““The body does not need to be instructed as much as it needs to be listened to. When we learn to cue from sensation rather than shape, practice becomes a conversation rather than a command.””
At Atlas Yoga Studio and School, we approach teaching as both an art and a science. This Embodied Cueing Certification is an immersive two-day training created for movement educators who are curious about expanding the language of movement and deepening the experience of learning in the body. Together, we explore how thoughtful cueing, imagery, and embodied awareness can transform the way movement is taught and received.
Rooted in the educational philosophy of Atlas Yoga School, this training weaves together functional anatomy, somatic awareness, and contemporary mind–body science. As a learning community, we experiment with cueing that reflects the natural design and intelligence of the body, supporting greater ease, safety, and efficiency in movement.
Through playful exploration and thoughtful inquiry, we develop a vibrant and adaptable cueing toolkit—one that speaks to diverse learners across yoga, Pilates, dance, fitness, and therapeutic movement settings. Along the way, we discover how clear, embodied language can awaken sensation, spark curiosity, and create more meaningful movement experiences for our students and for ourselves.
““Even experienced movement educators are always discovering new ways to help students feel, understand, and embody movement. By exploring cueing through sensation, breath, and imagery, we can make learning more intuitive, engaging, and impactful for everyone in the room.””
Join us March 26 & 27, 2026 Online Certificate Course Live & Replays
What You’ll Learn / Benefits
Guide students through movement using body awareness, imagery, and breath
Enhance safety, alignment, and efficiency in any class
Adapt cues to meet diverse learning styles and abilities, understand the science behind the cues and how to breakout of habitual chronic muscular tension
Deepen your own embodied understanding, teaching presence and rediscover joy in movement
Build a toolkit that can be used across Yoga, Pilates, Dance, Fitness, or Therapeutic settings
How It Works / Course Structure
“This immersive two-day training combines hands-on labs, group exploration, and reflective practice. Together, we practice and refine cueing strategies that are practical, clear, and adaptable.”
Highlights:
2-Day In-Person Immersive Training - 11 hours of Continuing Education
attend live and interact with your peers or use the recordings to take the course at your own pace
Experiential cueing labs with peers
Guided imagery and somatic exercises
Toolkit development for immediate application in teaching - includes access to our evergreen teachable course pack and the slack community channel for this course.
Atlas Yoga School
“At Atlas Yoga School, we believe teaching is both an art and a science. Since 1999, we have trained hundreds of educators, combining academic rigor with creativity and embodied practice. Our faculty brings decades of experience in yoga, somatics, therapeutic movement, and education, creating a supportive and inspiring learning environment.”
Testimonials
“Atlas Yoga School’s trainings transformed the way I teach. I feel more confident, creative, and connected to my students’ experiences.” — Margaret, Past Participant
“The embodied cueing tools we learned were immediately applicable and made classes more engaging for everyone.” — Elisabeth, Past Participant
Outcomes / Transformation
By the end of this training we will …
Increased confidence in guiding movement
More intuitive, inspiring classes
Support students in feeling empowered to explore their bodies
A flexible cueing toolkit for any teaching environment
Deepen our connection to our own fundamental consciousness, our inner teacher our dharma
“Join our community of movement educators discovering the power of embodied cueing.”
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“Join our community of movement educators discovering the power of embodied cueing.” 〰️
FAQ Section
Who is this training for? — All movement educators, including Yoga, Pilates, Dance, Fitness, or Therapeutic movement teachers.
Do I need prior experience? — No prior experience in somatic cueing is required.
Will I receive materials? — Yes, comprehensive handouts and exercises are included in our Teachable Course pack with downloadable resources and dailiy communication notes in Slack with links to resources used in class and pdfs of slide presentations.
Is this in-person or online? — This immersive training is Live Online and through Recorded Replays and includes a community space in Slack and a Teachable Course Pack as well as the option to book one-on-one mentoring with faculty.
Somatic embodied cueing is a teaching approach that focuses on guiding movement through felt experience rather than just visual demonstration or verbal instruction. It’s grounded in somatics, neuroscience, and body-awareness practices, and it helps students move in ways that feel intuitive, safe, and effective.
1️⃣ Somatic
Comes from the Greek soma, meaning the living body as experienced from the inside.
Focuses on internal sensation, awareness, and perception rather than only external form or appearance.
Encourages mind–body connection, so learners can feel what’s happening in their muscles, joints, and breath.
2️⃣ Embodied
Embodiment means bringing knowledge, awareness, and intention into the body.
Teachers model movement and cues from their own internal experience, not just from anatomical images or idealized poses.
It’s about experiencing the body in motion and stillness, and helping students do the same.
3️⃣ Cueing
Cueing is the language and guidance used to support movement learning.
Somatic embodied cueing uses:
Sensory-based cues: “Feel the lift through your chest,” “Notice the weight shifting through your feet.”
Imagery cues: “Imagine your spine lengthening like a string,” “Picture your lungs expanding like a balloon.”
Movement-based cues: Hands-on guidance, gentle touch, or dynamic demonstration.
The Goal
To help learners move with awareness, efficiency, and safety.
To support teachers in communicating movement in ways that resonate with each person’s body.
To create classes where students learn from sensation, exploration, and internal feedback, rather than just memorizing shapes or following instructions blindly.
“Somatic embodied cueing is teaching movement from the inside out—guiding with sensation, imagery, and embodiment so students feel, understand, and integrate movement naturally and safely.”
Denise Davis-Gains
Denise Davis-Gains is the founder and director of education at Atlas Yoga School, where she has trained movement educators for 29 years. With a background in yoga, somatics, and functional movement, embodied psychology and physical education, Denise blends anatomy, mind–body science, and creative exploration to help teachers guide movement with clarity, safety, and inspiration. She is passionate about cultivating embodied awareness in both teachers and students, supporting classes that are engaging, empowering, and deeply felt.
4 Foundational Trauma-Informed Principles
Choice & Agency
Participants and students are invited, not forced into movement or exercises.
We cultivate autonomy, letting individuals decide how much to engage, creating safety and trust in the learning environment.
Embodied Awareness & Sensation
We guide with internal experience first, encouraging students to notice and respond to their own body signals.
This promotes self-regulation, curiosity, and deeper mind–body connection.
Inclusive & Responsive Environment
Learning spaces are designed to honor individual needs, movement abilities, and sensory sensitivities.
The environment supports psychological, emotional, and physical safety for all participants.
Clear, Gentle, and Positive Cueing
Cues are non-judgmental, descriptive, and invitational, focusing on what can be felt rather than what must be done.
This approach reduces pressure and reactivity, empowering learners to explore movement safely and confidently.
I’m sharing this video on the course page because Stacie is one of my teachers and a guide whose work has influenced how I think about somatic embodiment and nervous system connection. Her perspective on how movement, sensation, and self‑awareness intersect beautifully aligns with the core of this training, and I trusted it would enrich your experience here as well.
This video explores how somatic practices support embodied transformation, helping us to tune into sensation, regulate our systems, and engage with movement from a place of safety and presence. It models many of the same themes we’ll be exploring together in the course and invites you to reflect on what feeling, rather than forcing, can open in your own body and teaching.
I hope it inspires curiosity, supports your own embodied exploration, and amplifies the themes of connection, agency, and mindful movement we’re cultivating in this training.