Behind the Scenes: Becoming a Certified SOMApilates™ Instructor
If you've followed along with us this year, you've probably noticed something new bubbling up at the studio — SOMApilates™. It's been years in the making, and this June we're finally welcoming our very first certification cohort to Jacksonville.
I wanted to take a moment to share what SOMApilates™ actually is, why I created it, and what it means to become a certified instructor.
Why I Created SOMApilates™
After 20+ years of teaching Pilates, I started noticing something. The clients who made the deepest, most lasting changes weren't always the ones doing the most advanced exercises. They were the ones who learned to listen — to their breath, their nervous system, the subtle signals their body was sending them the whole time.
Traditional Pilates training asks: "How do I perform this exercise correctly?"
SOMApilates™ asks something different: "What am I noticing while I move?"
That shift — from performance to presence — is the heart of everything we teach.
What Makes This Certification Different
SOMApilates™ blends the structure and strength of classical Pilates with the awareness, curiosity, and healing potential of somatic movement practice. It's nervous-system informed, trauma-aware, and built for instructors who want to teach movement that actually transforms — not just movement that looks good.
Our first Mat Certification training runs June 19–21, 2026 right here at the studio in Avondale. It's a 3-day immersive experience covering:
The history and lineage of somatic movement
Nervous system basics and breath as foundation
Trauma-aware cueing and consent-based teaching
Practice teaching with real feedback
A full certification pathway with written and practical assessment
Who This Is For
This training is for movement professionals who are ready to go deeper — yoga teachers, fitness instructors, dancers, and dedicated Pilates students who want to bring more depth and intention into how they teach (or how they move).
Graduates become Certified SOMApilates™ Mat Instructors, with a clear pathway toward our Advanced Equipment Certification launching in January 2027.
Why I'm Excited
This isn't just a training — it's the beginning of a community. Every person who walks through that door in June will help shape what SOMApilates™ becomes. I can't wait to teach alongside this first group and watch them bring this work into their own studios, classes, and communities.
If you've ever felt like your teaching (or your practice) was missing something — this might be it.
Spots are limited to 10 participants. Learn more about the SOMApilates™ Mat Certification or reach out with any questions — we'd love to talk it through with you.