Transform tension, stress, and harmful patterns with potent pandiculation and complementary somatic techniques — to create a personalized daily practice that regulates your nervous system and evolves with you for more pain-free movement, lasting ease, and freedom.
Do you feel stuck in a state of chronic tension, stiffness, and stress, no matter what kinds of therapeutic techniques or bodywork practices you’ve tried?
When we experience trauma, the body often locks into constriction and discomfort, making even small tasks feel overwhelming and keeping us from living the life we truly desire.
And yet, leading-edge somatic practices reveal that the body is far more adaptable than we think — and that tension can often be transformed into fluidity with surprising speed…
According to Martha Peterson, founder of Essential Somatics® and author of Move Without Pain, trauma is at the root of much of our physical and emotional pain. Because most of us encounter trauma throughout our lives, the body develops habitual patterns of stress and restriction that reinforce discomfort and limit our freedom.
Even mild, ongoing traumas can freeze certain movement patterns and disconnect the brain from its ability to restore relaxation — a phenomenon known as Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA).
Drawing on her 30+ years as a professional dancer, bodyworker, and somatic educator, Martha teaches the groundbreaking work of Hanna Somatic Education (also known as Clinical Somatic Education). Her approach can help you recognize how deeply ingrained reflex patterns contribute to pain, stiffness, and restricted movement — and more importantly, how to unwind them for lasting freedom.
You’re invited to embark on Martha's 12-module, self-paced course — and dive into the principles of somatic movement by creating a personal practice to cultivate more nuance and ease every day. Martha's course guides you to incorporate movements into your life for greater comfort, strength, and balance.
As you’ll discover, once you learn how to fine-tune it, an effective somatic practice can have fewer movements — and you’ll intuitively build on these movements with a logical sequence that flows seamlessly.
Martha's program explains the foundations of the central nervous system — and how your brain processes emotions, movement, and integration. You’ll release stored trauma and Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA) you’ve been holding onto, no matter how it developed in your body.
Each module teaches new somatic practices and techniques, including “Center to Periphery,” pandiculation, breathing exercises, journaling, twist patterns, seated movements, and so much more.
Martha's course guides you to cultivate a sense of release and regulation that can become your new normal — as you transform the tension and harmful patterns you’ve lived with for so long.
By the end of this 12-module immersion, you’ll have created a daily customized somatic practice that you can continue to fine-tune... making sure you’re always growing and transforming as you move through different stages of your life with increasingly greater ease and freedom.
During this 12-module self-paced course, you’ll:
- Assess yourself somatically from the inside out — to understand where you are now at the beginning of your journey, and how the brain makes changes
- Explore how emotions and trauma are linked to stress reflexes like Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA)
- Explore the vital somatic movement principle of “Center to Periphery” and how tension accumulating in the center of your body disrupts your ability to move your limbs freely
- Self-regulate your effort during movement by turning up the tension, followed by pandiculation techniques
- Release tension in the muscles between your ribs with pandiculation for more efficient functioning of the diaphragm
- Restore balance and symmetry in your life when you release the major muscle groups involved in the trauma reflex
- Create a practice of gentle somatic movements to help you walk with ease
- Cultivate greater ease in the body and mind using seated and floor-based movements
- Discover somatic twist techniques for full-body flexibility and a healthy spine
- Use the technique of differentiation to disrupt certain pathways in your brain, creating more efficient movement in your body
- Practice invert, evert — connecting your feet to the center of your body for more groundedness
- Create a customized daily somatic movement practice for addressing your specific issues
During Martha's 12 module course, you’ll restore ease in walking by reestablishing balance and coordination in your upper and lower body. Gentle somatic movements can help you understand the relationship between the shoulder girdle and the hips in the walking process.
You’ll unlock your rib cage for deeper, more expansive breathing, allowing the breath to flow more freely throughout your body... which, in turn, supports better posture and overall vitality.
Martha also explains the concept of self-regulating your pandiculation — adjusting your effort during movement by turning up the tension, then slowly dialing it back down. This process improves awareness of your body’s tension and effort levels and helps you calm your nervous system.
By the end of the course, you’ll not only have a deeper connection and comfort with your body, you’ll also feel more grounded, balanced, and at ease.
You’ll feel empowered to move through life with less pain, greater freedom, flexibility, and relaxation.
What You’ll Discover in These 12 Modules
In this 12-part transformational course, Martha guides you through the skills and competencies you’ll need to successfully create deeper freedom in your body and life with your customized somatic practice.
The Beauty of On-Demand
This course features step-by-step teachings and experiential practices from Martha. Each session builds harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to create personalized routines for releasing stress and experiencing deeper freedom in your body and life. Your purchase includes 24/7 ongoing access to your course content, allowing you time to review the materials at your own pace and integration.
Please Note: If you have not experienced Martha’s teachings before, you’re welcome to join this next-level course but we ask that you complete the foundational 7-module Somatic Movement & Pandiculation to Release Trapped Trauma program on your own as a prerequisite. It will be included in your registration and can be completed before or in tandem with this advanced intensive!
Module 1: Understanding the Sensory Motor Nervous System & the Science Behind Movement to Assess Your Baseline at the Start of This 12 Module Journey
As the course begins, you’ll assess yourself somatically from the inside out — to understand where you are now before your journey, and how the brain makes changes.
You’ll dive into the workings of the central nervous system (CNS), focusing on how the brain and body communicate through movement and sensation.
Using detailed graphics, Martha explores the basics of the sensorimotor system, highlighting how stress and trauma impact your movements. By examining the concepts of Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA) and stress reflexes, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how emotions affect these processes.
Through somatic assessments, you’ll introduce scanning techniques to better perceive your body’s tension patterns and start the journey toward restoring ease.
In this opening module, you’ll:
- Examine the key functions of the CNS and its role in movement and sensation
- Explore how emotions and trauma are linked to stress reflexes like Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA)
- Learn to connect your awareness of tension with holding corresponding emotions
- Gain tools to reset stress reflexes through somatic movement and pandiculation
- Assess your baseline at the beginning of this 12-part journey with exercises like squatting and crawling, “Arch & Flatten,” and a “Standing, Walking, and Lying” soma scan
- Begin journaling every day so you can witness your own progress and process
Module 2: Move Your Limbs Freely & Access Your True Power With the Principle of "Center to Periphery"
You’ll focus on the vital somatic movement principle of “Center to Periphery” and how tension accumulating in the center of your body disrupts your ability to move your limbs freely
By reconnecting the core muscles to the arms, legs, neck, and head, you’ll explore how all movement originates from your somatic center.
Martha explains how the movement of your shoulders is connected all the way down to your pelvis, and the movement of your legs is connected up into our spine. True power comes from connection to your somatic center.
You’ll explore gentle movements that will highlight the connection between your shoulders/arms, neck, head, and legs with your somatic center.
In this module, you’ll:
- Discover how freeing the core muscles improves overall body mobility
- Align your shoulders, hips, and spine for more fluid movement
- Release tension in the psoas (the muscle that attaches leg to spine) during a guided “Center to Periphery” movement
- Explore your center to periphery and back again as you coordinate your limbs and ease neck pain during a guided “Flower” movement
Module 3: Self-Regulate Your Pandiculation to Release Tension & Calm Your Nervous System With Less Effort
Martha explores the concept of self-regulating your pandiculation — adjusting your effort during movement by turning up the tension, then slowly dialing it back down.
This process is essential for understanding the level of tension you hold in your body and key to improving awareness of your body’s tension and effort levels — helping you calm your nervous system.
You’ll practice this through a series of somatic movements that release tension from various parts of the body.
In this module, you’ll:
- Master the ability to sense and regulate the level of tension you are holding in different areas of your body
- Balance effort in movement during a guided effort regulation exercise
- Learn how to start small and build bigger during a “Hip Lift and Reach” movement
- Play with levels of tension during a back lift exercise
- Learn how pandiculation helps reset habitual patterns of holding and tension
- Gain insights into how self-regulation improves nervous system health
- Integrate this skill into daily somatic practices for enhanced body awareness
Module 4: Practice Techniques for Increasing Diaphragm Function & Restoring Full, Easy Breathing
Breathing is a full-body experience that requires your rib cage to move subtly. As Martha explains, when your rib cage is locked down due to stress and trauma, your breathing suffers.
This module helps you pandiculate your own rib cage to release tension in the muscles between your ribs for more efficient functioning of the diaphragm.
Through gentle pandiculation exercises, you’ll explore how to unlock the rib cage for improved breathing, allowing the breath to flow more freely throughout your body.
In this module, you’ll:
- Examine the connection between trauma and restricted breathing
- Restore ease in breathing during a pandiculation sequence to release the rib cage
- Learn techniques to increase diaphragm function and lung capacity
- Explore how releasing tension in the rib cage improves overall body relaxation
- Incorporate these breathing exercises into your daily life to reduce stress and promote calm
- Roll the rib cage and extend the arms during a “Pectoral Clock” movement
Module 5: Release Trauma Reflex Muscles With Twist Patterns to Restore Balance & Symmetry in Your Life
Accidents, injuries, one-sided repetitive activities and sports, and naturally favoring one side of the body can all lead to imbalances in walking, twisting, and even thinking.
This module guides you to release all the major muscle groups involved in the trauma reflex, so you can restore balance and symmetry to everyday life.
You’ll focus on identifying the trauma reflex patterns that affect the muscles responsible for twisting and balance…
… and improve your ability to rotate the spine, safely and comfortably, by nourishing the discs between the vertebrae to lessen back pain.
In this module, you’ll:
- Identify twist patterns that result from trauma or repetitive activities
- Practice the “Steeple Twist,” a key movement for restoring balance and symmetry in your body, helping you regain stability in walking, twisting, and overall movement
- Release the back on one side during a new movement, the “Boomerang”
- Explore the effects of twist patterns on the nervous system and body alignment
- Experience greater symmetry in walking and everyday movements
Module 6: Restore Your Ability to Walk With Ease, Safety & Comfort With Gentle Somatic Movements
Walking is the most complicated of all human movement patterns, yet the most important one for us to maintain throughout our lives. Walking is what human somas are designed to do!
You’ll explore the relationship between the shoulder girdle and the hips in the walking process. Through gentle somatic movements, you’ll learn how to restore ease in walking by reestablishing balance and coordination in your upper and lower body.
In this module, you’ll:
- Improve your gait with a shoulder and hip circle practice
- Examine the complexity of walking and its connection to the whole body
- Engage in a guided walking movement practice to restore ease as you walk
- Learn how shoulder, spine, and hip alignment affect walking efficiency
- Explore how to enhance coordination levels in your everyday movements
Module 7: Integrate Seated & Floor-Based Somatic Movements Into Your Workday for Greater Ease in Your Body & Mind
Recorded from the original live course, Martha leads a discussion about how to modify the movements you’ve already learned so you can practice them anytime and anywhere.
In this recorded interactive session, you’ll hear original live participants ask questions and share experiences about the movements they most needed to practice during their workday to create more ease in their body.
You’ll discover the unique benefits of seated versus floor-based movements and how they can support your wellbeing during a busy workday. You’ll hear Martha encourage contributions from the original live course participants, ensuring a personalized approach to targeting specific areas of tension.
In this module, you’ll:
- Explore specific movements for areas of your body that need attention
- Experience seated somatic exercises that create ease in your posture
- Practice seated movements that alleviate tension while sitting at your desk
Module 8: Unlock Full-Body Flexibility & Nourish Your Spine With Somatic Twist Techniques
Did you know that your ability to fully extend your arms and legs depends on your ability to relax and soften the muscles of your core?
By softening and relaxing your core muscles, you'll experience how flexibility in your limbs and ease of movement come from releasing tension in the center of your body.
This module will help you focus on gentle, safe spinal rotations using the “Human X” and “Propeller” techniques. These rotations help nourish the spine and restore balance to your movements.
In this module, you’ll:
- Experience how core relaxation enhances limb mobility
- Learn gentle spinal rotation techniques for safe, supported movement
- Understand how spinal health impacts overall body flexibility
- Explore the “Human X” and “Propeller” somatic movements for enhanced connection to your core, and comfortable rotation from fingertips to toes
- Practice gentle spinal rotations to improve full-body movement
Module 9: Release Tension in Your Neck, Shoulders & Upper Torso for More Fluid Movement Throughout Your Body
Martha explains how we have an abundance of sensory pathways that process information through our senses — most of which are in our eyes.
You’ll address the connection between sensory pathways and physical tension, focusing on releasing neck and shoulder tension for more effective movement throughout the body.
Martha teaches to use eye movements, along with neck and shoulder exercises to create freedom in your torso — and ultimately ease upper body tension and restore full-body integration.
She also explains the importance of relaxing the upper body for whole-body ease.
In this module, you’ll:
- Use the technique of differentiation to disrupt certain pathways in your brain, creating more efficient movement in your body
- Combine eye movements with differentiation to release tension in the neck and shoulders
- Experience the gentle movement of the shoulder blades and rib cage for improved connection to the hips, legs, and feet
- Practice somatic movements that promote neck and shoulder relaxation and coordination
- Improve your full-body twist movement from a seated position using differentiation
- Add the “Pulling Rope” movement to your somatic toolbox for integration and freedom in the neck and shoulders
Module 10: Create a Flow to Address Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA) With Simple Movements
You’ll experience how the movements you’ve learned can make up a powerful, logical practice that flows seamlessly.
This module guides you through an hour-long practice of somatic movements that will connect your movement front to back, side to side, and head to toe.
By addressing Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA) — when the body forgets natural movement patterns — you’ll learn simple yet powerful somatic practices that create balanced and integrated movement. The session concludes with standing somatic movements you can incorporate into your day anytime, anywhere.
In this module, you’ll:
- Practice standing movements, including reaching to the top shelf and reaching across the midline while standing to revisit cross-patterning
- Refine and revise your practice through a deeper somatic flow to discover more about what other SMA you have
- Address all three somatic reflexes, in all three dimensions
- Explore standing somatic exercises for daily use
- Restore natural patterns with a head-to-toe somatic movement flow that integrates movement and relieves tension
Module 11: Connect Your Feet to Your Core to Feel Grounded, Balanced & Coordinated
You’ll explore the important connection of your feet, lower legs, and pelvis to the center of the body, and their role in grounding and balance.
Discover how strengthening this connection can improve your coordination, stability, and overall movement efficiency — and how you can self-correct and reset anytime you’d like, just by looking at your feet.
In this module, you’ll:
- Practice invert, evert — connecting your feet to the center of your body for more groundedness
- Examine how movement of the feet impacts movement of your core (and vice versa) — and supports overall movement
- Learn how foot and leg engagement improves balance and coordination
- Explore techniques to enhance grounding and stability in your movements
- Improve balance and body awareness and strengthen your connection to the earth with grounding techniques
Module 12: Customize Your Daily Somatic Movement Practice for Long-Term Wellbeing & Growth
As this journey comes to a close, you’ll discuss best-practices for building a daily somatic movement practice — and create a somatic practice that works for you, depending on what’s going on in your life.
You’ll explore how to vary your routine based on your specific needs, keeping it simple, yet effective for long-term wellbeing.
Martha provides practical guidance on developing a consistent practice that evolves with you over time.
In this final module, you’ll:
- Learn how to design a somatic movement practice that fits your daily routine
- Understand the importance of consistency in creating long-term improvements
- Explore ways to adapt your practice to meet changing needs
- Keep your routine simple while addressing key areas of your body
- Develop customized daily routines that support ongoing health, wellbeing, and movement
Somatic Movement & Pandiculation to Release Trapped Trauma Introductory Training Is Included!
This intensive builds upon the core teachings from the Somatic Movement & Pandiculation to Release Trapped Trauma 7-module course. When you purchase this 12-module advanced intensive, you’ll get access to this powerful resource as well! You can complete this material at your leisure, but it’s better to begin before starting the 12-module intensive.
In this 7-module introductory course, Martha guides you through the fundamental skills and somatic movement practices you’ll need to address the stress and tension in your body — due to stuck trauma — and reset your whole body to function more optimally.
Each session builds harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to a variety of gentle yet powerful movements that provide more comfort, ease, and mobility.
Your purchase includes:
Module 1: Begin to Reconnect to Yourself to Release Tension & Stress and Restore a Sense of Calm
Module 2: Learn About Hypervigilance, the Flight Response & How to Release Tension in Your Back Muscles
Module 3: Free Yourself From the Posture of Collapse & Freeze to Release Tension in the Center of Your Body & Breathe More Easily
Module 4: Release the Jaw & Eyes to Calm the Nervous System & Let Go of Deep Tension
Module 5: The Power of Differentiation & Reconnection to Improve Your Movement & Sensations
Module 6: Somatic Movements for Restful Sleep
Module 7: Find Your Balance to Find Your Groundedness & Joy
PLUS, you’ll get the Somatic Movement & Pandiculation to Release Trapped Trauma Bonus Collection
Bonus #1
Daily Somatic Awareness Practices
PDF Article From Martha Peterson, CCSE
Bonus #2
Seated Shoulder Releases
Video Practices From Martha Peterson, CCSE
The original price of Somatic Movement & Pandiculation to Release Trapped Trauma on its own is $347.00, but it’s INCLUDED in your registration for the advanced course!
The Advanced Integration of Somatic Movement & Pandiculation Bonus Offering
In addition to Martha’s transformative 12-module online course, you’ll receive this special bonus offering to complement the course and take your understanding and practice to an even deeper level.
Connecting Movement & Emotion for Increased Flexibility, Vitality & Poise
Video Teaching With Lavinia Plonka
How you move is how you move through life — your posture, breath, and face tell everyone your story, as well as feeding back to your nervous system, resulting in joy, sadness, and all the other experiences we call emotions. In this 57-minute video teaching, Lavinia Plonka will connect the dots between how you move and how you feel, both emotionally and physically. Discover simple yet sophisticated movements that can help relieve discomfort, improve your posture, and connect you to your emotional intelligence!
What Graduates of Martha Peterson’s Courses Are Saying…
Sydney, Australia
Sweden
Bloomington, Illinois
Martial arts teacher, ESMTT graduate, United Kingdom
Pilates teacher, MELT method instructor
Here’s What You’ll Receive
Twelve 90-Minute Self-Paced Modules
Experience a unique opportunity to learn from Martha Peterson — founder of Essential Somatics® and author of Move Without Pain — from the comfort of your own home. Each session includes a streaming video and will guide you to master advanced somatic practices for lasting transformation.
Twelve Transcripts of Sessions
In addition to the high-quality videos and MP3 audios, you’ll also receive session transcriptions. You can then review, print, and highlight the most important insights and practices you were given.
Exercises and Questions for Each Lesson
Between sessions, you’ll have the option of completing related exercises, practicing new tools, and answering questions to accelerate your learning and integrate each lesson.
Somatic Movement & Pandiculation to Release Trapped Trauma 7-Module Course and Bonuses
When you sign up for this 12-module journey, you’ll also get instant access to Martha’s first 7-module online course addressing the stress and tension in your body — due to stuck trauma — and reset your whole body to function more optimally.
An Unprecedented Opportunity to Join the Online Course, Advanced Integration of Somatic Movement & Pandiculation
We feel honored that Martha Peterson has chosen to partner with The Shift Network to offer this exclusive online course. This is a unique opportunity to learn from the founder of Essential Somatics® and author of Move Without Pain whose powerful insights and pioneering work are helping us heal and awaken ourselves and our world.
If you’re serious about without stress and tension so you can experience a joyful freedom that will enable you to pursue everything you want in this life, then you owe it to yourself, your loved ones, and our world to take this one-of-a-kind program.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your own evolution, click the register button below to reserve your space now.
Please Note: If you have not experienced Martha’s teachings before, you’re welcome to join this next-level course but we ask that you complete the foundational 7-module Somatic Movement & Pandiculation to Release Trapped Trauma program on your own as a prerequisite. It will be included in your registration and can be completed before or in tandem with this advanced intensive!
It’s not too late to join the Journey!
While the original enrollment deadline has passed, you’re still welcome to join us with a few important notes:
- Non-Refundable: All sales are final.
- Course Access: You’ll get instant access to all past modules and course materials.
- Catch Up First: Please review previous sessions before asking questions, as they may have been addressed.
- Live Class Replays: Miss a live session? Replays will be available within 48 hours.
Your Satisfaction Is 100% Guaranteed!
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed! If you don’t absolutely LOVE Advanced Integration of Somatic Movement & Pandiculation — or don’t feel that it meets your needs — please submit your refund request form 2 weeks from your date of purchase and we’ll happily issue qualifying customers a refund.
More Praise for Martha Peterson
Esthetician, Ontario, Canada
Edmonton, Canada
About Martha Peterson, CCSE
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Martha Peterson, CCSE, is a certified clinical somatic educator and leader in the field of somatic education. She’s the founder and CEO of Essential Somatics® and the author of Move Without Pain. Martha heads a growing faculty of clinical somatic educators who present Essential Somatics teacher trainings, retreats, workshops, and seminars around the world. She also maintains a private clinical practice.
Martha’s expertise comes from more than 30 years of working in the fields of dance, bodywork, and somatic education. As a former professional dancer who suffered chronic hip and knee pain due to injuries, Martha understands the frustration and struggle many people experience when trying to discern between the myriad methods that claim to relieve or “fix” chronic pain. She eventually discovered clinical somatic education, the only method that taught her how to reverse her pain and postural imbalances, regain physical control, and create a life of movement, choice, and joy.
Martha is an experienced hiker, inspired by her mother with whom she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and trekked in Sikkim, Northern India. She has learned that the key to remaining healthy and mobile is daily, vigorous, fun movement, a regular somatic movement routine, a sense of humor, and learning the fine art of relaxation and self-regulation.