Recorded live at Planet Somatic on September 2, 2025, this Americas panel brings together graduates from The Somatic School from El Salvador/London, Brazil, and the U.S. to explore how Body-Oriented Coaching takes root in diverse cultural, professional, and community contexts. 

Host Whitney Dawn Pyles is joined by three Americas-based Somanauts, Caro Gomez, Bryony Duncan, and Darin Harris, to reflect on what “Diverse Bodies, Diverse Practices” means in real life and real work. They each contribute to a rich conversation on ancestry, creativity, community, and the future of somatic practice and explore: 

• The creative metaphors of somatic practice — weaving, painting, cooking, music, textiles


• Somatic coaching as a grounding framework for creativity and group dynamics


• The potential of somatics to reconnect us in an age of AI and disconnection


• Practical stories of restorative practices, group messiness, and embodied trust

The episode closes with reflections on what each panelist is leaving with: hope, threads of connection, and a deepened sense of resonance across continents.

This episode is for coaches, therapists, facilitators, leaders, and anyone curious about weaving somatics into their work — especially those considering a shift into body-oriented practice. If you’re wondering how to bring more humanity, creativity, and connection into groups or organizations, you’ll find inspiration here.

For more information on The Somatic School, you can follow us on⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠LinkedIn,⁠⁠ or⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ or head to our website⁠ ⁠thesomaticschool.com⁠⁠. Follow Radio Somanaut on Instagram⁠ @radiosomanaut. ⁠You can also learn more by registering for a free Taster Session.

Please note that the views, opinions, and expressions shared by our guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Somatic School. The information shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as official advice or endorsement by the school.

Bryony Duncan is from Scotland and has been living in Brazil for 15 years, currently in Niterói with her 7 year old son, who was born in Rio. She's at a moment of weaving threads. She's in the middle of the training for new Somanauts, in the Grey Wolf pack. She's nearly at the end of her post-graduate training in music therapy, in Rio. And she just launched an online space for people to come in contact with what arises, as they practice communicating in a different language (English).  Bryony also practices and performs improvisation with a group of artists from diverse modalities.

Caro Gomez is a life-long student of Mayan mysticism, an award winning fashion and textile designer and an unconventional business coach for multi-passionate creatives. She has a deep appreciation of moving to the rhythm of the most delicious Latin beats. She believes joy is an act of revolution as it takes courage to fly the Joy Flag in the modern age.

Darin Harris brings energy, curiosity, and inspiration to address complex challenges in today's chaotic times. Groups from around the world call on

Darin to facilitate their full engagement and creative participation. He is co-founder of Living Giving

Enterprises, an organizational and

leadership development company which

houses Journeyofcollaboration.com.

His clients include: Large Scale Manufacturers, Banks, Housing and Real

Estate, Universities, Non-Profits, School

Districts, and Local and State Governments.

He draws from a suite of professional skills including: coaching, group facilitation and problem solving, strategic planning, process improvement, project

management, and policy analysis and

evaluation.

Host:

Whitney Dawn Pyles is a certified Somatic Coach (ACC - ICF), facilitator, and creative devoted to curiosity, connection, and embodied expression. At The Somatic School, she serves as Radio Somanaut host and Community Connector, tending the threads between past, present, and future students while celebrating the many paths of Body-Oriented Coaching. Through movement, 1:1 and group coaching, and self-paced programs, Whitney supports people in reconnecting with their bodies and each other, reclaiming movement as medicine, and embracing joy and authenticity as guiding forces for transformation.

Connect with Whitney on her website or Instagram.