Somatic Bodywork & Space Holding Training
Somatic Bodywork & Space Holding Training
Deepen Your Practice. Learn to Work With the Body.
Professional somatic bodywork training in Australia, combining trauma-informed space holding, nervous system awareness, embodied practices and intentional hands-on bodywork.
Learn with Simon Yuen and Clara Marri through a practical training experience designed for facilitators, wellness practitioners and anyone looking to develop a deeper understanding of the body and the art of holding space.
Explore Upcoming Training Dates
Learn the Art of Somatic Bodywork & Space Holding
Working with the body involves much more than learning a set of techniques.
It requires the ability to observe, listen, respond and recognise what is happening within another person's experience, while remaining aware of your own presence and nervous system.
Our Somatic Bodywork & Space Holding Training is designed to develop these essential skills through a combination of embodied learning, practical bodywork, nervous system education and trauma-informed facilitation.
You'll explore how breath, movement, touch, emotions and body awareness interact, and how to approach these elements with greater sensitivity and intention.
Whether you're a breathwork facilitator, yoga teacher, bodyworker, wellness practitioner or simply interested in deepening your personal practice, this training provides an opportunity to develop a more embodied and responsive way of working with yourself and others.
The intention is not simply to learn what to do with your hands.
It's to understand when to engage, how to respond and when simply being present is enough.
What Is Somatic Bodywork?
Somatic bodywork is a body-centred approach that brings together physical awareness, intentional touch, movement and an understanding of how people experience sensations, stress and emotions within their bodies.
Unlike approaches focused primarily on manipulating muscles or correcting physical structures, somatic bodywork places particular emphasis on the individual's lived experience.
How does someone respond to touch?
What changes in their breathing, movement or posture?
Are they comfortable with the experience?
How can a practitioner adapt their approach without imposing an outcome?
These questions are central to somatic practice.
Our training explores bodywork as a relational process, where communication, consent, attunement and embodied awareness are as important as the techniques themselves.
Rather than attempting to force emotional release or a particular response, we teach students to work with the person in front of them.
Beyond Technique: The Art of Holding Space
Many practitioners learn how to guide an experience.
Fewer have opportunities to explore what happens when the experience unfolds differently from what they expected.
What happens when someone becomes emotional?
How do you recognise when a participant needs more space?
When might touch be supportive, and when might it be inappropriate?
How do you remain grounded when someone else's experience becomes intense?
And how do you know when to step back?
These are important questions for anyone working with breathwork, somatics, bodywork or other embodied practices.
Space holding isn't about controlling another person's experience.
It's about developing the awareness, communication and presence to support someone while respecting their boundaries, autonomy and individual needs.
This is one of the central principles of our training.
Guide with presence. Respond with awareness. Never force the process.
What You'll Learn in Our Somatic Bodywork Training
1. Trauma-Informed Space Holding
Explore the foundations of trauma-informed facilitation, including consent, choice, boundaries, communication and appropriate pacing.
Develop greater awareness of how people may respond to different experiences and learn to recognise when to adapt, pause or refer someone for additional professional support.
2. Nervous System Awareness & Regulation
Build a practical understanding of the autonomic nervous system and how activation, stress and regulation can influence the way people experience breath, movement and touch.
Learn to observe changes without assuming that a particular posture, sensation or emotional response necessarily reveals someone's trauma history.
3. Somatic Awareness & Embodiment
Explore practices that help develop a deeper relationship with physical sensations, movement, breath and internal awareness.
Through guided experiences and personal practice, you'll develop your ability to recognise and respond to what is happening within your own body.
4. Intentional Touch & Bodywork Foundations
Learn foundational hands-on bodywork techniques with an emphasis on communication, consent, sensitivity and appropriate application.
Explore how the quality, timing and intention of touch can influence an experience, and how to adapt your approach to different individuals and circumstances.
5. Embodied Facilitation & Practical Experience
Move beyond theory through supervised practice, observation and feedback.
Experience the work from different perspectives as you practise giving, receiving and facilitating within a supported learning environment.
6. Integration Into Your Existing Practice
Explore how somatic awareness and foundational bodywork may complement breathwork, yoga, movement, coaching, sound healing and other wellness modalities.
Develop a clearer understanding of your professional scope and how to integrate new skills responsibly.
Who Is This Somatic Training For?
This training welcomes both emerging and experienced practitioners.
It may be particularly valuable for:
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Breathwork facilitators wanting to deepen their understanding of the body and develop appropriate hands-on facilitation skills.
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Yoga and movement teachers interested in embodied awareness, intentional touch and nervous system-informed teaching.
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Massage and bodywork practitioners looking to expand their understanding of somatic approaches and client-centred facilitation.
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Sound healers and retreat facilitators wanting to develop stronger space-holding skills.
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Wellness coaches and holistic practitioners interested in integrating body awareness and somatic practices into their existing work.
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Mental health and allied health professionals interested in complementary embodied practices within their professional scope.
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Individuals exploring personal development who want to build a deeper connection with their own body and nervous system.
You don't need to be an established practitioner to begin.
A willingness to learn, practise and approach the work with curiosity and care is an important starting point.
Our 2-Day Somatic Space Holding & Bodywork Foundations Training
The foundational course combines self-paced online education with two days of immersive, in-person learning.
Rather than relying on lectures alone, the training encourages you to experience the practices directly, develop your awareness and build practical skills through supervised exercises.
What's Included
Online Pre-Learning
Access foundational learning materials exploring trauma-informed principles, bodywork, somatic awareness and the responsibilities of holding space.
2-Day In-Person Immersion
Two days of practical learning incorporating bodywork, breathwork, movement, meditation and embodied practices.
Supervised Bodywork Practice
Opportunities to practise foundational techniques, experience the work as a participant and receive guidance from your educators.
Personal Embodiment Practices
Explore practices designed to develop greater self-awareness, presence and a more grounded relationship with your own body.
Integration & Ongoing Community
Continue learning through access to course materials, practitioner connections and opportunities for ongoing development.
Upcoming Somatic Bodywork Training in Australia
Melbourne — November 2026
Somatic Space Holding & Bodywork Foundations
Dates: Saturday–Sunday, 28–29 November 2026
Location: Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria
Educators: Simon Yuen & Clara Marri
Sydney — December 2026
Somatic Space Holding & Bodywork Foundations
Dates: Saturday–Sunday, 5–6 December 2026
Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney, NSW
Educators: Simon Yuen & Clara Marri
Learn With Simon Yuen & Clara Marri
Simon Yuen
Breathwork Facilitator, Educator & Movement Coach | Founder of Erthe Life
Simon brings more than 20 years of experience across movement, fitness and wellness, alongside years of facilitating breathwork, somatic practices and immersive experiences across Australia and Asia.
His approach brings together breathwork, movement, body awareness, sound and practical facilitation, with an emphasis on developing the sensitivity and confidence to work with different individuals.
Through his work as a facilitator and educator, Simon encourages students to understand the principles behind what they do rather than simply memorising techniques.
His philosophy is grounded in continued learning, personal practice and the belief that meaningful facilitation begins with presence.
Clara Marri
Somatic Bodywork Practitioner, Educator & Facilitator
Clara integrates somatic bodywork, breathwork, movement and embodied practices to support deeper body awareness and connection.
Her teaching places particular emphasis on trauma-informed principles, nervous system awareness, intentional touch and the relational nature of bodywork.
Through practical education and embodied learning, Clara supports students in developing a more responsive and grounded approach to working with themselves and others.
Together, Simon and Clara bring complementary perspectives to somatic education, combining practical experience, movement, breathwork and body-centred facilitation.
Your Somatic Bodywork Training Pathway
Begin With the Foundations
Our 2-Day Somatic Space Holding & Bodywork Foundations course provides an introduction to embodied facilitation, trauma-informed space holding, nervous system awareness and practical bodywork.
It is designed to support both personal exploration and the development of foundational professional skills.
Continue Into Advanced Somatic Immersion
For those looking to develop further, the Advanced 7-Day Somatic Immersion offers a pathway into more extensive practical learning and deeper exploration of somatic facilitation.
The foundational course forms part of the pathway towards Somatic Space Holding Certification, subject to the relevant training and assessment requirements.
This allows students to build their understanding progressively rather than treating a single weekend as the completion of their professional development.
Enquire About the Advanced Training Below
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need previous bodywork experience?
No. This foundational training is open to beginners and experienced practitioners. Previous experience with breathwork, yoga, movement or bodywork may be helpful, but is not essential.
Is this a somatic practitioner certification?
The 2-day course is a foundational training and part of a wider learning pathway. It does not, by itself, qualify someone as a clinical somatic therapist or guarantee professional accreditation.
Will I learn hands-on bodywork techniques?
Yes. The training includes practical bodywork techniques, supervised learning and opportunities to experience giving and receiving touch with appropriate consent.
Is this training trauma-informed?
Yes. Trauma-informed principles are integrated throughout the training, including choice, consent, boundaries, communication and awareness of individual responses.
Can I integrate these skills into my existing practice?
The training is designed to help practitioners explore how somatic awareness, intentional touch and embodied facilitation may complement their existing work, subject to professional scope, insurance and applicable requirements.
Is the training available in Sydney and Melbourne?
Yes. The upcoming foundational training dates are 28–29 November 2026 in Melbourne and 5–6 December 2026 in Sydney.
What happens after the 2-day course?
Your learning continues beyond the 2-day training. You'll have opportunities to deepen your practice through ongoing learning, community meetups and practical sessions where you can connect, share experiences and practise alongside like-minded individuals. For those looking to develop further, we also offer an advanced 7-day Somatic Immersion training pathway.
Begin Your Somatic Bodywork Training Journey
Whether you're beginning your exploration of somatic bodywork or looking to deepen your existing practice, we'd love to hear from you.
Our foundational training is designed to help you develop greater awareness, confidence and practical skills in somatic bodywork, embodied facilitation and trauma-informed space holding.
Interested in joining an upcoming training?
Complete the enquiry form below and we'll be in touch with further details about the course, upcoming dates and how to enrol.