Somatic Release Breathwork (Soma+IQ) Training Review (2026)
Soma+IQ review: Steven Jaggers' somatic breathwork certification at $3,000 online or $4,500 in person, and what its ASU accreditation claim means.
Soma+IQ is the practitioner training of Steven Jaggers, who founded Somatic Breathwork and has a background in neuromuscular therapy and holistic health. Several podcasts call his method Somatic Release Breathwork, and the school’s online community still sits at a “somaticrelease” address, so the names refer to the same training. Jaggers also teaches courses at The Embody Lab. Soma+IQ is not connected to SOMA Breath, despite the similar name.
The training teaches a guided session that moves the breather up into activation and then back down into rest, with the aim of releasing held emotion and leaving the nervous system settled. It is built for coaches, therapists, bodyworkers, and other practitioners who want to add somatic work to what they already do. The school says it has certified more than 2,700 practitioners in 38 countries.
Where we land: this is one of the better-structured somatic trainings we have looked at. The prices are published, the online course is taught live over twelve weeks, and certification requires real practice sessions. Our reservation is the marketing. The headline “accredited by Arizona State University” turns out to mean four continuing education credits.
How the Training Works
There are two routes to the same Soma+IQ Level 1 certification.
- Online: 12 weeks and more than 80 hours, with a live, mentor-led call every Tuesday at 12pm Pacific. All calls are recorded. Cohorts start each quarter, and the fall 2026 cohort began on October 13.
- In person: a 4-day immersion in Colorado or California. The listed dates were November 5 to 8, and a booking can be used within 12 months.
The online curriculum runs in three blocks. Weeks 1 to 3 focus on your own body and the skills of attunement and holding space. Weeks 4 to 7 cover session structure (the school’s ARC framework), guiding with voice and pacing, and keeping emotional release at a safe intensity. Weeks 8 to 12 cover integration after a session, session design, leading full journeys with feedback from senior mentors, and setting up a practice. The training also includes gentle hands-on touch techniques.
To certify, you complete a practicum of eight sessions after the training: at least one private session, one small group of two to five people, one in-person session, and one online session. You can practice on fellow students or on members of the graduate community. The school says nearly half of its students enroll for their own process rather than to certify.
Both routes include 12 months of the school’s community from the day you enroll, with weekly live practices, twice-monthly integration sessions, and monthly workshops.
Soma+IQ Cost
| Route | Price |
|---|---|
| 12-week online certification | $3,000 |
| 4-day in-person immersion | $4,500 |
Prices are from the training page in October 2026. Interest-free plans of three to six months are available, along with Klarna and Afterpay. In-person students pay their own travel and lodging. Both routes come with a free one-to-one session, which the school values at $500.
The refund terms are better than most. If you attend and participate, you can ask for a full refund within the first three weeks of the online training. After that, the school promises to keep working with you at no extra cost until you can lead a session confidently. The terms also say that material not marked as lifetime access may be changed or removed after a year, though the Level 1 curriculum and cohort replays are listed as lifetime access.
The Arizona State University Claim
The training page calls Soma+IQ the “#1 Emotional Intelligence & Trauma-Informed Somatic Training Accredited by Arizona State University.” The FAQ is more precise. It says the training is “accredited by a partnered program with Arizona State University,” and that the partnership adds four continuing education credits. Graduates receive the Soma+IQ Level 1 certificate plus an optional ASU “4 CEUs certificate of completion.”
That is a continuing education credit, not university accreditation of the training. Breathless Expeditions uses the same kind of claim. Our accreditation guide explains the difference. If you need the credits for your profession, check with your own licensing body that it accepts them.
Things to Know
The evidence is the method’s weak spot. The site describes “scientifically validated” breathwork methods and quotes results from what it calls an independent study of more than 1,000 event attendees. We found no published study of the Soma+IQ method itself. Like most branded methods, it rests on general research about breathing and the nervous system (see our research by method guide).
Hands-on work raises scope questions. The course teaches touch techniques. If you aren’t already a licensed bodyworker, check that your insurance covers touch and what your local rules allow before you use them with clients.
Emotional release needs care. The training puts a lot of weight on safety and pacing, which is good. But helping people release held emotion is intense work, and twelve weeks plus eight practice sessions is a start. Coaches and therapists who already hold clients will get more from it than complete beginners.
Pros and Cons
What works well
- Published prices - $3,000 online and $4,500 in person, with no sales call needed.
- Live teaching - Twelve weeks of mentor-led calls, not a self-paced video course.
- Real practicum - Eight practice sessions across private, group, in-person, and online formats.
- Strong refund policy - Full refund in the first three weeks, then continued support until you are confident.
What doesn't
- Inflated accreditation - "Accredited by Arizona State University" means four continuing education credits.
- Untested method - Science-heavy marketing, but no published research on the method.
- Touch techniques - Hands-on work brings insurance and scope questions for non-bodyworkers.
- Confusing names - Soma+IQ, Somatic Breathwork, Somatic Release, and an unrelated SOMA Breath.
Soma+IQ Market Comparisons
Soma+IQ vs. The Embody Lab
The Embody Lab costs $987 to $1,187 for a self-paced, 60-hour certificate taught by a faculty of nine. Choose The Embody Lab if you are a clinician who wants a cheaper, neuroscience-first add-on. Choose Soma+IQ for live teaching, a practicum, and a full session method.
Soma+IQ vs. PAUSE Breathwork
PAUSE teaches trauma-informed conscious connected breathing over six months. Its price isn’t published, and quotes we have seen run $4,000 to $6,000. Choose PAUSE for a longer program and a larger brand. Choose Soma+IQ for a lower published price and a stronger focus on somatic and relational skills.
Soma+IQ vs. ReWild Breathwork
ReWild offers a $497 trauma-aware certification and a 200-hour somatic practitioner training with IPHM accreditation. Choose ReWild for a cheaper start and outside accreditation. Choose Soma+IQ for live, mentor-led training and supervised practice.
Who This Is For
- Coaches and therapists - You already hold clients and want a somatic, body-based tool to add.
- Bodyworkers - You work with touch and want a breath-led session to pair with it.
- People who learn live - You want weekly teaching and feedback, not videos alone.
Who Should Pass
- Accreditation seekers - For recognized breathwork standards, see our accreditation guide.
- Evidence-first practitioners - For research-led breathing, look at Oxygen Advantage.
- Budget-first beginners - Our cheapest certifications guide has options under $1,000.
Soma+IQ Verdict
Soma+IQ is a serious, well-organized training for practitioners who want to add somatic breathwork to existing client work. The published prices, twelve weeks of live teaching, eight-session practicum, and refund policy are all better than average for this market.
Read the marketing with care. The Arizona State University line is a continuing education credit, the method has not been studied, and the touch techniques need checking against your insurance and local rules.
Bottom line: A good choice for coaches, therapists, and bodyworkers who want live somatic training at a published price. Not the right choice if you need accredited credentials or research behind the method.
Still deciding? See our somatic breathwork training guide, or take our 2-minute quiz to find the certification that fits your goals and budget.