About The Founder
Daphne is a registered yoga therapist, movement educator, bodyworker, and a specialist in somatic therapy.
Daphne Chua
A self-professed body-mind nerd, Daphne is always exploring the underlying principles of the human brain-body connections, as well movement patterns as embodied relational beings. She applies principles of kinesiology, embodied anatomy & physiology through somatics, evidence-based research on the nervous system, trauma physiology, as well as traditional yoga philosophy into her work.
She helps people hone their sensory awareness and embody the adage of a mind-body connection so as to fully experience life. Daphne has helped people of all ages rehabilitate injuries, regain neuromotor functions, manage chronic pain, and work through trauma. She also creates holistic therapeutic trainings and mentorship programs for individuals, movement teachers, fitness instructors, healthcare and corporate professionals.
The Journey
Daphne’s journey with yoga first started as a sanctuary away from the hectic corporate life. During the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, she traded in her business suit for a leap of faith into the unknown. Daphne found herself immersed in wanderlust, a luxury she couldn’t afford in her younger years. In her sojourns, she uncovered the depth of Yoga as a practice and lifestyle, as well as a means of sharing her passion with others, and most importantly, a lifelong study in the art of living. Daphne’s knowledge is grounded in eastern philosophies as well as biomechanics, functional anatomy, neuroscience and physiology.
Her biggest inspirations started with Richard Freeman‘s Yoga Matrix – who has had a deep impact on the way she sees Yoga philosophy as a profound embodiment practice for the body, mind, spirit. Her work is also influenced by the work of Donna Farhi, Tom Myers, and somatic pioneers like Emilie Conrad of Continuum Movement and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen of Body Mind Centering®. More recently, she has been on a deeper quest into the study of neuroscience, somatic disciplines, combined with the holistic framework of Yoga Therapy to delve deeper into the connection between mind and body, including her clinical experience in helping clients manage chronic conditions and mental wellness.
Competencies
Daphne is trained in the art of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang (Abdominal Detox Massage), Tai Chi Massage and Reiki, all of which she infuses into the alchemy of her integrated bodywork offerings and yoga therapy.
She uses a heart-centred approach in understanding the complexities of human nature. Through the sensibilities of physiology, somatic education, functional anatomy, pain science, and self-inquiry, woven into a sense of play and curiosity, she hopes to create the nurturing presence and self-agency of our body-mind-spirit.
Daphne has completed over 5,000 hours of teacher trainings and has taught over 15,000 hours in classes, private sessions, special needs yoga, workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings. She is a registered yoga therapist with AAYT, somatic movement educator and therapist currently undergoing the certification process in Body Mind Centering®, an Anusara Inspired ™ teacher, and an E-RYT500 Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). She started training teachers as an assistant trainer in 2012, and has since been running her own embodiment and therapeutic training modules internationally since 2014.
Inspired by a calling to continually deepen her learning and sharing with a wider audience, she created comprehensive programs to provide training and mentorship programs for movement and wellness practitioners, as well as coaches, healthcare professionals, bodyworkers, caregivers, etc., with the aim of bringing like-minded people together as a community.
Daphne is proficient in both the English and Chinese languages, and teaches embodiment practices through somatic movement, yoga therapeutics, restorative yoga, as well as dyadic and hands-on work.
Daphne is available for seminars/ presentations, as well as to facilitate experiential modules in teacher trainings, corporate workshops, healthcare seminars, as well as to lead retreats. Daphne is also a skilled therapist and has helped many who are dealing with injuries, chronic conditions, or simply looking for a sense of well-being.
What people say about Daphne & her work
“Daphne’s love of the human body, somatics, and yoga are clear and contagious! I learn something new every time I take a class with Daphne and have so much fun exploring my body and movement. I appreciate Daphne for
[read more]
helping me listen to the felt sense of connectedness in my body. I’m grateful for the space Daphne holds for me to remember that I am already perfectly whole.”[/read]
“I finished 80 hours embodiment and bodywork immersion with Daphne in July 2019. What I’ve observed, in my own body and what I’ve learned, the knowledge in my head is still very much simmering even though it’s been 6
[read more]
months since the immersion ended. What I know is that my heart is so full and so alive. I am deeply grateful to be able to meet and train with Daphne and to spend a special week with 6 other ladies. Daphne teaches with authenticity, kindness and love. She possesses immense understanding and knowledge about human anatomy and she makes it so fun to learn such a seemingly dry topic. She taught me how to look at my body, my being and my movement in a radically different way. She taught me how movement can be so unique and embodiment is very much an ongoing, lively interaction between what is inside us and that surrounds us. She made it safe for me to venture into bodywork when I came from a space of hesitance towards touch therapy. I am looking forward to more time learning with and from Daphne, a fellow wild spirited sister!”[/read]
“I’ve finished Daphne’s 100hr embodiment training half a year ago, and I’m still feeling the profound changes in my on-the-mat and off-the-mat practice until today! Her inquiry-based approach on deep sensing
[read more]
and awareness is such a contemporary and important approach rising above the many yoga schools that are constantly popping up today. The 2 weeks of her YTT training offered so much more than just cognitive and experiential knowledge of anatomy and asanas, but transformed my deepest sense of awareness in my body. I left feeling like a newborn who never tasted the true feeling of motion, and of being alive and conscious in and of my body. I keep walking, moving and dancing with a sense of pleasure and joy brought about by the awareness and perception of my body as fluid, gentle and a well integrated unit. Keeping in mind Daphne’s first and last question “What is embodiment to you?” and constantly developing new answers to it 🙂
I can’t wait for her next training and I highly recommend her to everybody who’s interested in sculpting their yoga from within!”
[/read]
Thuy Le - Vietnam
I’ve just finished the 80-hour-embodiment and bodywork TT by Daphne. And I’m so grateful to have the chance to meeting her and fellow classmates who are so friendly, authentic, and talented… We shared with deep listening, we danced, moved and laughed like a child, we cried with each other…
Every class is meaningful and interesting – one in which Daphne and Lucy created many effective ways to transmit knowledge and wisdom. I never knew that studying anatomy can be so creative and applicable with a practice like that.
I have learnt one very important aspect of the human body that is fascia. It radically changes my perspective in how to improve body and mind wellness, awareness. It’s so important to remind ourselves to be BEING rather than DOING again and again…
Daphne held her classes with respect, rituals, peace – which inspires me greatly on my yoga journey of self-practicing, self-studying and sharing.
Thuy Le, Yoga Teacher and Studio Owner, Vietnam
Lana Yang - Cambodia
“My heart is filling with gratitude to be able to experience the Therapy & Bodywork 50-hour teacher training in Luang Prabang with Daphne. The training allowed us to dive deep into “Movement, Inquiry and Embodiment”. A subtle yet profound pathway to make space for our body and mind – harvesting these innate energy and qualities, and move in synergy with our body. Thank you Daphne!”
Lana Yang, Yoga Teacher, Cambodia
Tiffany Sim - Malaysia
“I am so glad to join my first teacher training with Daphne. She is a marvellous teacher and has deep profound knowledge about the history, philosophy, culture, spirituality of yoga and movement. I would definitely like to join her teacher training again next year!”
Tiffany Sim, Engineer, Malaysia
Lori Kelley - UK
“Daphne saved my back!
I met Daphne when she was supporting a training I was attending in February. Daphne came to my rescue on day 3 of a 15 day training. Unfortunately due to a recent injury to my SI joint (3 months prior) and an ill-timed adjustment by another trainer, my still fragile sacroiliac joint had again been over stretched. Daphne, seeing my distress and pain, offered to help, she was so gentle, supportive and understanding of my situation. She took the time to explore the injury and provide a “gentle” massage which with her advice, suggestions and hands that seemed to magically find and soothe the injured area provided me the opportunity to finish my training with little discomfort. Daphne is a natural in the heart of yoga, she clearly loves what she does and in turn gives confidence and support to those that train with her.”
Lori Kelley, Independent Sonographer, UK
Anna Lisicka - Singapore
“I joined Daphne’s Trauma-Informed Somatic Therapy & Bodywork Training in April 2023. This experience was a profound exploration of our shared human experience through embodiment, somatic touch, and self-inquiry. The program seamlessly wove together the Somatic approach and Polyvagal Theory with my beloved Yoga. It also provided a nurturing space for questions, group discussions, and self-reflection, fostering diverse viewpoints and insights.
Somatic movement and somatic touch have seamlessly integrated into my daily life, enriching both my personal and professional journey. If you’re considering diving into the realms of Somatics, I wholeheartedly recommend Daphne’s training. It has been an immersive and transformative experience for me, one that I believe can profoundly benefit anyone seeking to enhance their personal and professional practice.”
Anna Lisicka, Yoga & Ayurveda Teacher, Singapore
Geoff Nichols - Australia
“Daphne’s embodiment and immersion retreat had me seeing the true state of my humanity – a difficult time, yet arriving at a return to central love. If you are seeking truth in your existence you will find what you are looking for in the realm created by Daphne’s course.”
Geoff Nichols, Poet, Australia
Yoko Yamoto - Japan
“My experience from the immersion was eye-opening. Over the past years, I knew that I was not doing something right, but could not figure out what it was. Daphne identified the specific misalignments in my body and guide me into finding them. She articulated very well in how bodies are supposed to move, what habits to maintain to keep the body healthy. I can already feel that my musculoskeletal structure changing and my joints are better aligned. Before the course, I used my body parts to do Yoga, trying to fit my body into the asanas. Now I am using Yoga to keep my body aligned, with healthier and better positioning for the different part of my body. I have had many issues with tilted pubic bones, twisted spine, knee pain and feet pain, but they are now better with the right exercises. They also brought me a positive effects for non-yoga activities. I enjoy occasional social dancing, and when I went to a practice, I can feel that my posture has improved, and my body and legs are not as tired and aching as before. I believe that continuous practice, awareness and mindfulness are the key. All the best and thanks again for your insights and dedication.”
Yoko Yamoto, NGO worker, Japan
Cheryl Cheong - Singapore
“Daphne is extremely knowledgeable on anatomy, and also helped elevate my understanding of yoga therapy with new perspectives that are rooted in physiology. She taught many useful techniques to help release and relax the body, which I still use today in my teaching. Highly rated!”
Cheryl Cheong, Yoga Teacher, Singapore
Eunice Lim - Singapore
“I took up Daphne’s June 2021’s run of Trauma-informed Somatic Therapy & Bodywork Training. The science and material behind the course was tremendously real for me, as I decided to take up the course at a juncture where I was desperately trying to build back my nervous system capacity after being in “shut-down” mode for over a-year-and-a-half. The practices and safe space provided during the course (and thereafter) have been really helpful and restorative both mentally and physically. Beyond the science, Daphne is really compassionate and down-to-earth as a teacher, and a human being. Daphne’s knowledge on anatomy and the mind-body connect is vast, and she manages to facilitate the course in a really fun and interactive manner. In essence, I can describe the course in 3 words: real, warm, and great fun!!
I truly encourage anyone who is interested in the course to sign up for it, regardless whether you’re experiencing health conditions or not! We could always do with more self-awareness and healthy nervous system functioning, to better show up both for ourself and others!”
Eunice Lim, Psychology Graduate, Singapore
Natalia Rachel - Singapore
“I can’t get enough of Daphne! I recently completed her 100 hour embodiment and bodywork Teacher training in Chiang Mai. Daphne brings something completely new to the table in her yoga offering. Her knowledge of anatomy, developmental patterns and somatic movement is incredible. For me, experiencing yoga from this embodiment approach was illuminating and refreshing. Her self inquiry style of teaching supports students to dive deep into their own bodymind to experience and embody their learning process; rather than being told what to do or how to feel. It’s an empowering approach. Daphne is full of humility and authenticity. I really connected to her teachings and she held the space for a diverse group so beautifully. I encourage anyone (yogi or non yogi like me) to delve into some exploration with Daphne and unlock new layers of bodymind awareness. Thank you Daphne! I have taken away so much from your thoughtfully crafted immersion”
Natalia Rachel, Therapist, Singapore
Lucie Krobová - Czech Rep
“SHE is like an older sister to me, the same blood kind. Sharing the same fire within that sparks when something geeky pops up on the horizon of (spiral) movement, (spiral) body or (spiral) philosophy. Always happy to share, always happy to play and to explore. Up for being crazy…or curious? Crazily curious! Just like me….
Yet She is so knowledgeable and compassionate. With huge wisdom of experience and openness to not knowing, dedicated to learn and seek the truth. She’s my teacher, my inspiration and my mentor. Supporting me and sharing honest feedback to constructively aid my growth. 🙏
I’m full of gratitude and love for you Daphne! Thank you for inviting me to share my crazy curiosity with your students. Assisting you on #movingfromwithin19 has been a huge milestone for me as a facilitator and unforgettable experience as a human.”
Lucie Krobová, Yoga & dance teacher & assistant facilitator
Shanon Fox - Thailand
“I acquired a great deal of knowledge in a great location! Daphne is extremely knowledgeable, and she is great about sharing this knowledge in a fun and easy to grasp way. It was the perfect length of time and the training was taught with a positive and dynamic energy. I would love to learn more from her in the future! And the location – Mala Dara – was gorgeous! Thanks Daphne for including me in the training! Look forward to seeing what comes up next!”
Shanon Fox, Yoga Teacher, Thailand
Candice Goh - Singapore
“Daphne is a nurturing, thoughtful, and embodied therapist and mentor. Her devotion and passion for this field of work reflect in her nourishing touch and supportive teachings.
As a therapist/bodyworker, Daphne’s gentle guidance, intuition, and knowledge of both western and eastern philosophy have helped me to uncover patterns of trauma and emotional holding, building resilience and spaciousness in my body for my nervous system to thrive. These therapeutic sessions forged lasting connections with my body and offered a healthy resource of self-paced techniques to balance the body and mind.
As a mentor, her teachings are deeply intentional and delivered in dynamic forms to explore the living body in theory and movement. Her years of clinical studies, field practice, and personal transformation offer depth and breadth to the learning journey. Daphne tends to teach both to the unconscious and the conscious. When learned unconsciously, the teachings will reveal in the circumstances of my own life.
I’ve most recently attended the Trauma-Informed Somatic Therapy & Bodywork Training in November 2022 and found it to be profoundly impactful for both my personal growth and within my professional field. As a bodyworker myself, the knowledge that transpired in the training keeps unfolding new discoveries of our body in relationship with the nervous system. I gained a clearer understanding of an individual’s body-mind states through movements, group discussions, and partner work. With Daphne’s facilitation and comprehensive feedback, it was an organic way to study the human body through somatic applications.
The generosity of Daphne’s work is a true gift and reminder for me to always remain open and curious about the wonders of our living body.”
Candice Goh, Bodywork Therapist, Singapore