous system regulation, and somatic movement.

Whether you’re a yoga teacher, healer, or lifelong student of the body-mind connection, this program will empower you with the tools to support deep healing—for yourself and your clients.

Join us and become certified in a modality that meets this moment—grounded, intuitive, and profoundly transformative.