The journey we take leads to greater awareness and deeper understanding of ourselves as human beings. It helps to understand how the mind is expressed through the body, and the body through the mind. Body-Mind Centering^® (BMC^®) was founded by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen in 1970 in New York City, USA. Currently BMC Certification-trainings are offered in the USA and in France, Italy and Germany in Europe. Further trainings are planned in the UK and in Slovakia.


Somatic Movement Education Program (SME) 2008-2010
Directed by Jens Johannsen (co-direction Friederike Tröscher)
Through the study of each body system and the developmental movement process, participants learn the fundamentals of embodiment practices. Whilst working on ourselves and others, we embody the anatomy and physiology of our physical structures; we touch and are touched in partnering hands-on techniques; we use sound, vibration, verbal dialogue and more to access the body’s wonders. The experience of the inner tissues is brought to consciousness and taken into expression. The SME material has immediate applications to movement based disciplines— such as dance, yoga, sports, martial arts - and to other therapeutic modalities such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, bodywork and massage.

This 500+ hour program requires two years of study. Graduates are qualified to use the work in educational contexts.

Click here to get to the description of the courses offered
For dates click here
For homework and additional requirements for certification click here

Location
The training takes place in “Das Haus” in the small village Mechernich-Vussum in The Eifel, approximately 1 hour south-west of Cologne. The Eifel is a thinly settled part of Germany with rolling hills and in this area lots of forests. The Feldenkrais-Center in which we will run our courses has a beautiful large studiospace with hardwood-floors. There is a private garden, a kitchen and several rooms to socialize in. The center has hosted trainings with large groups for over 15 years. We are joining an infrastructure that has proven its values. (See www.feldenkraiszentrum.de) Participants can rent affordable flats or rooms in the private homes of the village. (Most of them under 25 €/night, some under 20 €.) In most places there are cooking-facilities.

The Teachers of the European Program
The programs are taught by Certified Teachers of Body-Mind Centering. They have many years teaching experience and embodiment practice of the BMC material. They come from different European countries and the United States. All courses are taught in English. Jens Johannsen, Friederike Tröscher and Thomas Greil are amongst the teachers you will meet.

Click here to get to the biographies of the teachers.

The Somatic Movement Education (SME) Program is branching into the Infant Developmental Educator Program 2008 – 2009 and continuing into Practitioner of Body-Mind Centering Program 2010-2011


The Infant Developmental Movement Education Program (IDME)
Directed by Friederike Tröscher and Thomas Greil
Begins with the SME-program. This program is especially suited for people who work with infants and wish to enhance their skills with an embracing, child-centered approach; for bodyworkers and somatic practitioners who wish to expand their skills to include infants; and for parents and caregivers. This  new Infant Developmental Movement Education program focuses on developmental movement and its application to facilitating normal development in infants. In addition to the four developmental courses which are part of the Somatic Movement Education program students will need to participate in two more courses, which focus in applying the developmental material specifically to working with children in the first year of life.

This 280+ hour program is for bodyworkers and somatic practitioners who wish to expand their skills to include infants; as well as for parents & caregivers. The focus is on applying the developmental material specifically to working with normally developing children in the 1st year of life.


Certified Practitioner of BMC / Somatic Movement Therapy
Directed by Jens Johannsen
Continuing on from the SME-program in 2011-2013 this program builds on the foundations of the Somatic Movement Education program and requires two additional years of study, leading toward certification as a Somatic Movement Therapist. Themes cover: deepening personal embodiment, achieving greater subtlety in touch and repatterning skills, addressing psychophysical aspects, assessing clients, learning therapeutic approaches and developing skills as a professional. This 1000+ hour program takes four years to complete. Graduates are qualified to deliver the work in therapeutic as well as educational contexts. Themes cover: deepening personal embodiment, achieving greater subtlety in touch and repatterning skills, addressing psychophysical aspects, assessing clients, learning therapeutic approaches and developing skills as a professional.

The year 3 of the Practitioner Program starts in April 2011. 

For more information to download click here.

This 1000+ hour program takes four years to complete.