Somatic Essentials: Core Techniques for Every Practitioner (5 hrs)
Somatic Essentials: Core Techniques for Every Practitioner
5 Hours CE/CPD | Online Course with Lara Kolesar
Somatic work invites practitioners to listen more deeply to the body — not only as a structure to be assessed or treated, but as an intelligent, sensing, responsive system.
Somatic Essentials: Core Techniques for Every Practitioner introduces practical somatic principles and techniques that help practitioners guide clients toward greater body awareness, self-perception, movement confidence, and mind-body connection.
Presented by Lara Kolesar, this course combines step-by-step instruction, practical exercises, live demonstrations, and clear explanations to help practitioners integrate somatic awareness into therapeutic, movement, coaching, and bodywork settings.
Course Overview
Across this 5-hour CE/CPD course, participants will explore core somatic techniques designed to help clients better recognize, interpret, and engage with the sensations and messages of the body.
The course focuses on developing a practical somatic vocabulary — a way of listening to the body through touch, breath, movement, sensory awareness, and guided internal perception.
Through 4K video classes, live demonstrations, workbook-supported study, lesson quizzes, and an online exam, participants will learn how somatic practices may support wellbeing, self-awareness, emotional regulation, embodied movement, and a deeper connection between body and mind.
While somatic work is often discussed in relation to trauma-informed practice, this course presents somatic awareness as a broader human skill: a way of helping clients relate to the body as a source of information, resilience, expression, and personal insight.
What You Will Learn
| Topic | Focus |
|---|---|
| Somatic Awareness | Understanding somatic perception as an internal sensing and responding process within the body |
| Somatic Vocabulary | Helping clients notice, describe, and engage with body sensations in a clear and meaningful way |
| Touch, Breath & Movement | Using practical tools to support body awareness, self-connection, and embodied presence |
| Client Guidance | Developing skills to support clients through somatic exploration in a safe, respectful, and professional way |
| Clinical & Practice Integration | Applying somatic concepts within bodywork, movement, rehabilitation, coaching, and wellness settings |
Course Content
The course combines somatic theory, practical exercises, guided body awareness techniques, live demonstrations, and workbook-supported learning to help practitioners integrate somatic tools into professional practice.
| Module | Focus |
|---|---|
| Understanding Somatic Practice | The meaning of somatic work and its relevance to body-oriented professional practice |
| Listening to the Body | Developing awareness of sensation, response, perception, and embodied communication |
| Core Somatic Techniques | Step-by-step practical exercises using touch, breath, movement, and sensory attention |
| Live Demonstrations | Real-life applications showing how somatic techniques may support the therapeutic process |
| Professional Integration | Using somatic awareness within therapy, movement education, rehabilitation, coaching, and client care |
Who This Course Is For
This course is suitable for rehabilitation professionals, massage therapists, manual therapists, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, chiropractors, nurses, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, athletic trainers, exercise professionals, fitness professionals, bodyworkers, movement teachers, coaches, and practitioners interested in deepening their understanding of body-based awareness.
It is especially valuable for professionals who want to support clients through a more embodied approach to therapeutic work, movement education, self-awareness, wellbeing, and the relationship between physical sensation and lived experience.
About Lara Kolesar
For the last 25 years, Lara Kolesar has been exploring and creating new ways to support the body and translate its intelligence through touch, breath, and movement.
She developed the Kolesar Body Knowledge Method for Pilates instructors and is the author of the book Somatic Essentials.
Lara brings together expertise in Pilates, Gyrotonic, anatomy, massage, dance, embodied movement, and personal development to help people reconnect with the body’s innate intelligence and sensory wisdom.
Her teaching emphasizes touch, sensory intuition, embodied awareness, and practical tools that help practitioners support clients in developing a more trusting and connected relationship with their bodies.
Included With This Course
| Included | Details |
|---|---|
| 4K Video Classes | 3.5 hours of video instruction, practical exercises, and demonstrations presented by Lara Kolesar |
| Illustrated Course Workbook | Comprehensive workbook supporting somatic theory, practical exercises, and professional integration |
| Companion Course | Additional content designed to reinforce clinical reasoning and practical integration |
| Lesson Quizzes | Knowledge checks designed to reinforce learning throughout the course |
| Online Exam | Assessment included for course completion |
| Certificate | 5 Hours CE/CPD following successful completion |
| Lifetime Access | Study at your own pace and revisit the material whenever required |
CE Finder
This course has been approved for continuing education by numerous professional boards and associations worldwide. Scroll sideways to find your board or association.
Approvals Listed: 61
CE Broker Provider: #20-1290711
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Approval requirements can change. Please confirm acceptance with your own board, association, employer, or regulatory authority before registration.
Somatic Essentials: Core Techniques for Every Practitioner
Professional Reviews & Feedback
The reviews below represent feedback provided by students and practitioners through Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me.
“Lara Kolesar presents somatic concepts in a clear and grounded way. The course felt practical from the very beginning.”
“A thoughtful course that helped me understand how somatic techniques can support body awareness and therapeutic presence.”
“The course gave me useful language and practical tools for introducing somatic work into client sessions.”
“I appreciated the calm, professional teaching style. The material was easy to follow and clinically relevant.”
“This course helped me slow down, observe more carefully, and work with clients in a more responsive way.”
“The techniques were explained clearly and felt immediately useful for clients dealing with tension and stress-related patterns.”
“A strong introduction to somatic practice. It gave me a more structured way to think about awareness, movement, and regulation.”
“The course connected well with rehabilitation practice, especially around client education and nervous system awareness.”
“The demonstrations were gentle, clear, and easy to adapt. I found the course very relevant to manual therapy practice.”
“Lara explains the material without overcomplicating it. The course is accessible while still feeling professionally substantial.”
“This was a refreshing course. It helped me think more carefully about how clients experience movement and sensation.”
“I found the practical techniques useful for supporting relaxation, awareness, and more comfortable movement.”
“A well-organised course with a calm, thoughtful tone. The content was easy to apply in client-centred sessions.”
“The course helped me better understand how somatic cues can support clients without forcing movement or outcomes.”
“Excellent continuing education. The techniques were practical, respectful, and easy to integrate into existing treatment work.”
“I appreciated the emphasis on awareness and safety. The course gave me useful ideas for working with sensitive clients.”
“The teaching was grounded and professional. I came away with techniques I can use without needing to change my whole practice.”
“The course added an important dimension to how I think about movement, recovery, and client self-awareness.”
“A very useful course for therapists who want to bring more body awareness and nervous system sensitivity into their work.”
“Clear, practical, and thoughtfully presented. The course gave me a better framework for using somatic techniques with clients.”
