Summary
Basis is the opening module of the NAIO™ Practitioner Certification, building on what the Introductory Course, Ethics & Belonging, and Training Orientation establish. It lays out the foundational theories and embodied experience of NAIO™, and introduces how these principles begin to translate into practice. In this module, participants are introduced to the foundational theories underpinning the NAIO™ process, alongside direct, embodied experience of its core principles — awareness, presence, and relational attunement.
Basis establishes the conceptual and experiential ground that the remaining five Foundation Modules build upon, and begins to orient participants toward how this understanding applies in developing a practice as a somatic educator and healthcare-adjacent practitioner.
For the full story of NAIO™'s origins and Prue Jeffries' background, see Biography.
In this module, learn about the origins and development of NAIO™. There is an introduction to the foundational theories and embodied experience of NAIO™ and how this applies in developing a practice as a somatic educator and health care practitioner.
Module Objective
On completion of the Basis module, participants will summarize and relay the philosophical basis, meta-themes, history and development of NAIO™. They will demonstrate a knowledge of and ability for being in Open Awareness that includes developing their capacities for settling, centering and self-regulation. They will begin to orientate to an internal sense of wholeness, and innate fluidity. Embodying a connection with Open Order, the ordering matrix of
life.
Training participants will learn to establish a compassionate and safe container of relationship for working with clients, which includes building skills of self-reflection and concepts of listening, relationship, body to body resonance, being to being and gentle listening touch.
Participants will grow a sensory capacity based on touch, perception, and bodily awareness of the polyrhythmic movements of life. They will have a basic understanding of felt-sense perception and its biological basis. Using somatic education principles and awareness practices, concepts will be grounded in latest understandings in anatomy and physiology, biology, physics and neuroscience.
Module Type & Format
The Basis module consists of 70 hours of multi-modal study, comprising the following five constituents:
- Online Coursework: 60 hours
- Live Online Sessions: 4 hours
- Personal Salon (individual mentoring): 1 hour
- Group Salon (peer practice and dialogue): 5 hours
- In-Person Immersion: shared with the Introductory Course — see Immersion One
NAIO™ International training programs are designed with layers of experience and learning opportunities in mind. The intention
is to support people sensing, feeling and becoming deeply connected with the
holistic life awareness process of NAIO™.
Format summary
1. Basis Online Coursework
60 hours of recorded, self-paced study.
2. Basis Live Online Sessions
4 hours of live, facilitated group Q&A and discussion.
3. Basis Personal Salon
1 hour of individual mentoring with the NAIO Founder- educator.
5. Basis Group salon
5 hours of peer practice and dialogue.
6. Basis in-person Immersion Retreat
7-Day Residential Immersion retreat. Delivered jointly with the Introductory Course during Immersion One. See the Immersions page for full details.
Assessment Structure
During the practitioner path there are practicum assessments, home study, projects, reflective exercises and ongoing review of training participants with educators throughout the program's length. Requirements for graduation of the entire certification program also include the training directors ongoing evaluation of suitability throughout the program.
To enter the NAIO™ Practitioner Training Program please also see all prerequisites needed on the website here:
Module Outcome
At the completion of the module participants will demonstrate an entry competency in the following skills:
- Understand, summarize and relay the philosophical basis, history and development of Naio.
- Describe and show ability for settling, centering and self-regulation.
- Demonstrate a knowledge and ability for being in Open Awareness.
- Orientate to an internal sense of wholeness, and innate fluidity.
- Discuss the Plenum and Dynamic Wholeness, orientate and attune embodied awareness of the Plenum.
- Embody a connection with Open Order, the ordering matrix and flow enfolded within life.
- Establish a compassionate and safe container based on a collaborative relationship for working with clients.
- Show an orientation to self-reflection
- Relay concepts and demonstrate listening, body to body resonance, being to being and gentle listening touch.
- Grow a sensory capacity and develop a vocabulary based on touch, perception, and bodily awareness of the polyrhythmic movements of life.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of felt-sense perception and its biological basis.
- Understand and describe definitions of somatic education principles.
- Discuss the development of touch from evolutionary biology, developmental perspectives
- Demonstrate knowledge about Haptic Perception and Touch, multi-sensory view and discuss synesthesia.
- Name and describe basic ethics for touch with clients.
- Discuss and show awareness of health challenges, neurodiverse experiences and trauma responses.
- Discuss a process that is an acceptable level of re-organization and growth vs detrimental due to client's challenges such as trauma, neurodiversity or other health situations. Develop options to support these situations in clients.
- Discuss Scope of Practice and when to refer to allied health professionals or licensed professionals.
Module Prerequisites
Credentials Offered
The Basis Module is only available as part of the NAIO™ Practitioner Training Program, and is not offered as a standalone module to participants who do not wish to pursue the full certification. NAIO™ does not issue a Certificate of Attendance for individual modules — completing a module's hours is a requirement toward certification, not a credential in itself.
For full detail on certification, evaluation, and letters of recommendation, see Certification Policy.
Additional Information
- Module written materials will be provided, along with access to the online study portal.
- Additional readings and book purchase or borrowing suggestions will be provided for the module. The reading list for the entire training program is provided upon enrollment.
- For the In-Person Immersion portion of modules, please bring your own massage table, bolsters, sheets, and blankets.
- Bring a notebook and pens, or the equivalent, for taking notes.
- Please be mindful of personal body hygiene, refrain from wearing perfumes or scents, dress in comfortable clothing, and bring your own food and snacks.
- Please bring your own face masks and hand sanitizer.
- For Live Online Sessions, you will need a computer with internet access and a quiet space.
- Please respect the cohesiveness required for each module, and attend all five components in full. Participants who do not attend all five components will not be considered to have completed the module, and will not receive a refund or discount as a result.
- Module online coursework is accessible for 12 months for enrolled participants. Participants who leave the training will lose access.
- Module hours are 50-minute hours, with 10-minute breaks that may be taken cumulatively.
INFORMATION & REGISTRATION
Find more information about the Basis and the NAIO Practitioner Training Program by contacting Naio International at hello@naioprocess.org
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