Taking care of our bodies and minds is super important, especially when we're busy. We might feel lazy and unmotivated at times, but somatic education can help us understand our bodies and boost our energy.

Active Embodiment®️ Coaching uses movement and chat therapy for personal growth and healing.

This can all sound pretty interesting if you want to improve your well-being and express yourself creatively. In this blog, we will cover how to evaluate these certifications, the benefits of each approach, and practical steps to make the right choice for your personal and professional growth.

Benefits of using Active Embodiment™ in Your Coaching

Active Embodiment™ Coaching is all about using movement and dance to help people heal and grow emotionally. It's a great method for those who want to facilitate emotional release through creative means. This approach encourages people to express themselves creatively through different dance forms and body movements. This creative outlet has a powerful impact on emotional and mental health.

With BodyMind Coaching, you learn skills to help others explore their feelings and express them through movement. This can involve free-form dancing or specific exercises designed to connect with and convey emotions like joy, sadness, or anger.

What is Dynamic Embodiment’s  (DE) Active Embodiment™ program for Coaches®️?

Active Embodiment®️(AE) brings somatic awareness (the bodymind connection) into your coaching, in an effective and quick system developed by Dr. Martha Eddy, master health and wellness coach of over 30 years. She is also a communication specialist,a founder of the concept of Embodying Peace, and embodied conflict resolution, as well as an officer of 2 non-profits, which she established with a team, and two of her own businesses.  She has been running certification programs since 1991 - 35 years! This is a unique program that can also result in certification if desired. Active Embodiment uses body sensitivity and attention to non-verbal communication - body language and body knowledge - to help professional leaders to develop personally and improve the lives of their clients. It's all about understanding how our bodies can help us when we're working on personal growth and/or effective communication.

Researched studies in neurobiology and psychology show that practices including the Dynamic Embodiment methods of the Center for Embodied Learning, influence the activation of a variety of brain regions related to emotional regulation and self-awareness. Specifically, DE activates the motor cortex where movements are planned and executed, the anterior cingulate prefrontal cortex is activated where emotional processing and self-regulation occur, and subcortical processes that calm the nervous system and help undo the stress of overwhelm.

With this first phase of a potential certification, you can get the tools to offer special coaching sessions that focus on the body's connection to enhanced communication and personal development. For example, if someone has trouble making decisions, you might ask them about the physical feelings they get when faced with options, and then track the body’s sensations or the gestures being used. Next you can work together to both find relief for any stress, and build confidence in the voice and movement conveying a key selling point, or shift that must happen.

AE for Coaches supports connecting with the body as a powerful tool for self-understanding and provides approaches to building empathy for even your most difficult clients. It’s a straightforward, yet deeply effective way to make positive changes in personal experience as well in dyadic (two people) or group dynamics.

Key Benefits of Active Embodiment™

Dynamic Embodiment®️Somatic Movement Therapy has been helping shift their emotions during stress, heal from injury and chronic illness, integrate the lessons that come from traumatic experiences, as well as support more effective delivery of messages.  Plus it engages learning processes that result in easier and better performance and clearer more precise decision-making. The best of DE is applied in the ACtive Embodiment program, teaching multiple strategies each of which can be personalized for you, your clients, and their teams with practice. The Active Embodiment provides the methods and the practice! Participants become more aware of their bodies, and some report touching in with their own authenticity in powerful ways. These are just two of the impacts that can improve your overall coaching experience. By understanding the connection between the mind and the body and how they affect each other you are now working with the missing advantage!

Coaches can help clients tune into their body feelings — like feeling tense or relaxed. Then, together, they can come up with plans to deal with these feelings and make positive changes.

For example, if a client feels stressed, they might notice their shoulders are all tensed up. So, the coach would work with them to create ways to relax their shoulders and manage their stress better. It's about being present in your body and understanding how it reacts to different situations.

This approach makes coaching more effective and fun, as it gives people tools to connect with their bodies and make real changes in their lives.

Making Your Decision

Certain key factors can influence your decision. Both BodyMind Dancing and Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching have ways to help people understand their bodies. They're both useful and different, so pick the one that fits you best. Here are a few factors:

1. Consider Your Professional Goals:

Setting clear professional goals is crucial for navigating your career path effectively. Think about what excites you in your career. If you love the idea of leading vibrant group classes where people can dance and express themselves creatively, BodyMind Dancing could be a great fit.

While, if you prefer working one-on-one with people, helping them tackle personal challenges or achieve specific goals, Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching might be a better choice.

For example, if you’re a yoga instructor who wants to add a creative twist to your classes, BodyMind Dancing can be a perfect addition. If you’re a life coach looking for new techniques to help clients, Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching will give you valuable tools for personal growth.

You must pick what feels right for you and will give people the most benefit, in line with your career goals. It's all about choosing the path that excites and fulfills you!

2. Reflect on Your Interests:

Reflecting on your interests and values is key to making an informed decision about your certification path. Understanding what excites you, what motivates you, and what aligns with your core values can guide you toward the right choice between BodyMind Dancing and Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching.

For people who are interested in how movement can help people achieve personal growth and tackle challenges, Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching might be the better choice. This certification focuses on using movement to support personal development and problem-solving, offering a more structured approach.

By clearly identifying your personal interests and professional goals, you can make a more thoughtful decision about which certification aligns best with your aspirations.

3. Research Programs:

It's a good idea to look at what the certification programs actually involve, how long they are, and what you'll learn.

You should make sure the program fits with your way of learning. Some people prefer hands-on experience, while others like theory-based learning.

For example, if you’re considering a BodyMind Dancing certification, check if it includes practical workshops where you can actively engage in activities. If you prefer hands-on learning, make sure the program offers ample opportunities for practical application.

Check that the certification will help you achieve your goals and that it's in line with what you want to get out of it. It's important to be happy with the methods and curriculum before you begin!

4. Gather Insights from Others:

It's useful to find out what past participants thought about the certifications you're considering.

What did they gain from it, and how has it helped their personal or professional development? Reading reviews and hearing success stories can give you a better idea.

For instance, if you're considering any sort of coaching, search for reviews from previous participants to see if they felt the program effectively enhanced their movement practices and personal growth.

It's a great way to get an honest opinion and understand the real impact of the training. These testimonials are valuable to determine which certification is good and how they could benefit you too.

5. Assess Your Current Skills and Experience:

To decide between BodyMind Dancing and Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching certifications, start by looking at your current skills and experience. Looking at your skills will help you pick the certification that fits best with what you already do and where you want to go in your career.

For example, if you’re already skilled in dance or movement practices, BodyMind Dancing can help you use those abilities in new ways, enhancing how you apply movement techniques in therapeutic settings. This certification will build on your existing strengths, allowing you to integrate advanced movement practices into your work.

By aligning the certification with what you already know, you can make the most of your existing skills while expanding your practice. This approach ensures that you build on your strengths and make the most out of your new learning experiences.

6. Your Impact on Others:

When picking a certification, think about how your certification choice will affect the people you work with. The right certification can enhance your ability to support and positively influence your client’s growth and well-being.

For example, choosing Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching might allow you to help clients gain deeper self-awareness and personal growth. Your decision will affect how you connect with and support your clients, making a real difference in their lives.

The new skills you gain will improve your ability to meet your client's needs. The right certification can help you provide more effective guidance, build stronger relationships, and create positive changes in their well-being. Your choice will shape how you support your clients and contribute to their success.

Love to Dance? Another cool way to do this is BodyMind Dancing, which involves dance and body awareness to increase creativity.

What Is BodyMind Dancing?

BodyMind Dancing (BMD) is a somatic dance practice developed by Dr. Martha Eddy. It is a fun certification that uses dance and movements to help people understand and improve their emotions. This certification believes that dancing can help with self-discovery.

BodyMind Dancing involves principles that provide a therapeutic approach to stress and emotional challenges. In this regard, scientific literature indicates that rhythmic expressive movement has a deep effect on the brain's mechanisms for regulating stress. The motor cortex and limbic system of the brain get stimulated through dance-like activities, increasing the production of endorphins and serotonin. These neurotransmitters regulate mood and alleviate stress by means of providing a feeling of well-being and emotional balance.

For example, you're hosting a wellness retreat and want to help people connect with their feelings. You could start with a happy dance, getting everyone to shake off any positivity and joy they've been feeling. Then, you might want to slow things down with a sad dance, where participants can gently express any feelings of melancholy they've experienced.

After this emotional release, it's time to let out any anger with an energetic, powerful dance. Participants can stomp and move vigorously to express their frustrations, or hang over to express their exhaustion, and then we come together into easy, relaxed and uplifting activities together to find a centered way of being for the rest of the day, week or month!

As the training goes on, you'll have the experience of having

written down your experiences, and you can use this in your own teaching - having participants write down their thoughts and feelings in a journal. Reflection is part of embodied learning - taking time to discover what you learn from your body (or your clients movement and breathing patterns) and bringing it into language. If you don't enjoy writing you can discuss what you see and experience.

Overall its part of Active Embodiment to provide a chance to reflect on the details of each part of your whole experience in becoming more knowledgeable about the body. By the end of the workshop, participants feel refreshed and empowered, having discovered new ways to express themselves. This is how your students and clients will feel as well!

Conclusion

Choosing between the BodyMind Dancing and Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching certifications is an exciting opportunity for professional growth, but each offers a unique focus. If you're drawn to integrating dance and movement into therapeutic practices, the BodyMind Dancing certification could be your path. On the other hand, if you're interested in deepening your skills in coaching, the Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching certification might be the perfect fit for you.

You must consider how each program aligns with your professional aspirations and how you prefer to learn. Gathering insights from others who have completed these certifications can also provide valuable perspectives.

Explore these certifications further, and choose the one that resonates with your vision for growth. Your transformative experience awaits — dive into the path that best suits you today.

FAQs

1. What skills will I gain from the BodyMind Dancing certification?

You'll learn how to use dance and movement to help people heal emotionally and mentally. You'll discover ways to combine movement with therapy to help people feel better.

2. How does Active Embodiment™ for Coaches improve coaching practices?

Dynamic Embodiment®️ Coaching Helps clients become more aware of their bodies. It also helps in a better understanding of how physical feelings impact personal growth.

3. Are there any prerequisites for these certifications?

BodyMind Dancing often requires a background or experience in dance or movement, and certainly a love of dancing. Active Embodiment™ for Coaches requires experience in coaching, or a desire to apply this work to your team leadership or therapeutic processes relevant in your field. It's important to find out or discuss with our team to make sure that these methods align with your interests and your profession’s scope of practice and standards.