About ISMETA

The International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA) is a collaborative of individuals and organizations dedicated to evolving the field of Somatic Movement Education and Therapy. Since 1988 our not-for-profit organization has provided services including defining and upholding professional standards, advocating in legal and governmental arenas, connecting the worldwide somatic movement community, educating the general public and partnering with other professional organizations in complementary and integrative health care, human services, education, social justice and the arts. ISMETA maintains a professional registry of qualified practitioners and ensures that Somatic Movement Training Programs uphold high standards of education and practice. The organization is committed to furthering the recognition of the Somatic Movement profession. ISMETA offers events, networking platforms and professional development opportunities to our global membership.

Our Mission

Growing the Profession of Somatic Movement Education and Therapy

Our Vision

Transforming Ourselves and the World Through Conscious Movement

Our Values

Stewardship - We are committed to expanding the recognition of the profession worldwide by educating the general public and actively collaborating with other professional bodies.

Accessibility - We acknowledge access to opportunities and resources as essential to the establishment, evolution, and empowerment of a welcoming community of engaged participants.

Professional Integrity - We are committed to conducting ourselves in a professional, conscientious and respectful manner as we uphold the Pillars of the Profession: Scope of Practice, Standards of Practice, Core Competencies, and Code of Ethics.

Embodied Action - We approach our actions towards ourselves, those we encounter, and the world around us in a somatically informed way: integrating body, mind, and emotions while being present with those we serve.

Operations Team

Elisabeth Osgood-Campbell

MSME/T
Executive Director

e.osgoodcampbell@ismeta.org

see bio

Elisabeth Osgood-Campbell, a Master Somatic Movement Educator and Registered Expressive Arts Therapist, serves as the Executive Director of the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association. Elisabeth volunteered on the ISMETA Board of Directors for nine years, has served as Co-Chair of the Research and Publications and Equity, Justice, and Accessibility Committees, and acted as Assistant Director. Dedicated to building the base of evidence for somatic movement education and therapy practices, she has delivered presentations on cultivating neuroplasticity through interoception in somatic movement practices at academic conferences at Harvard Medical School and Tel Aviv University. As a member of Tamalpa Institute’s faculty and the Continuum Teachers Association, she teaches individuals and groups internationally. Currently, she is also a doctoral student investigating interoceptive awareness in integrative healthcare practices at the University of Utah College of Nursing.

Nirvan Ananda

Managing Director

n.ananda@ismeta.org

see bio

Nirvan Ananda, MBA, MAPP, is an organizational leadership consultant focused on enhancing individual and collective thriving. He applies best practices from business and positive psychology to bolster stakeholder engagement in alignment with organizational objectives. Nirvan holds an MBA focused on Strategy and Leadership and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology concentrated on the Culture of Collective Flourishing. He has generated millions of dollars in profit and performance increases throughout 16 years of consulting with organizations of all sizes. In addition to being an avid mindfulness meditator, Nirvan has traveled throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas, earning over 3,000 hours of wellness training, including mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and conscious dance.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Contact: n.ananda@ismeta.org

Dana Davison

MSME/T
Communications Consultant

d.davison@ismeta.org

see bio

Dana is a Dynamic Embodiment Practitioner, Moving for Life Certified Instructor, and Certified Teacher of BodyMind Dancing. She served on the ISMETA board and worked as an adjunct professor teaching Somatic Ballet and Dynamic Movement for actors and athletes. Dana has presented at BMCA, LIMS and ISMETA/NDEO conferences in the US, Canada and Europe on breathing, immunity-fluidity, the stress response and the body in translation. She is a founding member of the Somatic Writing Collective and on faculty for DE. She currently teaches MFL workshops, offers private sessions, and is bringing her somatic movement work to horses.

Danique Peynado

Membership & Operations Coordinator

info@ismeta.org

see bio

Elisa Cotroneo

MSME/T
Outreach Consultant, Executive Director Emeritus

elisa@ismeta.org

see bio

Elisa served on the ISMETA Board of Director’s from 2007-2014, holding the office of President from 2009-2014. She then served as ISMETA's first Executive Director until June 2023. Her private practice in Movement Education and Therapy in upstate New York has included extensive work with individuals, groups, school districts, special education programs, therapeutic centers and arts organizations. As a professional development consultant Elisa has created workshops, retreats and online courses focusing on creativity, imagination and experiential embodied education. Prior to joining the ISMETA Leadership Team, Elisa worked with the Lincoln Center Institute for Arts in Education serving as the Executive Director of the Capital Region Center for Arts in Education at the State University of New York, Albany.