Module 1: Foundations
Traditional Thai bodywork offers a rich and sophisticated system of touch. Somatic practice offers a deeper understanding of how the body experiences safety, adaptation, and change.
Somathai brings these two streams together. The result is a practice that honors the lineage of Thai bodywork while helping practitioners develop the perceptual skills necessary to work with greater sensitivity, responsiveness, and care.
The body is constantly communicating through sensation, movement, breath, and patterns of tension, protection, adaptation, and release. Yet most of us are never taught how to listen.
Somathai™ is a training in learning the language of the body. Rooted in traditional Thai bodywork and informed by contemporary somatic understanding, it teaches practitioners to work with the body as a living, sensing system rather than a collection of parts to be fixed.
Over the course of the training, students learn a foundational sequence while developing skills in observation, touch, pacing, adaptation, and relational presence. At its heart, Somathai™ explores how touch influences the nervous system, how safety supports change, and how healing emerges through relationship, attention, and the body’s innate capacity for connection.
The retreat will be held May 8–15, 2027 at the Pura Vida Retreat & Spa in Alajuela, Costa Rica. You can learn more about their rooms here. We also recommend that you check out their Instagram profile to get a better sense of what this enchanting place has to offer.
Below you will find room rates, what’s included, and other relevant information. We are diligently working on the schedule and will publish it as soon as it’s available.
Rooms are available in both double and single occupancy at Pura Vida Retreat & Spa. Prices are per person and based on room selection.
Double Occupancy
A spot in a shared bedroom and bathroom.
Single Occupancy
A bedroom and bathroom all to yourself.
Module 1 introduces the foundational principles and practices of the Somathai™ method across three interwoven areas of study.
Foundations of Thai Bodywork
- A complete foundational Somathai™ sequence
- Supine, prone, and seated positions
- Compression, mobilization, and assisted stretching techniques
- Body mechanics, leverage, and ergonomics
- Rhythm, pacing, and session flow
- The art of transitioning seamlessly between techniques
Foundations of Somatic Practice
- The body as a lived and felt experience
- Nervous system regulation and co-regulation
- Sensation as the body's primary language
- Presence, attention, and therapeutic relationship
- Trauma-informed principles for touch-based work
- Developing perceptual awareness through touch
Foundations of Professional Practice
- Client intake and assessment
- Creating safety and supporting consent
- Session planning and decision-making
- Practitioner sustainability and self-care
- Building confidence in working with a wide range of bodies
What You Will Receive
- Five days of immersive, hands-on instruction
- A complete foundational Somathai™ sequence
- Daily supervised practice exchanges
- Individual feedback and mentorship
- Printed and digital training manual
- Guidance in trauma-informed, nervous system-informed touch
- Access to the Somathai™ graduate community
- Resources for continued study and development
- 30 CEUs upon completion of certification requirements
Good to Know
- Open to beginners — no previous Thai bodywork experience required
- Wear comfortable, movement-friendly clothing, free of zippers or hard materials
- Sessions are performed fully clothed, on a mat, on the floor
- Be prepared to kneel, get up and down from the floor, and support another person's weight
- Certification requires attending the training in full and completing required practice sessions
- Bring a notebook, water bottle, and snacks for the day
This training is designed for those who feel called toward healing work, whether beginning their journey or expanding an existing practice. No previous experience with Thai bodywork is required — curiosity, willingness to learn, and a commitment to practice matter far more than prior training.
Massage Therapists
Yoga Teachers
Movement Professionals
Coaches & Therapists
Healthcare Practitioners
Bodyworkers Seeking a Relational Approach
Anyone Interested in Therapeutic Touch
Your Teacher
Sarah Seely is the founder of Somathai™ and Thai Brooklyn, with over 30 years of experience in movement, bodywork, and somatic education. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: the body is not a problem to be fixed, but a living, intelligent system that is constantly communicating through sensation, movement, breath, tension, and release.
Sarah's path began in movement. She holds a BA in Dance from UMBC and an MFA in Dance from Smith College, where her graduate work focused on kinesiology and injury prevention. She later completed advanced training in Thai bodywork through Lotus Palm and ITM Thailand, and became certified as both a Somatic Therapist and Somatic Coach through The Somatic Therapy Center and The Strozzi Institute. She is also a 500-hour certified yoga teacher, certified personal trainer, Reiki Master, and practicing herbalist.
Today, Sarah's work brings together decades of study, clinical experience, and hands-on practice into an approach that is both structured and responsive — helping people develop greater awareness, capacity, and trust in their own experience.
What is Somathai™?+
Somathai is a floor-based bodywork practice rooted in traditional Thai Massage and informed by contemporary somatic principles. Traditional Thai bodywork provides the structure of the work; somatic practice provides the lens through which the work is understood and applied. Together, they create an approach that supports mobility, nervous system regulation, body awareness, and therapeutic relationship through touch, movement, and presence. Sessions are performed fully clothed on a mat on the floor.
Do I need previous experience?+
No. This training is open to beginners as well as experienced practitioners. No previous experience with Thai Massage is required.
What should I wear?+
Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement, similar to what you might wear to a yoga class. Clothing should allow for ease of movement and be free of zippers, buttons, or other hard materials. You may also wish to bring a notebook, water bottle, and any snacks you would like throughout the day.
Is the training physically demanding?+
Somathai is a floor-based practice. Students should feel comfortable getting up and down from the floor, kneeling for periods of time, and supporting the weight of another person during practice exchanges.
How do I become certified?+
Students pursuing certification must attend the training in its entirety and complete required practice sessions during the training.
Are CEUs available?+
Yes. 30 continuing education credits (30 CEUs) are available upon completion of the course through Yoga Alliance (YA) and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
To reserve your seat, we will need the following information from each student:
- Room category and bedding request
- Arrival and departure dates if different than the training dates
- Any dietary allergies (please indicate if any require medical attention when the allergen is consumed)
- $699 deposit
Please note: If you require an airport shuttle pick up and drop off, please provide your flight details after you make your airline reservation. The servicing airport is SJO (Juan Santamaría International).
Deposit
A deposit of $699 USD per person is required upon booking. The balance for your training will be charged to the credit card on file 60 days prior to the training. We also accept Venmo and Zelle.
Cancellation
The training’s $699 enrollment fee is non-refundable. Cancellation 60 days prior to the training: if another participant fills your spot, your training investment is refundable minus the $699 enrollment fee. Any refunds are at the absolute discretion of Sage & Crown Wellness and training hosts.