About Jeri Atleson
My Journey to Somatic Movement
Like many of you, I had never heard of Somatic Movement, Clinical Somatic Movement, or any type of somatic exploration. My path here began not out of curiosity, but out of necessity.
For more than 15 years, I lived with chronic, debilitating migraines. Doctor after doctor, test after test, and still—no answers. I was told there was nothing “wrong,” yet I couldn’t live a normal life without being sidelined by pain.
As a young mom of two, I did what I thought I had to do: I took the medication prescribed to me. But the side effects piled up, and the core issue never improved. The migraines remained.
I tried everything—changing my diet, functional medicine, endless appointments—yet nothing provided lasting relief. Desperation eventually became determination. I became my own advocate, searching for approaches that looked at the whole body, not just isolated symptoms.
That’s when I discovered Clinical Somatic Movement.
Through this practice, I finally found ease, relief, and a way forward. It wasn’t just about managing migraines—it was about reconnecting with my body, understanding my nervous system, and experiencing movement without pain.
Why I Teach
Movement changed my life. Pilates was the first form of exercise I could do without triggering a migraine, and I loved it so much that I became a Nationally Certified Pilates Instructor. Later, when I found Clinical Somatic Movement, I knew I had discovered the missing piece I’d been searching for all along.
Now, I share this work with others who are also seeking relief, healing, and freedom in their bodies. Teaching people to:
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Reconnect with their bodies
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Regulate their nervous systems
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Alleviate pain
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Move with ease and comfort
…is one of the greatest blessings of my life. Helping even one person feel better is a gift to both of us.
My Approach
My approach is grounded in both personal experience and professional training. I’ve lived as an athlete, a parent, a professional in a high-stress environment, and a member of the sandwich generation caring for both kids and parents. I know firsthand how stress, lifestyle, and emotion affect the body.
I believe true well-being comes when we honor the connection between body, mind, and spirit. My role is to walk alongside you, helping you discover how movement can restore balance, relieve pain, and open new possibilities for daily life.
Qualifications & Training
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Certified Public Accountant (recovering CPA!)
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Nationally Certified Pilates Instructor
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Essential Somatic Movement Teacher
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Clinical Somatic Movement Educator Teacher Trainee
A Little More About Me
I’m married with two almost-grown daughters who keep me laughing and grounded. I love reading, exercising (without the constant fear of a headache!), and gathering with family and friends.
I’m also part of a wonderfully quirky book club that doesn’t just read books—we live them, exploring new activities and experiences inspired by our reads. Technology and I have a love/hate relationship, but I’m learning to embrace it a little more each day.
Most importantly, I’m a work in progress. Every day I get the chance to begin again—with new appreciation, new lessons, and new joy.
Mission
To empower individuals suffering from chronic pain and stress-related tension to reclaim their bodies and their lives through the gentle, transformative practice of Clinical Somatic Education. We believe everyone deserves to move with ease, live without constant pain, and feel at home in their own body.
We are committed to making somatic movement education accessible, understandable, and immediately useful for people who have been told to “just live with” their pain or who have tried countless treatments without lasting relief.
Committment to You
We promise to meet you exactly where you are, without judgment about what you should be feeling or how quickly you should improve. We commit to providing clear, practical education that you can immediately apply to your daily life.
We will always prioritize your safety and autonomy, ensuring that you remain in complete control of your experience. We pledge to continue our own learning and growth so that we can offer you the most current and effective approaches to somatic healing.
Most importantly, we commit to believing in your capacity for healing and transformation, especially during moments when you might doubt it yourself. Your journey toward ease and vitality is not just our profession—it’s our privilege to witness and support.
Philosophy
This philosophy guides everything we do, from how we structure our classes to how we communicate with clients. It reflects our deep respect for the intelligence of the human body and our unwavering belief in everyone’s capacity to heal, grow, and thrive.
Your Body Has Wisdom
We believe your body is not broken—it’s doing exactly what your nervous system has learned to do in response to stress, injury, and life experiences. Chronic pain and tension are often signs of an intelligent protective system that has simply forgotten how to let go.
Rather than fighting against your body or forcing it to change, we work with your nervous system’s natural capacity for learning and adaptation. Every sensation, every movement pattern, every area of tension tells a story about how you’ve navigated life’s challenges.
Healing Happens from the Inside Out
True, lasting change occurs when you reconnect with your body’s innate ability to heal and self-regulate. While external treatments can provide temporary relief, sustainable transformation comes from reestablishing the communication between your brain and muscles.
We don’t “fix” you—we help you remember how to move, breathe, and exist with ease. This isn’t about adding another treatment to your routine; it’s about awakening abilities you already possess but may have temporarily lost touch with.
Slow and Gentle Creates Lasting Change
In our fast-paced world, we’ve been conditioned to believe that healing requires intense effort, dramatic interventions, or “no pain, no gain” approaches. Our philosophy embraces the opposite: the most profound changes often happen through gentle, mindful awareness.
When we slow down and listen deeply to our bodies, we create space for the nervous system to reset and reorganize itself. This isn’t passive—it requires presence, attention, and patience. But it’s in this gentle space that lasting transformation becomes possible.
You Are the Expert on Your Own Body
While we bring knowledge of somatic principles and movement patterns, you are the ultimate authority on your own experience. No one else can feel what you feel or know what you need in each moment.
Our role is to guide you back to your own body wisdom, teaching you to trust your sensations and respect your limits. We don’t prescribe one-size-fits-all solutions; instead, we help you develop the skills to listen to and respond to your body’s unique needs.
Education Over Treatment
We see ourselves as educators rather than treaters. Instead of doing something “to” you, we teach you skills that become yours to use throughout your life. This educational approach means that every session builds your capacity for self-care and independent healing.
When you understand why you have certain patterns and how to address them, you become empowered rather than dependent. This knowledge transforms you from a passive recipient of care into an active participant in your own wellbeing.
Pain is Not the Enemy
Our culture often treats pain as something to eliminate at all costs, but we view pain differently. Pain—whether physical or emotional—often carries important information about what needs attention in our lives.
Rather than simply trying to make pain disappear, we help you develop a new relationship with sensation and discomfort. When you can listen to your body’s signals without fear or resistance, pain often naturally diminishes as its message is received and addressed.
The Mind and Body Are One
We reject the artificial separation between mental and physical health. Your body holds the history of your experiences—stress, trauma, joy, and resilience are all expressed through your posture, movement patterns, and muscle tension.
Somatic movement works with this mind-body unity, recognizing that changing movement patterns can shift emotional states, and that addressing psychological stress can release physical tension. Healing happens on multiple levels simultaneously.
Everyone Deserves to Feel at Home in Their Body
Regardless of age, fitness level, or health history, everyone has the right to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. Chronic pain and tension can make you feel betrayed by your body, as if it’s working against you.
We believe in the possibility of reunion—of coming back home to yourself. This doesn’t mean perfection or the absence of all discomfort, but rather a sense of partnership with your body, an ability to move with grace, and the confidence that you have tools to address whatever arises.
Small Changes Create Big Transformations
We’ve witnessed how tiny shifts in awareness can cascade into life-changing improvements. A slight release in neck tension might improve sleep. Better breathing patterns might reduce anxiety. Improved posture might boost confidence.
This philosophy of gentle, incremental change honors the complexity of human experience while making transformation feel achievable rather than overwhelming. Every small movement toward ease matters.
Healing is Not Linear
We understand that healing isn’t a straight line from pain to relief. There are good days and challenging days, breakthroughs and setbacks, moments of clarity and periods of confusion.
Our approach honors this natural rhythm of healing, helping you develop resilience and self-compassion for the journey. We celebrate progress in all its forms and help you recognize improvement even when it’s subtle or unexpected.
Community and Connection Matter
While the work of somatic movement is deeply personal, healing happens in relationship—with yourself, with others, and with supportive community. We create spaces where people can learn together, share experiences, and feel less alone in their healing journey.
Whether in online classes or future in-person sessions, we foster environments of acceptance, curiosity, and mutual support. Sometimes the most powerful healing happens when you realize you’re not the only one who has struggled with chronic pain or felt disconnected from your body.
Take the Next Step Towards Healing
Ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing? Sign up for one of our transformative Zoom classes and experience the benefits of somatic healing. Click the button below to get started and reclaim your life with Soma Health Connection.