Attendance in one of our live, three-day Sominars is the ideal introduction to the Sounder Sleep System. It provides a first-person experience of the principles and practice of the System as taught by its founder, Michael Krugman. (If preferred, you may elect to enroll in the Home-Study Program first, and attend a live program to complete your study either during or after your Home-Study Program.) During the first two days of the Sominar you will see Michael present his practical, pleasurable insomnia solution to troubled sleepers who seek deeper, more restful sleep. In the process, you'll receive all the personal benefits of the System for yourself—"sleep better, feel better, enjoy life more." The third day is geared to healing-arts professionals and includes advanced sleep-induction techniques, Michael's fascinating lectures on the neurophysiology of sleep, and an introduction to clinical applications of the Sounder Sleep System.

Our interactive, Home-Study Program enables you to complete the bulk of our Teacher Training Program at modest cost, at your own pace, without the need to travel or take time off work. You will receive full documentation of the core Sounder Sleep curriculum, including a 125-page, printed Study Guide, over 20 hours of audio on disc, and access to our extensive on-line library of educational materials. Your study will be guided step by step via a lively, on-line study group personally moderated by Michael Krugman. Feedback from our past participants is phenomenal. Read their enthusiastic comments below.

Together, your three days of live, on-site training and your participation in the Home-Study Program will give you everything you need in order to become a first-rate teacher of the Sounder Sleep System. This innovative course offers a convenient, effective, and intellectually stimulating way to learn.

RETURN TO TOP

Requirements

Eligibility

Our Teacher Training Program is open to all practitioners of medicine, alternative medicine, the therapies, somatic education, bodywork, counseling, and movement arts. Interested lay people and members of other professions will be admitted on a case-by-case basis at Trainer's discretion.

Course Completion

Course completion requires participation in both our Home-Study Program and a live, on-site Sominar. You may begin your study with either one, as long as you complete both components within two years of initial study. Live training sites currently include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, and other North American locations, as well as Germany, Switzerland, France, and Holland. Live training is offered throughout the year. Please see below for details and on-line enrollment in both the Home-Study Program and Michael's fully accredited, live introductory programs in San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC, and New York, NY.

Teacher Authorization

During the Home-Study Program or upon completion of a live Sominar, you will be designated as a Teacher-in-Training of the Sounder Sleep System, so you can begin teaching and gain professional experience as a somatic sleep educator. We request that you limit your teaching to existing clients, family, and friends until you are fully authorized.

Once you have completed both the live and Home-Study components of the training to the satisfaction of the Trainer, you will be eligible to apply for Authorization as a Teacher of the Sounder Sleep System.

As part of the application process, you will be invited to submit a digital audio or video "Practical Documentation" demonstrating mastery of basic concepts and teaching skills. The documentation will be personally reviewed by the trainer, and a written response will be provided. There is no fee for the review. Upon completion of all course requirements and acceptance of your "Practical Documentation," you will be authorized to teach the Sounder Sleep System.

Copyright, Confidentiality, and Non-Disclosure Agreement

All educational materials provided in conjunction with this course are for your personal study and for use only. They may not be republished, redistributed, shared, translated, copied, broadcast, emailed, uploaded, or otherwise disseminated in any form other than your own live, on-site teaching, except by prior written permission of the owner. All materials are protected by International Copyright law, and by our Copyright, Confidentiality, and Non-Disclosure Agreement. You will be asked to read and acknowledge this Agreement prior to receiving your educational materials.

Language Requirement

Our Home-Study Program is conducted exclusively in English. Your participation requires full command of reading and writing in the English language. No translation is offered.

RETURN TO TOP

Curriculum

The curriculum of this course is varied, and employs a variety of media. For most techniques, you will receive an audio or video recording; printed notes, outline, and commentary; and supplementary materials. You will have access to an extensive on-line library of supporting materials including popular articles, scientific research, and explanatory graphics. You will also interact directly with Trainer Michael Krugman via an email discussion group created specifically for your course. Lively online discussion is an essential element of the course, and is the distribution point for assigments, supplementary learning materials, group processing, and much more.

In this way, we can offer you a complete, well rounded, and satisfying learning experience. At the same time, we’ll be open to hearing your feedback as the course proceeds, so that we can respond to any constructive comments or criticisms you may have and modify the program to suit your specific learning needs.

Practical curriculum includes:

• Sleep Yoga™ techniques for cardio-pulmonary coupling and group entrainment.
• Guided Natural Breathing™ techniques to restore the natural rhythm of the breath.
• DayTamers™ to reduce hyperarousal during waking hours.
• NightTamers™ to quell late-night anxiety, worry, or fear.
• Sleep-inducing Mini-Moves™ for falling asleep at bedtime or recovering from awakenings during the night.
• Sleeping Qigong: Taoist-style sleep exercises done in seated position.
• Organic Movement for self-healing and self-awareness
• Here is a sample of the practical curriculum for the course. Final course content may vary at Trainer's discretion.

For each Sounder Sleep technique, you will receive the following materials:

• An audio or video recording of the technique for your personal study and review.
• A text outline of the principle movements, useful for review or as a guide to teaching.
• Written commentary by Michael Krugman.
• Additional supporting materials.

Theoretical curriculum includes:

• Insomnia: causes and effects
• The neurophysiology of consciousness: Wake, non-REM sleep, and REM
• Classical sleep stages
• Stable and unstable sleep: Cardio-pulmonary coupling
• Heirloom sleep (Sleep in pre-industrial societies)
• Sleep-dependent learning and memory consolidation
• Functional integration and sleep
• Natural Breathing: Theory and Practice
• Exploring The Inhibitory Realm

Additional curriculum includes:

• How to teach classes, workshops, and private lessons
• Curriculum selection, formatting, and presentation
• How to start a "sleep school"
• Suggestions for promotion and advertising
• Much more!

We invite you to view a sample assignment for the Home-Study Program to give you an idea of how the materials are presented.

As you may have surmised from the above list, you are going to receive a large amount of learning material. Do not worry, we won't let you get lost in there! You will be guided through the material in a series of structured learning modules. You will have plenty of time to review each module at your own pace, and to digest and reflect on the material. There will be ample opportunity for discussion, questioning, and sharing of personal experience.

Once we've completed a module and had our discussions on-line, we'll move on to the next piece. Your Trainer will guide you every step of the way.

As the course proceeds, you will occasionally be asked to reply to a series of multiple-choice questions on-line. The questions are designed to help you reflect on what you have learned, and also to confirm that you have assimilated the required material. That way, we’ll be able to track the learning process and ensure that we’re all moving forward together.

RETURN TO TOP

Your Participation

Since this is a professional program leading to Authorization as a Teacher of the Sounder Sleep System, we maintain certain requirements for your participation. Your full participation and demonstrated comprehension of the material is essential to your growth as a teacher! So what exactly will be expected of you? The following will give you a general idea.

1) You will need to allow approximately 30-60 minutes per week to listen to or watch the educational materials assigned to you. We will be exploring one technique per week, more or less.

2) You should allow another 30 minutes each week for reading assignments given as part of the course. These will include articles from the press, research reports, and lecture materials written by me. Most of these materials are available on-line on the Professional Study Materials page. You are welcome to explore that page now. Don't worry, you won't be required to read all of what's there, just a small portion that I select, and much of that will be popular, rather than technical, in nature. It's all fascinating material—you will enjoy it!

3) You will require 30-60 minutes per week to read the messages from our on-line study group, and additional time to respond if you choose to do so. Note: Weekly assignments are made via this study group, usually on Sundays. You will need to check your email at least twice a week in order to maintain full participation in the Home-Study Program. Full participation is required for course completion.

What if I am away from my computer and can't keep up? What if I'm on vacation? Don't worry! You can always catch up, at your own pace, when you return, or even when you're on the road. All the discussions will still be available on-line at our group's home page. So you can easily catch up on what you missed, at any time. If for any reason you lose the thread, simply email me and I'll help you get re-oriented.

This course is not designed to dominate your life. It will unfold at an easy, relaxed pace. If you're busy, or going away for an extended period, we can work that in as long as you stay in touch with me. We will not leave you behind.

Basic computer skills required for participation in this course:

In order to participate in this course, you must have a modern computer with a broadband internet connection and a compatible printer. Here are the computer-related skills you'll need:

• Check, read, and respond to email.
• Download files and save them to a folder in your computer.
• Play MP3 audio files on your computer and save them on your hard drive.
• View Quicktime or DVD video on your computer.

Please note: Technical problems relating to your computer, internet connection, peripherals, or other components, and/or deficits in your own computer skills are your own responsibility. Sounder Sleep Sominars and its staff are not responsible for advising or assisting you in these matters. Be prepared to get professional technical support if such problems arise.

RETURN TO TOP

How to Enroll

Please use the links below to enroll in your Live, On-Site Sominar and/or the On-Line, Home-Study Program.

Once you've enrolled on-line, you will receive an email confirmation of your transaction. If you have any questions about your registration or payment, feel free to email us.

RETURN TO TOP

Course Schedule for sounderWorld5

The start date for the next Home-Study Program, sounderWorld5, is on or about January 15, 2011. Course completion date is on or about July 15, 2011. Course start and completion dates may be adjusted at Trainer's discretion. Once you've enrolled, you will be informed of any schedule changes in a timely manner.

RETURN TO TOP

Tuition Options and Payment Schedule

Full Tuition: Tuition for our sounderWorld5 Home-Study Program is $990 US. That amount includes all educational materials for the course. Educational materials for the course are currently distributed digitally. Following enrollment participants will be directed to the course's Resources Page where they can retrieve all the materials for the course.

Final Payment Deadline: Payment in full is due no later than January 1, 2011. Please enroll in a timely manner so we can orient you to the program and enable your full participation before the course begins.

Tuition for the required three-day, on-site component of the Teacher Training Program is not included in the above prices. Tuition for live programs varies, and is at the discretion of the program organizers and staff. Please see our Upcoming Programs page for a schedule of accredited three-day programs.

Non-Refundable Deposit: Your tuition payment includes a $200 non-refundable deposit. In the event you need to withdraw from the course, a refund, minus the $200 deposit, will be given no later than January 1, 2011. No refunds will be made after January 1, or the date on which your initial educational materials become available, whichever comes first.

Mode of Payment: Please pay with a credit card via this web site if possible. If you can't do that, please email us to arrange payment by other means (bank check, money order, PayPal). Please do not initiate alternate forms of payment without consulting us first.

RETURN TO TOP

Post-Graduate Review

Currently Authorized Teachers of the Sounder Sleep System who wish to review the course curriculum and learn the latest techniques and teaching methods are invited to participate in this program at a reduced tuition of $495. You will receive all the same learning materials, and participate fully in our on-line study group. Please visit our "Upcoming Programs" page and use the item "Home Study II" to enroll at the reduced rate. (The Post-Graduate Review rate is available only to Authorized Teachers in good standing who are members of this web site and are listed in our On-line Directory of Teachers.)

What Our Participants Say

The course so far has been very profound. Lots of information. Much to learn. Michael you are very present with us all and have given so much to this coursework and course so far. I guess I just can't say enough about how great this has been so far. —Tancha McKnight, US

I love this course, Michael. Thank you for all the care you are taking in your teaching - covering many bases - and in your thoughtful, insightful answers. The passion for and dedication to the subject is inspiring. This is a wonderful system, to be practiced diligently and systematically and lovingly.—Frauke Voss, Canada

Excellent balance between practical and theoretical. Resources are a great help to my own personal growth. All Michael's comments are "gems"!—Maureen Anderson, New Zealand

I love this course and feel it is helping to expand my understanding of the Sounder Sleep System. It will undoubtedly help me be a more effective teacher!—Susinn Shaler, Canada

The course has been everything that I anticipated, and more. I have applied the lessons to my own life regularly, and have incorporated into my work with disabled adults, and begun to teach some of the techniques to my peers (others therapists). I find the email discussions helpful and enlightening. I love the pacing and the fact that I can take this course while at home.—Jane McAllister, US

I like to study on-line. This is a surprise to me because this is the first time I have done so. The course is well organized and develops at a good pace. I learn from others' comments as well.—Dorit Dinur, Israel

I like the course very much. It is very engaging and very well structured, which makes it easy to follow in spite of a busy life. I enjoy practicing the techniques and acquiring the theoretical knowledge, that underlie the SSS. The feedback of the other participants often surprise me. I realized that learning about all the many individually different responses is essential for me because I will most likely encounter all that when teaching the SSS. Thank you for offering the course in this format.—Gabriele Lorf-Allen, US

After working with Sounder Sleep principles from your CD's over the past 8 years, I am finding the in depth exploration of the Home-Study Program is supporting me in two ways. The first is to get clearer insight into the methodology and thinking of the system, its strategies, logic, and implementation. The second is to broaden my self support systems even more, as I have had to climb out of chronic insomnia many years ago, when sleep patterns were lost completely. For me to understand SS principles both intellectually and somatically is supporting not only me, but my clients also. It is giving another dimension to my professional life. I think the pacing is good, not too fast or slow. —Jenny Groves, Australia

This is a fantastic journey for me. I am so thrilled and relieved that there is so much more for me to learn from SSS and that I will be a lifelong learner with you, Michael. I can't begin to thank you enough with words.—Mary Coughlin, US

It has been a great pleasure for me to be in this course!! To read all the theories and explanations, to practice daily during a certain period and after that review and write down my experiences has enhanced my knowledge and insight. To know we do it almost all together around the world is a kick! And to read the different reflections opens my mind even more the next time I practice. It also fills me with appreciation (and tenderness) for others who share their inner thoughts and feelings. For me the 2-weeks pace is perfect. If it takes longer it will be too slow for me. I am able to read, practice, reflect and teach, in just the right amount of time! I'm curious and looking forward to the next part. You are a good teacher, you explain well and choose the right "difficulty level" and challenge for me....—Cristina Sonnevelt-Weenink, Holland

I love the Home-Study Program. Despite taking place during such a stressful and demanding time, I have been able to follow it (although not communicate as actively as I would enjoy). It has truly supported me and helped me survive a crisis! Amazing, actually....The exercises are like friends and beautiful tools for entering a vast realm in intimate and personal way..It feels like discovery and remembering. It's so satisfying that the results can be integrated into daily/nightly life NOW and not in some far-flung future....The pace (of the assignments etc) feels flowing and organic, not rigid or stressful. Very helpful in the face of the difficult realities of life. Many thanks for the gift of Sounder Sleep, which comes through with an atmosphere of real generosity. It brings peace and it's fun! —Celia Candlin, US

This is an excellent course. I like the Taoist tone of the teaching and the way the course is so well organised, with emphasis on constant practice and the gradual introduction of key elements of the system. The recordings, supplemented by the handbook, are invaluable for practising with pleasure and as a model for teaching. There's a good balance in the study materials between the turgid technical language of readings that necessarily show the scientific basis for the system and Michaels crystal clear and evocative prose that is a pleasure to read. I look forward to reading the books in the bibliography. The opportunity for student postings suggests the variety of experiences students may have of the techniques. Michaels replies model ways of responding positively, without condescension or mystification and maybe with humour. They also help correct any misconceptions about the system. Finally, what also gives me pleasure is the treasury of quotations that link the Sounder Sleep System to universal human experience. Thank you. -Deirdre Pattison, Canada

This is wonderful. Practicing the techniques is becoming more embedded in my daily experience. I'm sleeping very well. The readings are mind-opening (I just received Hobson and am eager to savor it.) The forum is extremely helpful. I'm looking forward to another Sominar. Thank you! —Frank Medlar (US)

I am finding the course most valuable and appreciate the emphasis on practice. The pace of the course is excellent allowing for study and integration of the material without undue pressure. I value Michael's teaching immensely and look forward to learning more as the course progresses.—Niki Munro, UK

I am really enjoying the fact that it is actually helping me to sleep better, and has eliminated sleep anxiety as I know I have tools to fall back on, if I need them. At this point (for me) I find that the Pinch & Depth are all I need. It will be fun to see how I respond to other, future techniques, & also to see how students respond to them. The surrounding literature is very interesting, & I appreciate how you are guiding us through it all.—Jan Hetherington, US

The course has been excellent for me so far. There is a good balance of components: I like practicing the techniques; there is discussion of teaching strategies; I get to hear many people's responses and ideas; and I very much like the readings and putting the science together with the practice.—Ruth Roberts, US

I am really enjoying the course work, and reading the postings. One of my great pleasures in taking time to repeatedly practice all three components, is the beautiful wave motion that I am experiencing head to toe. Such peace of mind and pleasure and a sense of being alright in my world, in my skin, is deepening. Now, when an old pattern kicks in temporarily, it is uncomfortable and painful, and I have a readily available remedy with my very next breath.—Lark Kerr, Canada

I feel very grateful to be doing the course. I'm increasingly excited by the potential for what I can discover about myself. I've really appreciated re-doing GNB. I used to "skim over" the GNB techniques. Now I'm immersing myself in them, waiting to see what can be revealed - a different attitude. Thank-you Michael, for the opportunity and for your patience. I'm loving the course.—Jeni Drew, Australia

Excellent. The pace works for me. I have time to practice teach each step on friends and have had good results which is encouraging. I find the materials very informative and interesting. I am particularly enjoying the effect in my own life, and the way the explorations interface with my meditation practice.—Skydancer, Canada

Life-changing! I am sleeping better, feeling better.—Ann Harman, US

RETURN TO TOP

In Conclusion

This program is for you. If you have and questions, comments, or concerns about the program or about your participation in it, we are eager to hear them. If you have special learning needs, or require any special assistance to enable your participation in the course, please ask. You can always email us at info@soundersleep.com.

Most of all, thank you for your interest in the Sounder Sleep System. We look forward to working with you!

Sounder®, Sounder Sleep®, and Sounder Sleep System® are registered trademarks and Sominars™, Mini-Moves™, and DayTamers™ are trademarks of Michael Krugman.