Somatic Movement Practitioner.
Integrative Yoga Facilitator.
Intercultural Competence Trainer.
Interdisciplinary Researcher.
+44 74933 97563
Somatic Movement Exploration© (SME ©)
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Like waves meeting the shore— we rise, we release, we return.
Through breath and movement, the body remembers its wholeness.
Soft tides of awareness restore, carrying us home to power, presence, and possibility.
Client Experiences
Clients often describe “aha” moments—insights that arise organically through movement, playful inquiry, and stillness. These embodied realisations open new perspectives on the self, relationships, and one’s place in the world. For some, this includes becoming attuned to fixed beliefs and attitudes, or to subtle patterns such as avoidance, reactivity, or unearthed sensations linked to craving. These are met not with judgement, but with curiosity and compassion—allowing space for new responses to emerge and deeper layers of agency to unfold.
One participant spoke of learning to “listen to the body’s no,” which supported their decision to leave a toxic relationship that had previously overwhelmed their sense of self. Another found that the practice helped regulate overwhelming sensations that had once led to impulsive behaviours.
Over time, such shifts nurture sustainable change in emotional regulation, confidence, boundary-setting, and deeper interpersonal connection.
Participants Engaging
in an SME© Workshop
What is Somatic Movement Exploration© (SME© )?
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Somatic Movement Exploration© (SME©) is a trauma-sensitive, movement-based programme developed to support deep personal transformation, emotional resilience, and self-empowerment. Designed for individuals navigating challenges such as substance use disorder (SUD), anxiety, and relational patterns that no longer serve—or those simply seeking meaningful personal exploration—SME© offers a compassionate, body-led pathway towards healing, growth, and intercultural insight.
Research Foundations & Methodology
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This work is rooted in the interdisciplinary, practice-based PhD research I conducted with participants in both England and Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on insights from this diverse, intercultural engagement, Somatic Movement Exploration© (SME©) offers a structured programme of embodied activities, delivered in workshop settings and grounded in academic inquiry. Sessions take place within a person-centred space I describe as a whānau-centred praxis—an inclusive environment where everyone is both learner and teacher.
Workshop Activities & Approach
The practices integrate somatic movement and yoga, Creative Dance techniques, breathwork, deep relaxation, and reflexive inquiry, interwoven with imagination, curiosity, and playful exploration. No prior experience of yoga or movement is necessary—only a willingness to engage with your body and inner experience in a gentle, supported way.
Guiding Principles
Informed by over 30 years of movement practice, this embodied approach interweaves Māori-centred methodology (from a Pākehā perspective), Person-centred counselling principles, and theories from communication and transformative learning— viewed through a sensory lens. These elements are woven into a robust ethical framework that honours cultural sensitivity, individual pace, and nervous system regulation.
The SME© Experience
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SME©offers more than a method—it creates an ethically responsive space for personal movement-based inquiry, where individuals can gently explore and transform unhelpful patterns. Through creative, mindful, and often playful exploration, the programme can help release stored tension, reconnect and deepen the mind-body interconnection, enhance self-awareness, and provide a safe space to re-imagination and embody alternative 'ways-of-being' - while developing agency and empowerment.
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Who Can Benefit?
For individuals navigating anxiety, substance use disorder (SUD), or simply seeking deeper self-understanding, this might involve recognising long-held patterns, uncovering the somatic roots of certain behaviours, or cultivating a felt sense around personally chosen areas of focus. Whether addressing specific challenges or exploring new relational pathways, participants are supported in reconnecting with their embodied experience in ways that feel grounded, compassionate, and empowering.
Common Outcomes:
• Strengthened mind-body connection. • Greater self-awareness, especially regarding the somatic foundations of attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviours. • Increased personal agency and empowerment. • Enhanced emotional regulation and resilience to stress. • Greater confidence in setting and maintaining boundaries. • Reframing of self-concept and transformation of relationship dynamics. • Holistic and integrated support for recovery.
Start Your Journey
Whether you are looking to heal from past patterns, reconnect with your body, explore intercultural communication through embodied presence, or discover new ways of relating to yourself and others, SME©provides a safe and empowering space to begin that journey.
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Development in Progress
Somatic Movement Exploration© (SME ) is entering an exciting new phase. Building on over 30 years of embodied practice and the findings of interdisciplinary doctoral research, we are now expanding its reach and refining its structure to support broader impact. This next stage includes the development of a professionally designed participant manual and the implementation of wider, contextually diverse trials.
Next Steps in Development
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Expand programme trials with a range of participant groups
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Formalise a flexible session framework for varied contexts
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Develop a comprehensive, user-friendly participant manual
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Evaluate impact through participant feedback and reflective research
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Explore applications across therapeutic, educational, and intercultural setting
We welcome collaboration with practitioners, organisations, and funders who share a commitment to embodied, culturally responsive approaches to personal and relational transformation. If you’re interested in being part of this next chapter, we’d love to connect.
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