FREE INTRODUCTION
Body and Breath as Sanctuary: Unwinding the long term effects of trauma
With Petra Pensky, MSMT
Thursday, September 3, 2026 • 12-1pm Eastern U.S. time
Find your local time here.
Live participation is strongly encouraged. However, if you are unable to attend the session, the recording will be available to all who have registered for the course.
PLEASE NOTE: You will receive a COUPON CODE for a $50 discount on the Full Course when you register for this Free Introduction by September 10th!
DESCRIPTION: Join us for a glimpse of Body and Breath as Sanctuary, a 6-session series that cultivates self-regulation, co-regulation, and the capacity to hold a safe, responsive learning environment for clients who have experienced trauma. Drawing from Somatic Expression® by Jamie McHugh, MSMT, participants explore movement, breath, sound, stillness, and touch as basic technologies for self-regulation and well being within themselves and in their work with clients.
Petra Prensky, MSMT, is a Registered Master Somatic Movement Therapist and a member of ISMETA for more than 20 years. She is a Tamalpa Life/Art practitioner, a twice certified yoga teacher, and a registered Kinaesthetics trainer with kinaesthetics.ch. Petra co-authored the 2017 book "Sanfte Bewegtheit" (Gentle Movement) about dancer and Anna Halprin's early collaborator John Graham, who developed Gentle Dance. Petra grew up in Switzerland with a deep love for movement, practicing Yoga and Jazz Dance from an early age. She began teaching at 16, accumulating 40 years of experience in movement education. Her teaching style is clear, empathetic, and playful, creating a safe space for deep exploration. Having lived on Maui, Hawaii for 20 years, she brings the spirit of Aloha into her work. She has returned to Switzerland where she spent the last eight years and counting working in a nursing home, supporting caregivers and elderly clients (80+ years of age) dealing with dementia and end-of-life transitions.
Course Information
Cancellation Policy:
If a participant cancels their registration to any paid offering in the Professional Development Center, they will receive the following refund:
Full refund minus the PayPal fees, more than 4 weeks before the event begins
75% refund from 1-4 weeks before the event begins
50% refund from 1-6 days before the event begins
No refund on the day that the event begins or while it is in progress ISMETA reserves the right to cancel any offering in the Professional Development Center before the course begins due to unforeseen circumstances. In this case, a full refund will be given.
ISMETA MEMBERS $FREE
NON MEMBERS $FREE
As an ISMETA member you could be saving on courses and receiving many other benefits
Benefits Include:
- A professional profile page featuring you and your work on the ISMETA website
- Access to affordable Professional Liability Insurance (with the Professional Member Plus Membership)
- Voting rights for ISMETA governance
- Ability to post in the monthly E-News, and worldwide somatic movement calendar
- Invitation to ISMETA membership meetings, webinars, and additional opportunities to network
- Receive ISMETA monthly E-News and member updates
- Special member deals on books, workshops, journal subscriptions, professional development and more
- Access to research and resources on Somatic Movement Education and Therapy
Join ISMETA as an Individual
There are three types of memberships for individuals
Click on a membership type below to see more information
Join ISMETA as a Professional Member
We are delighted that you are interested in becoming a Professional Member of ISMETA! Please follow the prompts below to learn about which application process is appropriate for you. You will also find information about Professional Member benefits, membership fees, and optional affordable liability insurance.
Did you graduate from an ISMETA-Approved Training Program? If yes, please complete these simple steps to join via the Fast Track:
- Email your certificate of completion for your training to info@ismeta.org.
- Complete the Online Payment Form by choosing one of the "APPLICATION PAYMENT OPTIONS" links below.
- To receive $55 off the joining fee, use this discount code on the Online Payment Form: atp
For guidance on choosing registration type (Somatic Movement Educator or Therapist) click here.
Graduates who are also members of an Affiliated Membership Organization (such as the BodyMindCentering® Association, the Feldenkrais Guild of North America, or the Continuum Teachers Association) can contact ISMETA for an additional discount: info@ismeta.org.
Special Instructions
FGNA Members: Email your FGNA certificate instead of the Independent Track form.
Current Student Members: To become a professional member of ISMETA (ASMP, RSME/T), please contact info@ismeta.org to upgrade your membership. (There is no need to reapply.)
If you didn’t graduate from an ISMETA-Approved Training Program, please read the Scope of Practice and Core Competencies for Somatic Movement Education and Therapy, and the Professional Member Training Requirements.
Did your somatic movement training prepare you to practice according to these guidelines? If so, read on! If not, you are welcome to become a Friend of ISMETA.
INDEPENDENT TRACK APPLICATIONS
Please see the different applications offered for different hours of somatic movement training completed:
250 HOURS OF TRAINING
If you have completed 250 hours of training in Somatic Movement Education and/or Therapy with an independent program or mentor, you are eligible to apply for these credentials:
- Associate Somatic Movement Professional (ASMP) - designed for people who have a primary professional identity in another field (for example, physical therapy, psychotherapy, expressive arts) and want to integrate somatic movement into the work they are already trained in.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ASMP APPLICATION PREVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION.
- Registered Somatic Dance Educator (RSDE) - designed for people who have higher education training as dance educators and want to integrate Somatic Movement into their pedagogy.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REGISTERED DANCE EDUCATOR REQUIREMENTS.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RSDE APPLICATION PREVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RSDE APPLICATION.
500 HOURS OF TRAINING
If you have completed 500 hours of training in Somatic Movement Education and/or Therapy with an ISMETA-Approved Training Program, an independent program, a mentor, or a combination of these, you are eligible to apply to become:
- Registered Somatic Movement Educator
- Registered Somatic Movement Therapist
These credentials are designed for people who practice professionally as Somatic Movement Educators and Therapists.
For guidance on choosing registration type (Somatic Movement Educator or Therapist) click here.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RSME/RSMT APPLICATION PREVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION.
1,000 HOURS OF TRAINING
If you have completed: 1,000 hours of training in Somatic Movement Education and/or Therapy with an ISMETA-Approved Training Program, an independent program, a mentor, or a combination of these; 500 hours of professional practice with individuals and/or group; and a significant contribution to the profession in the form of publications, research, curricular development, conference presentations, and/or embodied praxes, you are eligible to apply to become:
- Master* Somatic Movement Educator (MSME)
- Master* Somatic Movement Therapist (MSMT)
These credentials are designed for professionals with advanced skill level, and at least 10 years in the field.
* For an explanation of our use of this term, please click HERE and scroll to the bottom of our Equity and Justice Statement.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MSME/T APPLICATION PREVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MSME/T APPLICATION.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBER BENEFITS
• Access to affordable Professional Liability Insurance (Please see Professional Member Plus options below.)
• Special discounts on ISMETA Professional Development Center courses, conference fees, Bookstore, and more!
• A professional profile page in the Practitioner Directory on the ISMETA website
• Invitation to submit a video recording of your work for inclusion in the ISMETA YouTube channel
• Ability to post your events in the worldwide ISMETA Events Calendar
• Participation in professional community-building events such as member-only Somatic Cafes
• Access to the ISMETA Research Database and other member-only resources
• Invitation to the Annual ISMETA Membership Meeting (virtual and in-person options)
• Voting rights in ISMETA governance
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP FEES
Click here to preview Professional Membership Fees.
PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE (Optional)
Professional ISMETA Members in these countries are eligible for affordable professional liability insurance through the “Professional Member Plus” options offered below: United States (US) and Canada; and the United Kingdom (UK), the European Economic Area (EEA), and South Africa. For more detailed information about professional liability insurance, please click here.
APPLICATION PAYMENT OPTIONS
Join ISMETA as a Student Member
This membership category is open to any person who is currently studying at:
- an ISMETA Approved Training Program or
- Mentoring with a Master Somatic Movement Educator and/or Therapist
Benefits include:
- Discounts on ISMETA Professional Development Center courses, conference fees, Bookstore, and more
- Participation in professional community-building events such as member-only Somatic Cafes
- Access to the ISMETA Research Database and other member-only resources
- Invitation to the Annual ISMETA Membership Meeting (virtual and in-person options)
- Free Fast Track application (no fee applies) to become a professional member upon graduation
- Professional advocacy for your future profession
Student Members attending an Approved Training Program automatically become RSME or RSMT upon graduation by sending their certificate. No application fee is required.
Join as a Friend of ISMETA
This membership category is open to all. A friend can be a practitioner, a client, or anyone wishing to become a part of ISMETA and to connect to the worldwide Somatic Movement Community.
Benefits Include:
- Invitation to ISMETA membership meetings, webinars, and other networking events
- Discounts on ISMETA Professional Development Center courses, conference fees, Bookstore, and more
- Participation in professional community-building events such as member-only Somatic Cafes
- Access to the ISMETA Research Database and other member-only resources
Join ISMETA as an Individual
There are three types of memberships for individuals
Click on a membership type below to see more information
Join ISMETA as a Professional Member
We are delighted that you are interested in becoming a Professional Member of ISMETA! Please follow the prompts below to learn about which application process is appropriate for you. You will also find information about Professional Member benefits, membership fees, and optional affordable liability insurance.
Did you graduate from an ISMETA-Approved Training Program? If yes, please complete these simple steps to join via the Fast Track:
- Email your certificate of completion for your training to info@ismeta.org.
- Complete the Online Payment Form by choosing one of the "APPLICATION PAYMENT OPTIONS" links below.
- To receive $55 off the joining fee, use this discount code on the Online Payment Form: atp
For guidance on choosing registration type (Somatic Movement Educator or Therapist) click here.
Graduates who are also members of an Affiliated Membership Organization (such as the BodyMindCentering® Association, the Feldenkrais Guild of North America, or the Continuum Teachers Association) can contact ISMETA for an additional discount: info@ismeta.org.
Special Instructions
FGNA Members: Email your FGNA certificate instead of the Independent Track form.
Current Student Members: To become a professional member of ISMETA (ASMP, RSME/T), please contact info@ismeta.org to upgrade your membership. (There is no need to reapply.)
If you didn’t graduate from an ISMETA-Approved Training Program, please read the Scope of Practice and Core Competencies for Somatic Movement Education and Therapy, and the Professional Member Training Requirements.
Did your somatic movement training prepare you to practice according to these guidelines? If so, read on! If not, you are welcome to become a Friend of ISMETA.
INDEPENDENT TRACK APPLICATIONS
Please see the different applications offered for different hours of somatic movement training completed:
250 HOURS OF TRAINING
If you have completed 250 hours of training in Somatic Movement Education and/or Therapy with an independent program or mentor, you are eligible to apply for these credentials:
- Associate Somatic Movement Professional (ASMP) - designed for people who have a primary professional identity in another field (for example, physical therapy, psychotherapy, expressive arts) and want to integrate somatic movement into the work they are already trained in.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ASMP APPLICATION PREVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION.
- Registered Somatic Dance Educator (RSDE) - designed for people who have higher education training as dance educators and want to integrate Somatic Movement into their pedagogy.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REGISTERED DANCE EDUCATOR REQUIREMENTS.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RSDE APPLICATION PREVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RSDE APPLICATION.
500 HOURS OF TRAINING
If you have completed 500 hours of training in Somatic Movement Education and/or Therapy with an ISMETA-Approved Training Program, an independent program, a mentor, or a combination of these, you are eligible to apply to become:
- Registered Somatic Movement Educator
- Registered Somatic Movement Therapist
These credentials are designed for people who practice professionally as Somatic Movement Educators and Therapists.
For guidance on choosing registration type (Somatic Movement Educator or Therapist) click here.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RSME/RSMT APPLICATION PREVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION.
1,000 HOURS OF TRAINING
If you have completed: 1,000 hours of training in Somatic Movement Education and/or Therapy with an ISMETA-Approved Training Program, an independent program, a mentor, or a combination of these; 500 hours of professional practice with individuals and/or group; and a significant contribution to the profession in the form of publications, research, curricular development, conference presentations, and/or embodied praxes, you are eligible to apply to become:
- Master* Somatic Movement Educator (MSME)
- Master* Somatic Movement Therapist (MSMT)
These credentials are designed for professionals with advanced skill level, and at least 10 years in the field.
* For an explanation of our use of this term, please click HERE and scroll to the bottom of our Equity and Justice Statement.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MSME/T APPLICATION PREVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MSME/T APPLICATION.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBER BENEFITS
• Access to affordable Professional Liability Insurance (Please see Professional Member Plus options below.)
• Special discounts on ISMETA Professional Development Center courses, conference fees, Bookstore, and more!
• A professional profile page in the Practitioner Directory on the ISMETA website
• Invitation to submit a video recording of your work for inclusion in the ISMETA YouTube channel
• Ability to post your events in the worldwide ISMETA Events Calendar
• Participation in professional community-building events such as member-only Somatic Cafes
• Access to the ISMETA Research Database and other member-only resources
• Invitation to the Annual ISMETA Membership Meeting (virtual and in-person options)
• Voting rights in ISMETA governance
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP FEES
Click here to preview Professional Membership Fees.
PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE (Optional)
Professional ISMETA Members in these countries are eligible for affordable professional liability insurance through the “Professional Member Plus” options offered below: United States (US) and Canada; and the United Kingdom (UK), the European Economic Area (EEA), and South Africa. For more detailed information about professional liability insurance, please click here.
APPLICATION PAYMENT OPTIONS
Join ISMETA as a Student Member
This membership category is open to any person who is currently studying at:
- an ISMETA Approved Training Program or
- Mentoring with a Master Somatic Movement Educator and/or Therapist
Benefits include:
- Discounts on ISMETA Professional Development Center courses, conference fees, Bookstore, and more
- Participation in professional community-building events such as member-only Somatic Cafes
- Access to the ISMETA Research Database and other member-only resources
- Invitation to the Annual ISMETA Membership Meeting (virtual and in-person options)
- Free Fast Track application (no fee applies) to become a professional member upon graduation
- Professional advocacy for your future profession
Student Members attending an Approved Training Program automatically become RSME or RSMT upon graduation by sending their certificate. No application fee is required.
Join as a Friend of ISMETA
This membership category is open to all. A friend can be a practitioner, a client, or anyone wishing to become a part of ISMETA and to connect to the worldwide Somatic Movement Community.
Benefits Include:
- Invitation to ISMETA membership meetings, webinars, and other networking events
- Discounts on ISMETA Professional Development Center courses, conference fees, Bookstore, and more
- Participation in professional community-building events such as member-only Somatic Cafes
- Access to the ISMETA Research Database and other member-only resources