Embodied Developmental Movement
Tools for Life and Love
A collaboration between Natural Lifemanship and Mark Taylor of BodyMindMovement
Reconnect with Your Body’s Wisdom
Before stress shaped your breath.
Before trauma patterned your posture.
Before the world told you how to move, perform, or protect.
Your body knew how to flow, relate, and regulate.
The Somatic Movement Series is your invitation to go back to your body’s original wisdom, with the help of horses.
You’ll explore the foundational motor patterns and reflexes that shape how we live, love, and heal with somatic movement expert Mark Taylor of BodyMindMovement, in collaboration with Bettina Shultz-Jobe of Natural Lifemanship.
Why Take This Training NOW?
In a world that asks us to move faster, produce more, and stay in our heads, this training offers a radical return to presence. The demand for somatic, trauma-informed care is growing—and so is the need for practitioners who can model regulation, embodied attunement, and relational safety.
Whether you’re navigating stress, seeking new tools for your clients or horses, or simply longing to feel more at home in your own body, now is the time to pause, tune in, and remember what it feels like to move from the inside out.
Details
The Origins of Life
Natural Lifemanship Headquarters, Brenham, TX
Jul 9–12, 2025 The Origins of Life (Ocean Patterns)
Sep 10–13, 2025 Life on Land (Vertebral Patterns)
Feb 18–21, 2026 Fluid Communication (Nervous System)
Apr 29–May 2, 2026 Moving In and Out of Relationship (Primitive Reflexes)
Trainers:
Mark Taylor, MSME, SEP, BMC | Founder of BodyMindMovement
Bettina Shultz-Jobe, LPC | Co-Founder of Natural Lifemanship
This Training is for You if…
- You want to feel more regulated, grounded, and connected
- You work with clients and want to integrate body-based, trauma-informed strategies
- You’re looking for tools that deepen relational presence and support nervous system health
- You want to explore how horses support somatic and developmental healing
- You’re curious, open, and ready to move beyond the mind into embodied practice
**There are no prerequisites. The Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship is recommended but not required.
What Participants Are Saying
Meet Your Trainers
Mark Taylor
MSME/MSMT, SEP, BMC
Founder of BodyMindMovement; Master Somatic Movement Educator with over 40 years guiding embodied transformation through developmental movement, anatomy, and somatic awareness
Bettina Shultz-Jobe
LPC, NBCC
NL Co-Founder; LPC, Over 20 years experience effectively treating traumatized populations through EAP and complementary therapeutic modalities
What Will I Learn?
Each training can stand alone or be taken as part of a comprehensive, progressive series. Join us for one—or all four—and experience embodied transformation through developmental movement and equine integration. (Each training will include six hours of equine integration.)
Training 1 July 9–12, 2025
The Origins of Life
Embodying the Ocean Patterns
Before we learned to walk, we learned to float. Rooted in our earliest evolutionary origins, this training explores oceanic movement patterns—fluid, rhythmic, and deeply grounding—that help restore presence, regulation, and nervous system flow.
You’ll learn to:
Embody movement patterns from our aquatic beginnings
Regulate your nervous system through embodied fluidity
Guide others using verbal and tactile somatic cues
Training 2 Sep 10–13, 2025
Life on Land
Embodying the Vertebral Patterns
As life moved onto land, we learned to meet gravity. This training explores the Satisfaction Cycle and twelve vertebral movement patterns that support posture, symmetry, and cross-lateral development.
You’ll learn to:
Embody and support these core movement patterns
Observe and assess developmental movement in others
Integrate patterns to support neurodevelopment and brain function
Training 3 Feb 18–21, 2026
Fluid Communication
Embodying the Nervous System
The nervous system holds deep, embodied wisdom. This training uses touch, movement, and imagery to balance the “three brains”—head, heart, and gut—while supporting regulation and sensory-motor integration.
You’ll learn to:
Embody and work with the three centers of intelligence
Use somatic tools to support nervous system health
Navigate dysregulation to build resilience
Training 4 April 29-May2, 2026
Moving In and Out of Relationship
Embodying the Primitive Reflexes
Primitive reflexes form the foundation of relational capacity—and when retained or unintegrated, they can limit our emotional responses and patterns of connection. This training helps you identify, integrate, and work with reflexes as doorways to healing.
You’ll learn to:
Recognize and integrate retained or activated reflexes
Work with the Moro, startle, withdrawal, and grasping reflexes Use reflex awareness to support emotional flexibility and relational flow
Choose Your Path
Whether you’re curious about one module or ready to journey through the entire series, we’ve created flexible options so you can step in wherever you’re called—and receive the support you need along the way.
Individual Training
Perfect if you’re exploring a specific area of interest or want to begin with one step at a time.
$1499 Training Only
$1899 Training + Double Occupancy Lodging
$2249 Training + Single Occupancy Lodging
Full Series (All 4 Trainings)
Ideal if you want an immersive, cohesive experience—with the most continuity, integration, and savings.
$5596 All 4 trainings (Save $400)
$7096 Training + Double Occupancy Lodging (Save $500)
$8396 Training + Single Occupancy Lodging (Save $600)
**All lodging options include cleaning fees, taxes, and service fees. No hidden costs. All training options include onsite lunch. (Some even include breakfast!)
Want to learn more about our lodging?
Discover the cozy, artful spaces at the HomePlace Inn—our boutique 12-room inn located right on site at Natural Lifemanship Headquarters.
Where This Fits in Your Learning Journey
The Somatic Movement Series is a powerful complement to any NL including the as Fundamentals and Intensive. While not required for certification, this series strengthens your ability to offer trauma-informed, relational, and somatic care in any practice.
FAQ
Q: Can I take just one training?
A: Yes, Each module stands alone, though they were designed to build on one another.
Q: Will I get CE credits for these trainings?
A: Yes. Each 4-day training offers 25 CE credits approved by NBCC.
Q: Do I need horse experience?
A: No. All experiential work with horses will be guided and accessible for all comfort levels.
Q: Can I use this training toward NL certification?
A: Yes, this training can be applied toward the specialty training requirement for Advanced Certification.While it does not count toward basic certification, it is an excellent complement to our certification trainings.
Q: What’s included in the lodging?
A: Lodging includes a continental breakfast, all cleaning fees, taxes, and service fees at the HomePlace Inn—located right onsite.
Q: Who can attend this training?
A: This series is open to anyone interested in embodied healing and relational movement. Therapists, educators, bodyworkers, coaches, equine professionals, and curious humans alike are welcome. No clinical background is required—just a willingness to explore and grow.
Reserve Your Spot
The Somatic Movement Series is one of the most hands-on, integrative learning experiences we offer.
If you’re ready to return to your body, deepen your practice, and walk a new path toward healing and connection—join us.
