What Your Body Needs You To Know
by Dr. Andrea Traldi

It's uncommon to find a guide who lives and breathes what they teach. Dr Andrea Traldi is one of them.
Over two weeks, curious and empathetic humans from all over the world gathered in his studio to learn how to help themselves and their clients regulate their nervous systems. This Nervous System Regulation Practitioner Training was more experiential than any other training or formal study I've undertaken. I don't say that lightly. I have over a decade of experience as a physiotherapist, I'm a month from graduating a 3-year Somatic Experiencing practitioner training. I'm currently doing a Masters in Psychology & Neuroscience of Mental health. I've done my own trauma work and integrated a great deal of it through my own body, not just my head. And still, this training taught me things I didn't know. New moves, new tools, new ways to work with a client stuck in freeze or fight. What surprised me was that all my years of training didn't make this "easier" ... but
it made me a better student as I could feel exactly where I was holding on, and exactly when I let go.
Neuroscience has confirmed what somatic practitioners have long worked from: cognition, emotion, and behavior depend on the brain AND the body. Meaning restrictions in the body can limit its capacity to metabolize emotion, and that has flow-on effects for behavior in relation to whatever situation caused the emotion in the first place, which is why we returned to the body again and again, moving and passively stretching muscles and joints that hadn't been asked to open in years, sometimes decades.

Dr. Andrea embodies the material he teaches and it's exactly why all the beautiful humans in the room could go as deep as they did. I can't thank you enough for opening territory I didn't know was still there, beyond the muscles + fascia. Your work has opened up possibilities for what my body will teach me next.

Caroline Betz
Physiotherapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Mental Health Specialist

The IOAS integral, anatomy-based approach is contextual, relational, functional, and insightful beyond anything I have learnt before. I am able to explain clearly why we practice certain movements, and why they yield the expected results in the body and mind, in a language that is accessible to my students and empowering for all. Each session allows for a lucid connection to the subconscious which opens up a flow of new insight. From holding one-off workshops about a particular theme, like reducing anger or recovering from addiction, to full series of events focused on healing trauma, managing stress or working with grief, I feel that my potential as an IOAS practitioner is boundless. Here is a short quotation from a client just after experiencing a full protocol: 'I have never seen this side of me before. I can’t thank you enough for this revelation’. I offer the highest recommendation for the Institute of Applied Somatics methods. You will not be disappointed in the delivery, the detail, and the impact these systems and protocols offer you and your clients. Any of the IOAS methods that you study will help you to change lives.

Rowan Carr
Trauma-Informed Somatic Embodiment Coach

Training with the IOAS exceeded my expectations and Andrea was an incredible mentor and facilitator on this journey. The focus on anatomy created a deep understanding of the process as it provided the theoretical structure, alongside the embodied experience, which supported me in creating better teaching points for my clients. The training was very experiential and allowed a lot of space for each practitioner to reflect on their own experience while actively listening to other group members. This created great case study examples and provided the 'trainee practitioners' with a lot of rich information to bring into their work. The dreamtime journeys are very powerful when combined with the somatic awareness exercises. I can honestly say that it has transformed my health and well-being and will profoundly impact my practice with others. The Somatic Psychology protocols brought me a powerful level of introspection as well as a lot of emotional release, leading to a positive improvement of my energy levels. I really became so mindful and aware of the smallest sensations within my body connecting them to my own inner wisdom. The individual journaling and group exploration at the end of the practices felt incredibly spiritual and truly safe. This was such a rich experience that I felt I had signed up for a retreat! Reading back on my journal entries feels surreal at times and I feel grateful for having had that sacred space. I really aspire to hold space for others like Andrea did for our group, he gave an incredible example of how to teach and facilitate to all students.

Jenny Fennessy
PhD Candidate, ADHD Researcher, Health and Well-being Specialist