Curricular Overview & Dates

The Spiral Praxis Advanced Studies program is designed to give students new insight into the underlying bodymind principles of somatics. The focus can best be described as creative humanism—a robust mixture of science and art that allows practitioners to deal with an incredibly wide range of human situations and challenges. The somatic emphasis is placed squarely on the process of learning rather than on the learning of particular protocols. Creative and meticulous students are best suited for this program—although students will be given many techniques to work with, they will be expected to use these tools through a creative, independently minded understanding of the human learning process.

SPASP is a demanding program that offers a new and comprehensive theoretical framework for somatic inquiry. Many students who encounter this work for the first time find that they have to re-think their basic assumptions of bodymind learning. The Spiral Praxis approach bears little resemblance to the wonderful exploratory forms of somatic inquiry that were developed in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Spiral Praxis is a fully contemporary bodymind approach that will engage and challenge you. It will test your daring to explore accelerated learning, allow you to master a precise technical methodology, and give you an opportunity to pioneer and synthesize learning within the vast range of bodymind phenomena that make us fully human. Physical movement, feeling, thinking, and intuition are all part of the Spiral Praxis process as well as environmental awareness and interaction dynamics—we are interested in creating innovative, transformative re-educative approaches in almost every field of human endeavor.

Curricular Structure

The SPASP is a 3 year program that can be done either through remote or residential options. The remote option is a 600 hour program that focuses on the basic theory and methods of Spiral Praxis that can be learned through short on-site intensives and online study. The residential program is a 1550 hour year-round program that gives opportunities for internships, research, and on-site training.

Remote Option

The Remote Option offers a Spiral Praxis Level 1 Certification that can be obtained over 2 years. Each year of study will include three onsite intensives as well as supplementary online study and meetups during the year.

Year 1 of Remote Study (220 hours)

The first year will focus on the three pillars of Spiral Praxis—bodymind hierarchy, flow patterning, and learning reflexes. Starting from the summer intensive, each successive intensive will spiral deeper and deeper into the meaning and application of these three basic bodymind perspectives. By the end of the first year, students should have a good working knowledge of the basic tools of Spiral Praxis as well as their applications to different bodymind situations.

Year 2 of Remote Study (180 hours)

In the second year of Remote Study, the focus will shift into more complex inter-relationships—or reflex groupings—between the three pillars of Spiral Praxis. Students will learn how to combine basic reflexes into more complex and powerful hybrid groupings; how to shape and coordinate their flow into flow patterning circuits for improved embodiment; and how to work in terms of whole body coordinations in movement. All of this can lead to dramatic acceleration in internal learning.

Year 3 of Remote Study (200 hours)

In the third year of Remote Study, the focus will center of on application of SP bodymind techniques in various clinical situations. Participants will apply what they’ve learned in various real-life clinical situations including basic injury rehabilitation, progressive embodiment, and advanced exploration. At the end of the year, students will asked to complete a research project within their area of interest. Students who complete this second year of study will obtain their Spiral Praxis Certification Level 1 as well as their ISMETA SME designation.

Residential Option

Year 2: Professional Training
(Level 2 Certification; 775 hours)

The SPASP level two module is designed for those who wish to apply Spiral Praxis to specialized somatic areas such as injury rehabilitation, somatic thinking/feeling, human creativity and potentiality. Students who pursue this path will delve into the finer points of Spiral Praxis methodology, anatomy, and somatic psychology. Diagnostic procedures, treatment progression, somatic ethics are some of the issues we will cover. In this demanding level of study, students are required to undergo a series of 8 sessions with a qualified Spiral Praxis practitioner, participate in regular contact hours with clients, and pass a final test to show their competence in somatic practice. After successful completion of these requirements students will be given their SPASP level 2 certification.

Year 3—4: Advanced Master Training
(Level 3—4; mentoring model)

SPASP level 3-4 certification is reserved for those practitioners who wish to learn about the cutting-edge research that is possible using advanced Spiral Praxis techniques. The range of research topics is quite large, including accelerated somatic learning, advanced flow patterning, Spiral Praxis applications in music and dance, cognitive and emotional re-patterning, and more. Students are encouraged to design their own program in addition to learning a core curriculum of cutting-edge Spiral Praxis topics. Successful completion of this module will certify a student as a master somatic teacher and will allow him/her to teach Spiral Praxis to others. Fellowships are available for exceptional students.

About Certification Levels

Spiral Praxis Certification offers 4 different levels of training:

Spiral Praxis Level 1 Certification: Students will learn the basic principles and methods of Spiral Praxis. The emphasis is on physical embodiment and the three pillars of somatic learning—bodymind hierarchy, flow patterning, and learning reflexes. After successful completion of this certification, graduates will have the tools to teach groups of children, their own basic SP sessions, or use their knowledge as a powerful adjunct to their existing somatic expertise. (Remote Option, 1st year of Residential Option)

Spiral Praxis Level 2 Certification: Students will expand their Spiral Praxis knowledge and learn to apply them in rehabilitation (i.e., for injury and chronic pain). They will also also apply their knowledge to increase aptitude in meditation, yoga, fitness, dance and other basic bodymind areas. After successful completion of this certification, graduates will be able to work with children with disabilities or adults with injury or chronic pain; they will also be able to use their knowledge to help people get in touch with their bodies and reach embodiment through different bodymind activities. (2nd year of Residential Option)

Spiral Praxis Level 3—4 Certification: Students in this advanced level will be working under a mentorship model. The focus will be on specializing their skills on the areas of their interest and to research and develop original curricular materials. Students’ education will expand into areas beyond the body to include thinking, feeling, environment and group interaction. They will also continue to learn more advanced, hybrid embodiment techniques that will explore all areas of the Spiral Praxis bodymind map. Upon completion of these studies, students will be qualified to teach Spiral Praxis to other somatics practitioners and certify them. These advanced certifications are truly for those who wish to learn about the cutting-edge possibilities of somatics in their field of choice. (Residential Option)

Dates of Upcoming Spiral Praxis Trainings (202o-2021)

Residential Option:

Fall Semester: October 12 — December 13, 2020

Winter Semester: January 4 — March 7, 2021

Spring Semester: March 29 — May 30, 2021

Remote Option (1st year only; fees waived for residential students):

Winter Intensive: December 14—21, 2020

Spring Intensive: March 8—17, 2021

2021 Summer Intensive: TBA

Send us your inquiries

Let us know if you have any questions about the Spiral Praxis Advanced Studies Program.