Gentle Somatic Yoga®
Level 1 ​​​​​​​Training​​​​​​​ & Retreat
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Retford, United Kingdom

September 10-16, 2026

Gentle Somatic Yoga® Level 1 Training and Retreat

In-Person Training | September 10–16, 2026

Join James Knight, Founder of Gentle Somatic Yoga® (GSY) , for an in-person somatic movement education experience you will not find anywhere else.

Theme for this Event: Your Healing Journey Begins with a Supportive Foundation
Like every great house built upon a solid foundation, the body thrives and heals when supported by a clear, reliable method of self-care. Our greatest long-term investment is our health, and Gentle Somatic Yoga® offers a science-informed and heart-centered approach that empowers you with practical tools for self-healing and whole-self integration.

This Level 1 training is open to everyone — whether you are seeking sustainable self-care for your own body and nervous system, or wish to deepen and integrate somatic principles into your professional or creative work.

What You’ll Explore in GSY Level 1 Training and Retreat

In this foundational training, you will learn 25+ Somatic Movement Flows®, thoughtfully designed to support nervous system regulation, functional movement, and embodied awareness.

Highlights include:

  • Finding your “Inner Yes” — learning to make generative, nourishing decisions that honor your body’s somatic intellegence 

  • Discovering ways to move that are safe, comfortable, and life-force enhancing (prana)

  • Embodying the how and why behind Somatic Movement Flows®, and how they address the root causes of persistent pain, stiffness, poor posture, anxiety, and low energy (including mental and emotional capacity)

  • Learning adaptable, nourishing movements suitable for every body, with an emphasis on cultivating your own inner teacher and relying less on “doing it right” according to external instruction or demonstration

  • Complimentary access to our Gentle Somatic Yoga Level 1 online course. In this course you will have access to all of the step-by-step instructional videos and supplemental PDFs. Upon registration you will receive a link to download all 25 Somatic Movement Flows® taught in this program and print the teaching manual you will be required to bring in-person.  You will use this manual during the daily practice teachback sessions. 
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Reserve Your GSY Level 1 Training Spot Now!

GSY Level 1 Training: Your Somatic Foundation


This training is right for you if:

  • You’ve experienced nagging pain or stress-based symptoms and want to relieve them, including but not limited to:
    • Muscle tightness, stiffness or spasms
    • Joint pain or inflammation
    • Lack of flexibility and/or mobility
    • Poor posture
    • Anxiety
    • Headaches

  • You’re living with chronic pain and other symptoms from an injury, surgery, autoimmune condition, including but not limited to:
    • Chronic lower back, neck, or shoulder pain
    • Tight hips/pelvis
    • TMJ
    • Sciatica
    • Fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome
    • Sports Injury
    • Pre or post surgery

  • You are looking to build a home practice for ongoing self-care, confidence, and and embodied sense of wellbeing
  • You are a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, bodyworker, or health care professional that would like to learn new skills that you can implement into your classes and/or private sessions
  • You would like to add-on our Certification Option to provide a recognized credential that can help support you to expand your scope of practice

More of what you will learn in GSY Level 1: 


This foundational training offers a clear, embodied understanding of how and why Gentle Somatic Yoga® works as a transformational self-care and self-healing practice.

You will explore:

  • Sensory Motor Amnesia — understanding how unconscious muscular holding patterns develop, and how Somatic Movement Flows® address the root causes of pain, stiffness, poor posture, anxiety, and low energy (mental and emotional capacity)

  • Pandiculation — the core technique that distinguishes this method from most styles of yoga, replacing static stretching with innovative brain-to-muscle re-education

  • How to gently reclaim abandoned or disconnected parts of self shaped by stress, injury, or life experiences

  • Developing a lived, embodied experience of peace and wellbeing that supports continued self-healing

  • Practicing mindful, compassionate movement that fosters trust and connection with your body

  • A balance of leading-edge neuroscience and heart-based wisdom

  • Whole-Self integration and somatic healing — mind, body, and soul

  • Practical guidelines for adapting somatic principles into group classes and private sessions, in ways that are safe, accessible, and nourishing

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Enjoy this short video clip from the last GSY Level 1 training at Jasmine Trust in 2017

ABOUT THIS SPECIAL VENUE

Jasmine Trust Yoga - Retford, Nottinghamshire, England

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, the Jasmine Trust Yoga Centre is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art yoga space nestled within the quiet English countryside, just minutes outside the market town of Retford. This is James’ venue of choice when teaching in the United Kingdom.

The centre sits on land generously gifted from a privately owned historic estate and was created as a sanctuary for wellbeing, reflection, and embodied practice. Surrounded by expansive grounds and ancient trees, Jasmine Trust offers a rare sense of seclusion and calm — an oasis in an increasingly busy world.

James has taught at Jasmine Trust previously and feels deeply privileged to be invited to return to this special place. He is especially drawn to the presence of the ancient trees and the subtle, grounding energy that permeates the land around Babworth Court.

ACCOMODATION AND MEALS

Staying Nearby

While the Jasmine Trust Yoga Centre does not offer on-site accommodations, there are many comfortable and affordable options nearby, including hotels and Airbnb stays within approximately a 10-minute drive.

For those living in the UK, having your own car is common and convenient. That said, taxis and ride-share services (such as Uber) are readily available and make arriving at the centre simple and stress-free.

To support your planning, we’ve created a helpful accommodation and location guide (Here is a handy document) outlining nearby options and transportation details.

Meals & Shared Evenings

Lunch and light refreshments are included each training day at Jasmine Trust.

All other meals are the student’s responsibility. From past experience, this often becomes a highlight of the week — many participants enjoy walking into town, discovering local restaurants, and sharing relaxed dinners together after a full day of learning and practice.

In-Person Dates:
September 10th–16th, 2026

Proposed Schedule: 

Thursday, September 10th:
  • People travelling from out of town, check into your accommodations
  • 6:30pm - 8:30pm Orientation and Opening Circle at Jasmine Trust Centre

Friday, Sat., Sun., Mon., and Tues., September 11th - 15th, 2026
  • 9:00am - 10:30am Gentle Somatic Yoga® class
  • Short break
  • 10:40am - 12pm - Learning Laboratory 
  • Noon - 1pm - Lunch
  • 1pm - 3pm - Practice Teachback
  • Short break
  • 3:10pm - 4pm - Review Teachback Process
  • 4pm - 5pm - Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Method of Gentle Somatic Yoga®
  • 6pm - Optional group dinner for those that would like to join us. Short walk to town, or take a taxi. Highly recommend staying for the closing ceremony and dinner on Tuesday, September 15th. Participants pay separate checks for evening meals.

Wednesday, September 16th: 

  • 9:00am - 10:30am optional Certification Teachback (for those that want to be certified in GSY may stay and present a short class in-person. Or, you have the option of making a video and sending it in at a later date. 
  • 11:00 - Check out time for those staying in accommodations 

THE BEAUTIFUL JASMINE TRUST CENTRE, RETFORT, UK

Gentle Somatic Yoga®: The Somatic Foundation

GSY Level 1 In-person Training & Retreat

In-person: Retford, England | September 10-16, 2026

About your facilitator:


James Knight is the founder of Gentle Somatic Yoga® and is recognized as one of the early pioneers bridging the fields of Somatics and yoga.

He is an Experienced Yoga Teacher, a Certified Hanna Somatic Educator through the Novato Institute for Somatic Research and Training (third wave), and an Integrative Therapist with decades of experience working one-on-one with clients and teaching internationally.

James’ work is informed by a lifelong personal practice and professional background as a yogi, intuitive bodyworker, body-oriented psychotherapist, movement educator, and author. Through this integrative lens, he developed Gentle Somatic Yoga® as a simple, accessible, and reliable method that supports the nervous system and addresses the underlying causes of muscular pain, stiffness, postural imbalance, and stress-based holding patterns.

His teaching emphasizes practical self-care, embodied awareness, and compassionate inquiry. Many students report experiencing meaningful and long-lasting improvements in comfort, mobility, and overall wellbeing.

At the heart of James’ work is a sincere passion for supporting others in reconnecting with their body’s innate wisdom and cultivating a life of greater physical ease, emotional resilience, and embodied freedom.

Ready to Save your space?

 The cost of the training, for the rooms listed below, INCLUDES:
 
  • In-person tuition for GSY Level 1 with James Knight
  • Complimentary access to the online course
  • 5 scrumptious lunches and light refreshments 

Does not include:
 
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Reserve your space now!

The balance can be paid in full at the time of booking or you can take advantage of our payment plan over 2 monthly payments.
 

Please enter your information below to secure your space for the in-person LEVEL 1 GSY Training.

Email us if you have any questions: customercare@gentlesomaticyoga.com. 

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Our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 
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Our cancellation policy is as follows:  Partial payments (or full payments) are due upon registering. If the event is more than 90 days out, partial refunds for the remaining payment may be considered, on a case-by-case basis, based on our retreat/training venues policies.  There are no refunds if you need to cancel less than 60 days from the event start date. 
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If you have any questions regarding checkout, please email us at CustomerCare@gentlesomaticyoga.com


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