Reflection from participant in SomaHut Study Group 2025-2026 Mia stark

Participating in the SomaHut Study Group was an enriching experience for me on many levels. For the past couple of years, I have been studying the Body-Mind Centering® Somatic Movement Education programme at Moveus in Germany. In this context, it was particularly important for me to be part of a group that included several more experienced somatic practitioners from whom I could learn and gain new perspectives.

I am also grateful for the opportunities to lead classes and study sessions for both amateur and professional movers, including dancers, somatic practitioners, athletes, physiotherapists, musicians, and Kinesio therapists. These experiences allowed me to apply and practise the knowledge and skills I was acquiring through my BMC® education, while also learning how to adapt my approach to people with different backgrounds and experiences.

Alongside teaching and studying, I participated in other group activities, including being part of the organisation team for the SomaHut Festival. Through this experience, I connected with many international practitioners and developed organisational, production, and communication skills that are essential for creating and supporting smaller events that bring people together.

I also gained a deeper understanding of the idea behind the SomaHut community: connecting, supporting one another, sharing ideas, respecting different approaches, and building and sustaining a wider circle of people who are interested in what “soma” can mean. This includes people who are already practitioners, those who are on a learning path towards becoming practitioners, and those who may intuitively live their lives in a “somatic” way and integrate this awareness into their everyday, artistic, or professional practices.

As someone who is on the path towards becoming a BMC® educator, this experience has been particularly important to me. It has given me the opportunity to explore not only how I develop my own way of sharing knowledge, but also what SomaHut means to me and what “soma” means within my own practice. It has encouraged me to think about how I envision a larger gathering such as the SomaHut Festival, how I can contribute to such a community, and how I can support and help others within it.

Zagreb, 24 September 2026