Trauma-informed Practice for Yoga Teachers & Therapists
The Trauma-informed Somatic Therapy Training is addressed to Yoga Teachers and Body-work Professionals and involves integrating somatic (body-oriented) practices into teaching to create a safe and therapeutic space for students with trauma histories. Key principles include encouraging autonomy and choice, using invitational language, fostering body awareness, and understanding the polyvagal theory of the nervous system. Yoga teachers learn to recognize how yoga can impact the body, providing tools for self-regulation, supporting student agency, and teaching in a trauma-responsive manner to facilitate healing and empowerment.
Somatic Focus:
This approach recognizes that trauma can be stored in the body, leading to chronic tension or heightened stress responses. Somatic therapy helps individuals deeply connect with their bodies to process emotions and release repressed memories and thoughts.
Trauma-Informed Techniques:
Teaching with a trauma-informed lens means creating an environment that prioritizes safety, choice, trust, and empowerment for all students, especially those with a history of trauma and sensory processing disorders like ADHD.
De-escalation Protocols:
Be prepared to recognize and respond to a student’s trauma response during a class using advanced Sensorimotor Therapy techniques such as pendulation and titration.
This intensive training provides practical tools and somatic practices to assist your students and clients become more safely embodied. You will develop a basic grasp of how to work in a trauma-aware, nervous system-friendly manner, incorporating ideas of safety, choice, boundary, and empowerment into your teaching.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This 5-day intensive is intended for those who teach yoga or work in the body-work field and wish to learn more about trauma-informed somatic approaches. It will also help you expand your clientele’s skill set and add another profound modality of teaching.
By the end of the course you will have:
- Up-levelled your understanding of trauma including your own experience
- Learned how to create a safe space for your students by using practices and techniques related to micromovements, breathwork, somatic release, progressive relaxation and embodiment
- Comprehended how to take care of yourself when working with students experiencing trauma and trauma symptoms like hypo and hyperarousal, overwhelm and dissociation
- Established a routinary practice of exercises for a mindful, coherent, self-modulated and soothing approach
- Fortified your understanding of the polyvagal theory and the basic concepts and mechanisms behind the nervous system in presence of psychological wounds
- Refined your skill sets to work confidently on repressed mental content and emotional blockages expressed through the body
WHY CHOOSE THIS TRAINING
This unique course brings together trauma-informed training and advanced somatic psychology in one -you will receive ample support and time to digest and transform knowledge into embodied wisdom.
Somatic Therapy and Somatic Experiencing techniques for working with bodily felt-senses for genuine personal development, will be introduced to you along with tailored exercises that you can use on a daily basis and subsequently include into your teaching. These techniques help you develop a deeper sense of integration and connection, which is crucial for our hectic,stressful life.
The Center gives all the peace and reflection of Nature, is tucked away in one of the most exquisite and revered valleys, and offers expansive views of the Chirripò mountains. Between classes, you can unwind in a hammock, take a dip in the prisitine rivers, deepen your yoga practice in the Teak wood Yoga Shala, or stroll through the magnificent forest paths.
The group will be kept maximum up to 10 participants to allow for high quality intimate learning space.
You will be gently guided by licensed psychologists and experts in the field of Somatic Therapy who mindfully designed this program for overcoming all possible obstacles and challenges in your job.
Your Teacher
Elisa Fusi, Medical Biologist and Psychologist. CCTP 2 Certified Clinical Trauma Practitioner level II, PNEI PsychoNeuroEndocrine Immunology Practitioner and Certified Somatic Therapist. VIEW FULL BIO
MODALITY: 100% IN PRESENCE
DURATION: 5 DAYS
LOCATION: Chirripo’ Valley Costa Rica
DATES: 18th-22nd February 2026 and 29th March-2nd April 2026 View Calendar
TEACHER/THERAPIST: Elisa Fusi Psychosomatic Medicine Practitioner and Psychologist, Certified Somatic Therapist VIEW BIO
CERTIFICATE: a CMA official certificate will be available upon completion of the training.
FOOD: organic, vegetarian, delicious home-made food (3 meals per day)
ACCOMMODATION: private house with shared bathroom, double occupancy
FEES: 1500$ inclusions: food, accommodation double occupancy, full course, use of the facilities, pdf material, books and articles, printed certification.
SINGLE ROOM: available on request at a different rate
DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE: for multiple bookings and 1 on 1 courses at Alquimia’s facilities
EXTENSION OF STAY: a tailored trauma-release advanced class is possible after consultation
LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS VIEW
YOUR STAY
With over 6 hectares of protected mountain rain forest and organically cultivated orchards and gardens, the Centre is a gem surrounded by majestic mountain forests and the panoramic vistas of the Chirripo Valley. Year round climate here is perhaps the best Costa Rica has to offer with daytime temperatures in the low 27’s C. and evening temperatures a comfortable 19-20 degrees. The Wellness Center is located in a rural environment, home to free flowing natural waters, numerous species of birds and immeasurable varieties of fruits, plants and flowers. Here you will find a natural oasis of streams, waterfalls and native forests combined with easy trail access for exploring Nature at her finest.
All rooms boast expansive views of the mountains and valleys right from the wooden terrace. All rooms have pillow top high quality orthopedic mattresses and soft comfortable bedding.
AMENITIES:
- Streams and waterfalls to nourish the Spirit
- Buddha Fireplace Room
- Flower and Vegetable Gardens
- Community Dining Hall and Reading Areas
- Modern accommodations for over 16 attendees
- Teak wood Yoga Shala
- Open air communal Rancho with tea station and pizza oven / fireplace
- Meditation and Movement Temple
- Outdoor fire Circle
- Zen Pond and Garden areas
- Meditation sitting spaces throughout the Center
- Site Sourced Pure Spring water for guest drinking
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO COSTA RICA, DON'T MISS THE ONLINE PROGRAM: LIMITED OFFER 19.99$
How the Online Format Works
Self-paced modules with video lessons and downloadable materials
Practice exercises you can use personally or in client sessions
Optional live Q&A sessions for clarification and support
Certification upon completion of required coursework
- Lifetime access to all course materials and future update