Shawn L. Copeland, Somatic Educator
I am a somatic educator and the founder of mBODYed. My mission is to help musicians, educators, and performers re-belong to their bodies by integrating nervous system regulation, movement mapping, and trauma-informed pedagogy..
But what I teach is only part of the story.
How I teach is what sets this work apart.
My Approach: Listening Before Fixing
At mBODYed, we don’t push or override. We co-listen with your physiology. You won’t find bootcamps, quick fixes, or shame-based tactics here. Instead, you’ll discover permission, anatomical clarity, and sustainable transformation. True ease begins only when we address not just tension—but the burnout, survival strategies, and lived trauma underlying it.
My Journey & Turning Points
My somatic path began in 1997, when a free Alexander Technique class at a music festival profoundly shifted how I stood, sat, and breathed. That awakening led me to study with theater movement teachers, pedagogy experts, and somatic pioneers.
Years later, a throat diagnosis (Zenker’s Diverticulum) challenged my assumptions about breath, support, and sound. Rather than derail my work, it deepened it—expanding my empathy, sharpening my lens, and anchoring me more in nervous system science.
Today, I bring this depth into every coaching session, masterclass, or teaching environment I enter. My work is grounded in clarity, compassion, and the belief that every body has wisdom worth hearing.
Credentials & Integrative Expertise
I am recognized internationally for integrating Alexander Technique, Body Mapping, somatic coaching, and trauma-informed teaching into performance education. I am the creator of the Becoming mBODYed framework, which offers athletes, musicians, and artists a pathway to reconnect, reclaim, and embody.
My academic and professional credentials include:
Doctor of Musical Arts & Master of Music (UNC Greensboro)
Master of Arts in Nonprofit/Arts Management (University of Central Florida)
Certified in Somatic Trauma Therapy, Performing Arts Injury Prevention, Diversity & Inclusion, and more
Board roles and leadership in fields of body mapping, music wellness, and inclusive pedagogy
Where You Can Work With Me
1:1 Somatic Coaching for Musicians & Performers (tension release, nervous system regulation, creative reflow)
Community Courses & Workshops (introductory breathing, movement mapping, resilience tools)
Becoming mBODYed Cohorts (deep training, certification, artistic re embodiment)
Institutional Residencies & Retreats (trauma-informed pedagogical consulting for universities and arts organizations)
A Few Things I Believe
Learning is relational
Breath is a nervous system conversation
Awareness is the beginning of freedom
Your body is not in the way—it’s the way
Growth can be kind, and still transformative
My Full Bio
Shawn L. Copeland is a pioneer in the fields of musician wellness, trauma-informed pedagogy, and performance training. His innovative, transformational approach to teaching and coaching has positioned him as a multidimensional musician, educator, and entrepreneur. As the founder of mBODYed, LLC, he is reshaping the landscape of arts education through integrative somatic practices that center the body, cultivate safety, and affirm belonging.
Shawn is the creator of Becoming mBODYed—a somatic coaching and training framework designed to help performers, educators, and creatives reconnect with their bodies, reclaim their voice, and embody the dignity of their lived experience. Through individual coaching, group programs, and immersive somatic facilitation, Shawn guides clients and students toward grounded presence, clarity, and self-trust.
An accredited teacher and esteemed clinician, Shawn masterfully integrates the Alexander Technique, Body Mapping, Somatic Trauma Therapy, and Integrative Somatic Coaching. He is internationally recognized for developing trauma-informed, body-based teaching practices that empower people to shift patterns of tension, inhibition, and disconnection. His pedagogy is rooted in the belief that self-belonging is the foundation of artistry and that authentic expression emerges only when the nervous system feels safe enough to risk vulnerability.
Shawn is a highly sought-after speaker and clinician, presenting at conferences, conservatories, and masterclasses across the U.S. He currently chairs the Committee on Health, Access, and Well-Being for the College Music Society, and serves as Chair of the Diversity and Belonging Committee and a Training Mentor with the Association of Body Mapping Education. He also holds leadership roles with Alexander Technique International, serving as a Sponsoring Teaching Member and Executive Board Member.
A published author, Shawn is co-author of Body Mapping for Clarinetists and the forthcoming The mBODYed Breath: Body Mapping, Breathing, Balance, and Belonging—a somatic guide for musicians seeking wholeness in their artistic and embodied lives. His academic credentials include a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Bachelor of Music from Stetson University, and a Master of Arts in Non-Profit/Arts Management from the University of Central Florida. He holds advanced certifications in:
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Cornell University)
- Somatic Trauma Therapy (The Embodied Lab)
- Performing Arts Injury Prevention Education (Performing Arts Medicine Association)
He is a certified Master Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist through ISMETA, and is currently completing the Master Somatic Practitioner Certification with the Integrative Wellness Academy.
Shawn is also an Artist and Clinician for Buffet Crampon U.S.A., González Reeds, and Silverstein Works. With deep integrity, care, and vision, Shawn L. Copeland is leading a new generation of artists and educators to show up in their full, embodied humanity—one breath, one body, one courageous step at a time.
Shawn lives in the Pacific Northwest with his partner and their Goldendoodle Koa. They enjoy hiking, kayaking, PNW wines, and 360-degree views of snow-covered mountains year-round.
Where You Can Work With Me
Ways to Learn with Shawn:
Community Classes