Befriending Embodied Movement is a gentle, trauma-informed, self-paced introduction to the 5Rhythms® movement practice. This course offers a practical yet profound way to meet life as it is -the mess and the bless- through body-led wisdom and compassion. Whether you’re living with chronic stress or illness, new to movement, or seeking to deepen your existing practice, this course can serve as both an intro to 5Rhythms and a gateway into continuing the practice at home or stepping into deeper online and in-person experiences. From breath and micro-movements to full-bodied expression, this is a path to rediscover the aliveness and resilience already within you, one step or sway at a time.
Through 7 dynamic modules, 3 accessible at-home movement practices, personal stories, nervous system wisdom, trauma-sensitive guidance, journal prompts, and more, this course offers a gentle yet powerful gateway into the 5Rhythms practice: a path that has shaped and transformed countless lives.
Come as you are. Trust your movement. Rediscover what’s true through the language of your body.
What’s Included
7 Self-Paced Learning Modules
Body Parts Meditation (With and Without Music)
A Guided 5Rhythms® Wave for Home Practice
2 Pre-Recorded Zoom Sessions (Solo and Group)
PDF Workbook with Journal Prompts
Access to Our Community Forum
Ongoing Resources and Quarterly Pop-Up Q&A Sessions
Access to Live Online Classes dedicated to course participants
Meet Your Guides
We, Layah Jane and Simona Irwin, created Befriending Embodied Movement: An Introduction to 5Rhythms as a practical, easy-to-follow gateway for anyone curious about how the body can serve as a portal to growth and change. We share a devotion to land, movement, and the mystery of embodied exploration, believing in the power of communal practice to foster emotional expression and belonging. Grateful for the chance to weave our loves, skills, and lineages, we look forward to continuing these offerings, inviting others into deeper connection with self, community, and the earth.
Simona Irwin is a mindfulness teacher, neuroplasticity coach,
and facilitator who specializes in supporting individuals struggling with chronic illness, complex fear states, and emotional overwhelm. She brings her expertise to her online community space and monthly mindfulness and constellation circles in Toronto, creating warm, inclusive containers where somatic awareness, nature connection, and authentic belonging intersect.
Through mindfulness, movement, parts work, and systemic constellations, Simona's work fosters embodied resilience and relational repair. Her approach centers on reciprocity, supporting each person’s path toward wholeness while honoring the larger ecosystems—human and more-than-human—we belong to. Simona is a devoted student of 5Rhythms® and the mystery of the big dance.
Layah Jane Singer-Wilson is a movement teacher, dancer, mother, and musician. Her 5Rhythms facilitation is infused with expressive enthusiasm, a fascination with the weave of ritual and improvisational art, and a reverent love of creative practice as a transformational and political act. A movement facilitator since 2003, Layah is a member of the International Conscious Movement Teachers Association, and a certified 5Rhythms teacher accredited with the 5Rhythms Teachers Association. All study hours with Layah count towards future 5Rhythms teacher trainings.
Testimonials from Course Participants
"I’ve really enjoyed this course. The videos are clear, and Layah and Simona are very calming. The workbook is one of my favourite parts. It’s easy to follow and thoughtfully written, with little touches that made me feel really supported."
"I wasn’t sure if this would work for me because I can only move from bed or a chair right now. But from the very first session, I began to cry. I felt like it was actually made with people like me in mind. It felt good to be included and to move in ways that were totally doable for my body."
"I’ve wanted to try 5Rhythms for a long time, but going to a class felt intimidating. This course was a great way to ease in. I could go at my own pace and start to understand the rhythms without pressure. It’s helped me feel more confident and curious about exploring it further."