The BodyFirst Programme
Jan - April 2027 Cohort
3 MONTH PROGRAMME AT SOMA HAUS
About The BodyFirst Programme
Many people who come to Soma Haus have fallen through the gaps in a system that acts only when something fits a clean diagnosis. Their results come back normal, and yet nothing feels normal.
Most of them also arrive knowing exactly where their stress or trauma comes from. They have rehabbed the injury, made sense of their story, and yet they still wake up braced or their symptoms persist.
The BodyFirst Programme offers 3 months of hands-on care that approaches physical and mental health through the body's innate intelligence.
Who it's for
Is BodyFirst for you?
Not ready to commit? Start with our free mini course on the nervous system.
- If you live with pain, illness or fatigue that hasn't fully answered to treatment, and you're tired of being told it's stress and left there.
- If you've already done the talking — therapy, journalling, years of reading — and you're ready for care that works from the body up.
- If you're not sure where to begin and you'd rather have a clear goal, a steady rhythm and someone in your corner than one-off sessions you hope will add up.
SOMA HAUS PHILOSOPHY
Why BodyFirst?
We believe the absence of a diagnosis is not the absence of suffering. In fact, we see many clients come after the scans came back clear, after the third specialist, after years of understanding a great deal about what happened to us and still not feeling any different in their bodies.
The truth is that our bodies are innately intelligent, with a remarkable capacity to repair. But stress, old injuries, trauma and long seasons of holding it together can make it harder for the body to process and adapt the way it normally would. These patterns often linger long after the mind has moved on. What we are seeing more and more is that diseases — including autoimmune disorders, cancer, chronic fatigue, and mental health issues — are not random biological failures. Instead, they are predictable, embodied responses when the body and nervous system buckle under a lifetime of unexpressed stress and suppressed emotions.
This is because our protective shield stays up for decades after the threat has passed. The body is flooded with the chemical consequences of defence (inflammation, high cortisol, muscle tension). The body eventually breaks down not from the original threat, but from the exhaustion of a protection mechanism that won't turn off. In other words, while tissues heal and the mind has made sense of things, the nervous system only learns through experience. As a result, it keeps bracing until it has felt, again and again, that it's safe to let go.
BodyFirst was created to meet these needs we often see in clinic. It is not about digging into “what is wrong with you” but rather learning what “better” could look like for you. Healing is not an intellectual exercise; it requires somatic, body-based practices to help your body metabolise the stress and rekindle connection with its original repair mechanisms.
The programme
How BodyFirst works
Before your cohort begins
-
Intake with a counsellor
50 minutes to get to know you, check in on your mental health, and clarify your goals together.
Your 3 months together
-
Opening circle
Thursday 21 January · 2 hours, in person. Meet your cohort, settle in, and set your intention for the months ahead.
Group -
8 one-to-one sessions
Come weekly, or at least once a fortnight, finishing by Thursday 22 April. Each session builds on the last, with your goals in view.
Individual -
Closing circle
Thursday 22 April · 2 hours, in person. Look back at your goals, notice what's changed, and choose what to carry forward.
Group
Everything you receive
- 1Intake with a counsellor50 minutes
- 2Group circles2 hours each, in person
- 8One-to-one bodywork sessions[50] minutes each
- 5Group classesFrom our timetable, excludes reformer Pilates
S$850 for the full programme.
Claim your spotBodyFirst is complementary care and is intended to work alongside your doctor, physiotherapist, psychiatrist or any other treatment you're receiving — not to replace it. If you're under medical care, please keep your providers informed.
Register for Jan - April 2027 Cohort
Please paynow to “SOMA COLLECTIVE PTE LTD” using this QR code and indicate that you have made payment in the message in your form response.
FAQ
Questions, answered
What's included in BodyFirst?
Everything below, for S$850:
- 1 intake with a counsellor (50 minutes)
- 2 group circles (2 hours each, in person)
- 8 one-to-one bodywork sessions
- 5 group classes from our timetable (excludes reformer Pilates)
When does the next cohort start?
Intakes run through November and December 2026. The cohort opens together on Thursday 21 January 2027 and closes on Thursday 22 April 2027. Each cohort is limited to 10 people.
What happens at the intake?
You'll spend 50 minutes with one of our counsellors getting to know each other, checking in on your mental health, and clarifying your goals for the three months ahead.
It's a check-in, not a formal diagnosis. If anything comes up that needs more support, your counsellor will talk you through your options.
How often will I come in?
Weekly, or at least once a fortnight. Weekly builds momentum; fortnightly gives your body more time to settle between sessions. Either way, all 8 sessions need to be completed by Thursday 22 April.
What kind of bodywork will I receive?
Your one-to-one sessions are craniosacral therapy: a gentle, hands-on approach using light, attentive touch. Rather than forcing change, your therapist listens to your body and follows what it's ready for, helping your nervous system settle.
You'll usually work with the same therapist throughout, so the work can build from session to session.
What if I can't make a group circle?
We aren't able to offer a make-up session for the opening or closing circle, so we'd strongly encourage you to keep both dates free.
There's something powerful about healing alongside others. We don't heal in isolation, and the circles are where many people feel that most.
Will I have to share personal things in the group?
Only what you want to. The circles are gentle and guided, and you're welcome to listen more than you speak. Your one-to-one sessions stay private.
What if I need to reschedule a session?
Life happens. You can reschedule a one-to-one session with at least [24] hours' notice, as long as all your sessions are completed by 22 April.
What if I can't complete all 8 sessions by 22 April?
We'd love you to finish within the three months, as the steady rhythm is part of what makes BodyFirst work.
If you need more time, you can extend your programme for an additional S$50. Otherwise, any sessions after 22 April are charged at our standard rates.
Can I get a refund?
BodyFirst is non-refundable once you've joined. Places in each cohort are limited and held especially for you, so please take your time at the intake to make sure it feels right before you commit.
Can I start at a different time?
BodyFirst runs in cohorts so we can begin and end together. If the January dates don't suit you, you're welcome to join the next cohort. Let us know and we'll keep you posted when intakes open.
Which classes can I use?
Any 5 group classes on our timetable, except reformer Pilates classes. Use them any time before 22 April.
Where does BodyFirst take place?
Your one-to-one sessions can be held at either of our studios, Joo Chiat or Tanjong Pagar, depending on your therapist's availability. We'll confirm where each session takes place when you book.
Does BodyFirst replace medical care?
No. BodyFirst is complementary care and is intended to work alongside your doctor, physiotherapist, psychiatrist or any other treatment you're receiving — not to replace it.