Learn 25+ Somatic Movement Flows®, the neuroscience, philosophy, and method of Gentle Somatic Yoga® (GSY). This couse is not only designed for yoga teachers, yoga therapists, bodyworkers, and health care professionals, but also for the everyday person who wants to invest in learning how to develop a home practice of deep self-care.
About Rachael:
Rachael discovered yoga through a high school research project and was immediately drawn to its moral and ethical foundations. During college, she experienced firsthand the mental and spiritual benefits of the practice, and after graduating, she helped open a yoga studio in Virginia—an early expression of her passion for community and embodied learning.
Her healing journey led her deeper into trauma recovery, studying with leaders such as David Emerson and Peter Levine. In her Gentle Somatic Yoga Level 1 training, Rachael met James Knight, sparking a meaningful professional connection that has continued to shape her as an experienced movement educator.
Rachael went on to collaborate closely with James – co‑creating a new Gentle Somatic Yoga (GSY) inspired mehtod called Somatic Stability™. Somatic Stabilily blends classic mat Pilates with the neuroscience and principles of GSY. She later assisted him during a GSY Level 1 training in Sayulita, Mexico, further refining her somatic teaching and mentorship skills.
She has received over 1,000 hours of training instruction and has over 2,000 hours of experience teaching yoga and Pilates. She holds the following credentials – E-RYT500, YACEP, NCPT, Gentle Somatic Yoga L1, Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Pre/Post-natal yoga, YogaFit for Seniors, CPR/AED. Rachael is also certified in Traumatic Incident Reduction by Michelle Booth, LCSW. And in 2024, she added Thai Yoga Bodywork to her growing repertoire of therapeutic modalities.
As an instructor, Rachael develops and facilitates 200‑hr yoga teacher training certification programs, as well as 450‑hr Pilates teacher training certification courses. Her programs are known for their depth, accessibility, and integration of somatic principles.
GSY L1 Training over two weekends:
June 12th-14th, 2026
June 26th-28th, 2026
For more information and to sign up: https://www.gentlesomaticyoga.com/training-gsy-level-1-june-2026-with-rachael-shepherd/