Welcome to The Centre for Bio-somatic Dance Movement Naturotherapy

Our regulatory body is 'The International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association' Home - ISMETA

The purpose of Bio-Somatic Dance Movement Naturotherapy is to support people to learn to self regulate through movement. We teach a lovely combination of objective knowledge (anatomy and physiology) with the importance of experiencing your body subjectively, through sensory -perceptual movement awareness. We welcome students and participants of all ages and movement abilities. 

Professional practice combines experiential anatomy and physiology, movement, dance and the embodied arts. Practice combines science with creativity. This is a defining feature of somatic movement dance education and therapy. 

We explore resting, sensing, feeling, moving and perceiving, as well as writing, painting and reflecting on our body-mind experience. At root, we support people to release sympathetic hyperarousal in their tissues, which reduces tension, anxiety and depression, usually caused by work pressure and socio-economic pressure.  Dr, Amanda Williamson leads the centre. She is one of the international pioneers of this field and she publishes extensively on the topic. 

 Somatic movement educators and therapists work sensitively and gently with the human body,  acknowledging that movement affects dimensions of psyche and spirit.

​Practice facilitates improved vitality,  creativity and easeful  movement functioning. The profession,  represented by ‘International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA)’ helps students and clients in some way to:
  • ​​​recognize habitual patterns of perceptual, postural and movement interaction with the environment
  • improve movement coordination that supports structural, functional and expressive integration
  • experience an embodied sense of vitality and create both meaning for and enjoyment of life
  • focus on the body both as an objective physical process and as a subjective process of lived consciousness
  • refine perceptual, kinesthetic, proprioceptive, and interoceptive sensitivity that supports homeostasis, co-regulation, and neuroplasticity​
After several years of post-traumatic stress followed by a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease, I had come to a very low point in my health.  I was in the dark about the disease and its impact. Meanwhile random symptoms were bringing my life to a standstill.  I crawled through months with symptoms of fatigue, insomnia, joint pain, allergies, poor concentration and anxiety waves.  My body felt like it was quite literally under attack and I had no tools besides a tablet to help me regain equilibrium. I realized that I would need to learn about what was happening to me and then find ways to support my health.  I started to read widely and realized that both my endocrine and immune system were compromised and that healing my body was the place to start.
 Living in Cheltenham, I had already heard about the Moving Soma Centre and its therapeutic work.  I decided to attend a weekend workshop for women focused on their hormones. I can remember feeling such relief that I had found a Centre where I felt safe, understood and whose way of working could actually treat many of my symptoms and also provide a way for me to navigate the physical, emotional and mental chaos of an autoimmune disease. I left the workshop with a profound sense of hope, something I had not had for three years. Here was knowledge, expertise and a practice that could help me. Since then I’ve attended private session with Dr Williamson, various community sessions and some further intensives in person and on-line during Covid. One year on I’ve shifted from being a patient reliant soley on a diagnosis and little else to someone empowered now to manage their autoimmune disease.
Ailsa Lauder  (65 years)
"A mesmerising beginner session for myself; the depths I travelled to were outstanding considering the session was just during the morning hours (with no experiences beforehand). I learnt a lot about my anxiety as a separate entity from myself, which is something I’ve never been able to do with other forms of traditional therapy. Something I did not expect was my heart rate dropped to 62bpm. My normal resting rate is around 76-80bpm. This is a wonderful insight as it allowed me to see in a statistical form the physical changes it provoked in my body. I would highly recommend these sessions, not just the 'in session wonder', but also the lasting effects on the body and mind". Josh Holgate, Client Review

" Such an amazing beautiful class today - being able to connect to the ground and feel  gravity  was an incredible feeling. Learning about the bones, joints and nerves around the spine and neck area has widened my knowledge and has made me appreciate my body and connection to the earth. Every time I come here I leave feeling refreshed, relaxed and free from negativity, pain and dissociation from my body. I walk away understanding the preciousness of life and being in the moment, I’m truly lucky to be apart of such a wonderful group" Client Review: Ruby Jeyapalan

"Finding the centre and being introduced to the work has been somewhat of a revelation for me fulfilling a need I knew I had but had not found the right place or vehicle to experience. The studio is a sanctuary and holds a safe space, full of light and nature in which I can unfurl and begin settle into a slower more natural rhythm, drop to gravity and be fully present my body. I have found both the space and the work profoundly nurturing and healing. Having experienced both chronic pain and trauma I can’t explain eloquently enough what a release it is to have had access to a space I could feel safe in. It’s the only place I’ve ever experienced pure thought without language and even the memory of it is comforting almost a year on from my last session with you. A special place that enables profound connections and expressions to take place outside the confinement of modern life. I find that there I am able to reengage with my creativity and respond to my body and mind through movement and touch in a way I’ve not experienced elsewhere. The space can also takes on an almost spiritual dimension and has helped create the setting for moments of insight, expansion, interconnection and coming home to myself".  Sarah Bell
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Come and study the cranial bones
Shannon Austin
★★★★★ 
Moving Soma has a beautifully serene atmosphere and is truly a safe space. The work carried out here by Amanda is really incredible. After just one session, a chronic knee injury I've had for almost a year was relieved and the pain is almost unnoticeable. After taking multiple different medications for this issue to no avail, i finally feel a difference and would seriously recommend this over any other form of pain management. 
The session also allowed me time for myself, just to breathe and release the tension I'd been holding for months. I came away feeling much happier.
I honestly wish i could give more than 5 stars.

Miranda Henderson 
★★★★★ 
I have recently started training here as a Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator following years of working in dance, theatre and education. Moving Soma create an atmosphere in which people can really have time to investigate the needs of the body-mind through deep engagement with somatic practice. It's extremely nourishing and helps to broaden and support existing practice. Having started out as a professional dancer, moved through performing and directing I am now engaging in another phase of my work and this practice is one I would really recommend for everyone looking at ways of continuing their careers. Dr Amanda Williamson and Anna Morris make a wonderful, supportive team.

Lizzy Le Quesne
★★★★★ 
This is inspirational and humane work that offers routes to real change in our ways of being within our own skins and minds, amongst others and in the world... cultivating true wellbeing and emancipatory embodied process. I am thrilled to be undertaking the training to become an ISMETA registered bio-somatic dance movement educator and therapist at Moving Soma with Dr Amanda Williamson and Anna Morris, setting creative somatic processes in active relationship to Western medicine / general health practice and in times of mental and physical health, social, cultural, political and ecological crises.Google reviews
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Vanessa Tucker 
★★★★★ 
 I have recently started my somatic movement and dance therapy training at Moving Soma in Cheltenham. This dance and movement therapy and educational centre is excellent, I highly recommend. It offers educational courses, somatic dance and movement therapy for individuals and groups and dance/movement and community based workshops and conferences for educational development and community sharing. The training I have received from Dr Amanda Williamson and Anna is beautifully blended; a fantastic balance of experiential learning with high quality educational research and skill based work. They offer a very good rate for people who are suffering with chronic pain - it's powerful stuff do book a session. 

Lisa Fasullo
★★★★★ 
I'll begin with saying... it is worth the small investment of time and resources it take to get yourself to this somatic movement center from anywhere and wherever you are in the world! It was my experience that it will make a long lasting, positive impact on your life, both personally and professionally, if you do.

I was honored to be a participant in a recent movement conference led by Amanda Williamson and the 5 days were truly life-transforming. What do I mean by this? Well... the physical location is very welcoming, friendly, calming and beautiful sanctuary where you can let go, feel free and be encouraged to allow your 'best self' to come out and have some fun!

Everyone I met was lovely and also appeared to be honored to be spending time at Moving Soma and taking advantage of the many creative and effective somatic practices and teachings they offer as well as spending time with Amanda and her spirited and talented team. It was super easy booking a small, bright and clean hotel room in Cheltenham just 4 or so blocks from the Moving Soma. I found both the town and people to be vibrant, playful and friendly!

I returned to the US feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, having increased my professional repertoire of movement practices I now use with clients. And also full of memories I will treasure forever. I love things that I can FEEL positively impact me... and from start to ending... this whole experience was definitely one of them.
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Adam Hussain
★★★★★ 
I first came to know of Moving Soma by attending a dance conference here. The studios are spacious, calm and have a warm and inviting atmosphere. There are so many possibilities available here for these studios to be transformed into presentations, workshops and performances. A well-being hub for the local, national and international community.

Macarena Ortuzar
★★★★★ 
I am a dancer. I have just started the two year program on Somatic Movement Therapy and education with Moving Soma. Just after our first module I can happily say how wonderful it has been moving and learning in such an inspiring, creative, open and safe environment. I felt great honour to the be lead by the generous and knowledgeable teachings of Anna and Amanda Williamson, founder of the Center. It is a very cleverly put together program that is leading and empowering a movement that can truly reach and support our community and society.

Cathy Washbrooke
★★★★★ 
I have just begun the Movement Education & Therapy course at Moving Soma - what a delight it has been. Amanda & Anna’s knowledge, sensitivity & empathy are second to none. Not only is the somatic work deeply healing and rejuvenating, Amanda’s studios are calming and restorative. I am so looking forward to the next two years of study.

Marin Leggat
★★★★★ 
Amanda has created a space that supports Wholeness and transformation through somatic-based movement therapy and education. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the weekend at Moving Soma, learning more about the connection between somatics, movement and spirituality. Looking forward to returning!

Vicky Wright
★★★★★ 
It has been a delight to spend time at Moving Soma this weekend & participate in the conference. Dr. Amanda Williamson is a leader in the field of somatics in the UK, and I leave deeply inspired by the depth of knowledge and research unfolding here.

Helen kindred
★★★★★ 
I had simply the most wonderful experience at Moving Soma. I attended the centre for the first time recently for the conference they were hosting 'Dialogues in Dance and Spiritualities'. Moving Soma offered such a vital space for embodied thinking, processing and being. The culture of the centre created by Dr Amanda Williamson is one of love, learning, respect and development and I look forward to future experiences and continued growth in my own learning with others through the philosophy of Moving Soma. Thank you.

Suzan Tunca
★★★★★ 
this place is a power house of bright minds, inclusive, expansive and generous hearts as well as inspired and inspiring bodies
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Elaine Westwick
★★★★★ 
I am back from spending a weekend at Moving Soma and I am still glowing. A beautiful and inspiring place.

Arran Stibbe
★★★★★ 
Dr Amanda Williamson is one of the top international scholars and practitioners of somatic movement education. It’s fantastic that she has opened a studio here in Cheltenham. The studio itself is an oasis of tranquillity, a perfect environment for a harmonious blend of relaxation and movement that is surprisingly rejuvenating and healing. As well as individual and group sessions, the Centre offers a superb professional accreditation course in bio-somatic education. I highly recommend everything about Moving Soma.

June Gersten Roberts
★★★★★
The Moving Soma conference on Cultural, Intercultural and Transnational Dialogues in Dance and Spirituality offered truly enlightening opportunities to share research, insights, explorations and discoveries in areas of wisdom knowledge that link soul practices and movement. Thank you to Amanda and Scott at Moving Soma for organising such a welcoming and nourishing event. The complexity and scale of this project is awesome and you handled it all with warmth, elegance and grace. I am truly enriched by the experience of attending.

Wendy Frost
★★★★★ 
I spent a day in the space with Amanda and it was so calming. I'm feeling the benefits in my body over the last 48 hours. Will definitely try and return.

Wendy 
★★★★★ 
I attended a full day of practice with Amanda and found it incredibly fulfilling. You are given the space and time to consider your own needs and listen to your body and I totally got lost in the time and practice. I am hoping to find time to do more of this and would definitely return.

Vicky Wright
★★★★★ 
It has been a delight to spend time at Moving Soma this weekend & participate in the conference. Dr. Amanda Williamson is a leader in the field of somatics in the UK, and I leave deeply inspired by the depth of knowledge and research unfolding here.

Rachel Anderson
★★★★★ 
I visit Amanda at Moving Soma every Saturday for a private one to one session.  Over the weeks we have tried all different forms of movement, therapy and meditation together, all of which are proving invaluable to my recovery/rehabilitation. 

Last weekend we tried some cranial sacral movement therapy - I have been blown away by the results as not only have I been pain free in my back - which is unheard of!  I set about a project to replace my turf in my garden which involved a lot of strenuous activity and I have suffered no aches or pains whatsoever in my back as a result.. I am absolutely amazed by how I have felt this week thanks to this treatment.  Would highly recommend.
GROWING THE FIELD OF SOMATIC MOVEMENT EDUCATION AND THERAPY​