SOMA TRAINING
PROGRAM
“For the things we have to learn before we can do them,
we learn by doing them.” ― Aristotle,
OVERVIEW
The Soma Training Program is considered by Guy Voyer, D.O., to be one of the key components of his educational model. It will be of interest to those who work (or want to work) with athletes at all levels, and those who are using exercise and wellness techniques to improve the general health and function of their clients.
The key aim of the program is to improve participants’ anatomical and biomechanical knowledge and equip them with a wide range of analytical exercise techniques. This is paired with a unique ‘Soma’ way of thinking that allows them to deal with complex issues that their patients and clients may present.
Soma Education’s in-depth Soma Training curriculum is organized into 15 courses and integrates very precise and specific exercise techniques, ranging from analytical and segmental training to proprioception and myofascial stretching. While each module gives participants a highly specialized set of tools, students will also develop their own way of thinking in matters related to tensegrity biomechanics over the duration of all the modules.
The diploma of Soma Trainer will be awarded at the end of the program. This is the highest possible accolade for anyone who practices in the Soma Training discipline.
PHASE 1
Part 1: Segmental Strengthening of Abdominals and Thoracic Diaphragm
This unique class incorporates detailed relational and fascial anatomy and relative biomechanics, with students starting to learn the correct mechanics, execution and application from the very beginning.
The abdominals (obliques, transverse, pyramidals and rectus abdominus) and the thoracic diaphragm need to be properly trained. These muscles are not only functional but aesthetic.
Participants will learn more than 100 exercises and their variations that can be used regularly in strength and conditioning as well as in the field of rehabilitation, especially for the spine, lumbo-pelvis dysfunction, abdominal wall separations, hernias and digestive disorders.
The abdominals (obliques, transverse, pyramidals and rectus abdominus) and the thoracic diaphragm need to be properly trained. These muscles are not only functional but aesthetic.
Participants will learn more than 100 exercises and their variations that can be used regularly in strength and conditioning as well as in the field of rehabilitation, especially for the spine, lumbo-pelvis dysfunction, abdominal wall separations, hernias and digestive disorders.
Part 2: Segmental Strengthening of Lower Limbs
There are hundreds of specific exercises, which can solicit the proximal, distal, medial, lateral, middle, superficial or deep portions of each muscle in the lower extremities. The thorough details that are covered in this class will allow for an understanding of the numerous exercises that target specific areas of the lower limb. These exercises are applied, based on our goal, to specific conditioning goals, to address muscles imbalances, and a part of addressing specific orthopedic dysfunctions such as various joint dysfunctions, tendonitis, arthrosis, instability etc.
Part 3: Segmental Strengthening of Upper Limbs and Trunk
For each muscle group, the large muscles need to be trained with specific movements in relation to the quality of the required goal (strength, volume, power, speed, resistance, endurance and fitness maintenance).
The spinal muscles, meanwhile, need to be trained to improve their ability to provide postural support.
During part three of Soma Education’s Soma Training course, there are also numerous specific exercises which can solicit the proximal, distal, medial, lateral, middle, superficial or deep portions of each muscle in the upper extremities.
Students will learn more than 100 different exercises that are invaluable in both performance training and rehabilitation. The function of the shoulder girdle is a major topic of this seminar.
The spinal muscles, meanwhile, need to be trained to improve their ability to provide postural support.
During part three of Soma Education’s Soma Training course, there are also numerous specific exercises which can solicit the proximal, distal, medial, lateral, middle, superficial or deep portions of each muscle in the upper extremities.
Students will learn more than 100 different exercises that are invaluable in both performance training and rehabilitation. The function of the shoulder girdle is a major topic of this seminar.
Part 4: Global Movement: The Squat, Posturolgy and the Gravity Line
A complete analysis of the squat with respect to the entire body in relation to gravity line and various other aspects are to be taken into consideration when applying the squat. There are over a hundred progressions that have to be learned before a squat is completed properly.
This class will cover all of these progressions and lead to a fundamental understanding of proper progressions leading to the completion of a biomechanically-sound squat.
While the fundamentals are the same, the squat should be modified and applied differently to specific goals, which could be to improve a client’s posture, to rehabilitate the knee after an ACL injury, to help eliminate back pain or to improve someone’s athletic performance.
Posture is the basis for the balanced functioning of all joints and viscera. A good posture leads to an economy of energy expenditure. Our in-depth course on posture explains the many tests that can help ascertain proper posture and features numerous exercises to correct and improve it.
This class will cover all of these progressions and lead to a fundamental understanding of proper progressions leading to the completion of a biomechanically-sound squat.
While the fundamentals are the same, the squat should be modified and applied differently to specific goals, which could be to improve a client’s posture, to rehabilitate the knee after an ACL injury, to help eliminate back pain or to improve someone’s athletic performance.
Posture is the basis for the balanced functioning of all joints and viscera. A good posture leads to an economy of energy expenditure. Our in-depth course on posture explains the many tests that can help ascertain proper posture and features numerous exercises to correct and improve it.
Part 5: Circulatory and Respiratory Techniques
When it comes to circulatory concerns, numerous people suffer from problems of venous return (varices, varicosities; heavy legs, edema, etc). Simple, yet very precise exercises allow a stimulation of circulation of the blood in an anatomical and physiological sense for each vein.
The other part of this course covered respiration, and includes an abundance of exercises to improve the quantity of respiration.
The techniques taught in this course are qualitative in nature, allowing a very precise recruitment of each pulmonary segment in order to address any respiratory insufficiency that is frequently encountered (asthma, smoking-related issues, etc).
The other part of this course covered respiration, and includes an abundance of exercises to improve the quantity of respiration.
The techniques taught in this course are qualitative in nature, allowing a very precise recruitment of each pulmonary segment in order to address any respiratory insufficiency that is frequently encountered (asthma, smoking-related issues, etc).
PHASE 2
Part 1: General ELDOA™
Lots of pain, arthrosis, neurological pinching, disc compression and articular lesions result from compactions, compressions and/or articular blocks. There is an effective solution to these ailments: ELDOA™s.
These precise and very individual exercises consist of very precise postures which target relief in a specific articulation. The advantage of these postures is that once you learn them, they take only a minute a day to perform. Seminar Outline: Background and methodology Lumbar ELDOA™ practice Thoracic ELDOA™ practice Cervical ELDOA™ practice
These precise and very individual exercises consist of very precise postures which target relief in a specific articulation. The advantage of these postures is that once you learn them, they take only a minute a day to perform. Seminar Outline: Background and methodology Lumbar ELDOA™ practice Thoracic ELDOA™ practice Cervical ELDOA™ practice
Part 2: Myofascial Stretching (MFS)
For a long time now, we have believed that we knew how to stretch muscles – but how do you really stretch a muscle when it is hidden underneath a thick layer of skin?
Muscles are three dimensional in shape with multiple sites of attachment. Fascia is the thin ‘skin’ weaving into and surrounding structures like the muscle tissue; it ‘links’ various structures together in a chain that includes the joint or joint capsule.
Stretching a muscle is only effective once the ‘skin’ that covers it is no longer dry and retracted. Myofascial stretches respect the anatomy of the muscles, their aponeuroses as well as their function. Our course covers the analytical study of the fascial chains to allow for an incredibly effective stretch position.
All the connective tissue in the body is made of water and this water is arranged in microscopic tubules. Perhaps even more amazing is that the fascia is continuous upon itself: it is one single entity. In order to stretch a specific muscle it is better to consider it as a link in a specific chain extending from the toes to the back of the knee, inserting into one or more of the ligaments of the pelvis.
This is the ‘real anatomy’ of the body and respects the global organization of its tissues. Our course helps people to find the correct stretching posture to solicit the tension of the whole fascial chain in order to correct the specific muscle link.
With myofascial stretching (MFS), the goal is not to gain flexibility of a muscle, but to improve the quality of the movement of the tissues in relation to one another. MFS is the only type of stretching that respects this organization.
Our course will systematically review the proper method of stretching for all major muscles of the trunk, the upper and lower limb, and will result in close to 100 different stretching exercises being learned.
Muscles are three dimensional in shape with multiple sites of attachment. Fascia is the thin ‘skin’ weaving into and surrounding structures like the muscle tissue; it ‘links’ various structures together in a chain that includes the joint or joint capsule.
Stretching a muscle is only effective once the ‘skin’ that covers it is no longer dry and retracted. Myofascial stretches respect the anatomy of the muscles, their aponeuroses as well as their function. Our course covers the analytical study of the fascial chains to allow for an incredibly effective stretch position.
All the connective tissue in the body is made of water and this water is arranged in microscopic tubules. Perhaps even more amazing is that the fascia is continuous upon itself: it is one single entity. In order to stretch a specific muscle it is better to consider it as a link in a specific chain extending from the toes to the back of the knee, inserting into one or more of the ligaments of the pelvis.
This is the ‘real anatomy’ of the body and respects the global organization of its tissues. Our course helps people to find the correct stretching posture to solicit the tension of the whole fascial chain in order to correct the specific muscle link.
With myofascial stretching (MFS), the goal is not to gain flexibility of a muscle, but to improve the quality of the movement of the tissues in relation to one another. MFS is the only type of stretching that respects this organization.
Our course will systematically review the proper method of stretching for all major muscles of the trunk, the upper and lower limb, and will result in close to 100 different stretching exercises being learned.
Part 3: Specific Proprioception and Awareness
Proprioception: The physiology that controls an articulation depends on numerous control mechanisms located in the muscle tendons, ligaments and articular capsule. Therefore, it is advisable to train these “micro-computers” to increase or revive control of a joint.
Following a sprain, to treat arthrosis, to recover articular mobility, and to improve efficiency of movement, these various aspects of proprioception must be trained.
“However,” notes Guy Voyer, “this work must be very precise. Because it is not the joint that is trained as a whole but a specific ligament or part of the capsule within that joint.”
This course will teach the hundreds of exercises that may be used throughout the body for this proprioceptive work. Awareness: How can an articulation be trained, a muscle strengthened, or a posture corrected if the brain doesn’t know the area being treated? How does a spine remain straight if the feeling of being straight is skewed?
The cortex must be trained to become acquainted with and recognize every area of the body. A strict methodology involving four progression factors is indispensable to really becoming familiar with the pelvis; the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine; and the various diaphragms. Soma Education students will learn how to apply the very important and often neglected aspect of awareness in their daily practice.
Following a sprain, to treat arthrosis, to recover articular mobility, and to improve efficiency of movement, these various aspects of proprioception must be trained.
“However,” notes Guy Voyer, “this work must be very precise. Because it is not the joint that is trained as a whole but a specific ligament or part of the capsule within that joint.”
This course will teach the hundreds of exercises that may be used throughout the body for this proprioceptive work. Awareness: How can an articulation be trained, a muscle strengthened, or a posture corrected if the brain doesn’t know the area being treated? How does a spine remain straight if the feeling of being straight is skewed?
The cortex must be trained to become acquainted with and recognize every area of the body. A strict methodology involving four progression factors is indispensable to really becoming familiar with the pelvis; the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine; and the various diaphragms. Soma Education students will learn how to apply the very important and often neglected aspect of awareness in their daily practice.
Part 4: Specific ELDOA™
After learning to treat the centralized joints of the body with the general ELDOA™ class, you will learn to treat the joints in the periphery with very precise postures in order to target relief in these specific articulations.
The goal will be to decoapt and normalize the peripheral joints. As before, once you have learned these, they take only a minute a day to perform.
Course outline: Background and methodology Thoracic-Cage ELDOA™ Coxo-Femoral ELDOA™ Shoulder ELDOA™ Sacral and Sacro-Coccygeal ELDOA™ Cranial ELDOA™
The goal will be to decoapt and normalize the peripheral joints. As before, once you have learned these, they take only a minute a day to perform.
Course outline: Background and methodology Thoracic-Cage ELDOA™ Coxo-Femoral ELDOA™ Shoulder ELDOA™ Sacral and Sacro-Coccygeal ELDOA™ Cranial ELDOA™
Part 5 : Periodization and Cinesiology
Because most clients want to progress, we must constantly test them to give them the exact level of exercise they need to improve. For a specific muscular quality (strength, volume, power, speed, resistance, endurance or maintenance), it is necessary to prepare their training precisely by progressions, by linear, by pyramidal programs, etc.
Similarly, the seasonality of a sports year or a post-trauma or post-surgical rehabilitation program requires a refined periodization. The Guy Voyer, D.O. training method is always supported by experimental evidence, biological rules, physical laws, mathematical calculations and biomechanical formulas. This allows students to explain confidently what they are doing to their clients.
Numerous exercises and movements will be used to teach the proper progression that is necessary to achieve specific goals.
Similarly, the seasonality of a sports year or a post-trauma or post-surgical rehabilitation program requires a refined periodization. The Guy Voyer, D.O. training method is always supported by experimental evidence, biological rules, physical laws, mathematical calculations and biomechanical formulas. This allows students to explain confidently what they are doing to their clients.
Numerous exercises and movements will be used to teach the proper progression that is necessary to achieve specific goals.
PHASE 3
Part 1: Cardiorespiratory Training and Physical Conditioning and Sauna
For all clients, it is desirable to help them increase cardio-vascular and cardio-respiratory capacities. Whether for a beginner, to maintain general conditioning, for preparatory training for sports, or to improve the performance of a high caliber athlete, only a program adapted to the individual needs can respond to their specific objectives.
This course will study the elements that will permit progress in endurance, as well as cardiovascular and cardio-respiratory abilities according to the individual’s needs.
This course will study the elements that will permit progress in endurance, as well as cardiovascular and cardio-respiratory abilities according to the individual’s needs.
Part 2: Global Postural Stretching
Whatever your methods of pre-season conditioning, training, or re-education, it is necessary to place the body part being solicited into a global posture. To rediscover the efficiency and fluidity of a movement, Global Postural Stretching (GPS) allows a perfect linking between the joint, the muscle and their fasciae. These specific postures must be meticulously performed and are adapted to each part of the body.
The positions can be used in training and conditioning as well as in pre-season training – they are equally of indubitable efficiency for all re-education programs. For example, after an accident or an illness, all therapeutic treatment must be completed by the rehabilitation of all activities of daily life, be that personal life, sporting life or professional life.
There are thus four major stages to follow:
The first is curative; by the surgeon, doctor, osteopath or chiropractor, according to their methodology.
The second allows the patient to validate the therapeutic action above by analytic auto-normalization exercises such as myofascial stretching, ELDOA™, circulatory or respiratory exercises, proprioception exercises, awareness training, etc.
The third stage brings in global postural exercises to give the patient a general integration back into daily life, including their sporting and professional activities.
The second allows the patient to validate the therapeutic action above by analytic auto-normalization exercises such as myofascial stretching, ELDOA™, circulatory or respiratory exercises, proprioception exercises, awareness training, etc.
The third stage brings in global postural exercises to give the patient a general integration back into daily life, including their sporting and professional activities.
Part 3: Strapping for Sports Pathologies
This course will cover a specific methodology and strapping techniques for common sport and overuse injuries (including sprains, subluxations, tendonitis etc.) that should be used as a therapeutic intervention (along with other therapies).
Very frequently, to assist in the ability of movement or strength performance, the trainer must apply a therapeutic tape job for a ligament, tendon, muscle or a specific articulation. Easily overlooked as a serious discipline, strapping requires a certain in-depth knowledge which is covered in this course.
Very frequently, to assist in the ability of movement or strength performance, the trainer must apply a therapeutic tape job for a ligament, tendon, muscle or a specific articulation. Easily overlooked as a serious discipline, strapping requires a certain in-depth knowledge which is covered in this course.
Part 4: Normalization and Segmental Strengthening of the Transverse Abdominis (TVA) with Practical and Clinical Application
The TVA (Transverse abdominis) is not a simple muscle of the abdominal group. Its anatomy is very precise. It is the deepest, directly related to the peritoneum, and thus all the abdominal and pelvic viscera. It is synergistic with the thoracic diaphragm, and therefore acts on the thoracic and mediastinal viscera.
The TVA’s specific biomechanics allows us to have over 100 specific exercises we can put to use on the posture, the plasticity of the abdomen and the different visceral functions of the abdomen, thorax and pelvis.
The TVA’s specific biomechanics allows us to have over 100 specific exercises we can put to use on the posture, the plasticity of the abdomen and the different visceral functions of the abdomen, thorax and pelvis.
EACH SEMINAR IS TAUGHT IN 2 PARTS:
PART 1
(VIRTUAL)
The theory & anatomy lecture will be taught by The Soma Therapy founder Guy VOYER DO, online via ZOOM.
PART 2
(IN PERSON)
Practical classroom session where all the methodology of the techniques will be taught.