Photo of Madeline

Madeline Despres-Chen

Teaching Artist, Front Desk Staff

Madeline teaches Shake Your Soul®—a soulful, somatic dance practice that helps people connect with their bodies, awaken joy, and experience greater freedom of expression and self-awareness through movement.

She is a certified Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator (RSMT/E) who combines her expertise in trauma-informed care with a deep passion for supporting others in healing through the mind-body connection. Madeline is registered with ISMETA (the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association) and is currently completing the required hours toward Master-level certification as a Somatic Movement Therapist (MSMT). She is also pursuing her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a trauma concentration at Antioch University New England. Her approach draws from Polyvagal Theory, Body-Centered Gestalt Psychotherapy, and expressive arts modalities.

Between her undergraduate and graduate studies, Madeline spent four years in Shanghai, China, teaching children English, dance, and drama performance. During that time, she also had the opportunity to share Shake Your Soul® at local studios. This international experience broadened her perspective on movement and performance, deepening her calling to somatic healing work.

In her practice, Madeline uses tools such as body scanning, mindful movement, journaling, and nervous system education to help clients and students reconnect with their body’s wisdom and create new pathways for healing. Whether in group classes or individual sessions, she strives to create a safe, welcoming space where people can explore their authentic selves through embodiment.

Madeline teaches Shake Your Soul® on Thursdays at Berkshire Pulse and offers remote somatic therapy sessions. She has served as an assistant for LIFE Movement’s SomaSoul® Clinical Training program for two years and will assist with the Shake Your Soul® Level 1 Teacher Training for the second time this summer, sharing her experience with the next generation of somatic practitioners. 

View Madeline’s ISMETA Profile

Teaching Courses:

Berkshire Pulse