Online SOBI Sponsored Study Groups

The Society of Ortho-Bionomy International sponsors monthly Online Study Groups. They are primarily in a conference call format and are taught by various Registered Ortho-Bionomy Instructors via Zoom.

Our Study Groups cover a variety of topics and also count towards the study group requirements in the Practitioner and Advanced Practitioner Training Programs.

The receipt received upon registration will have a link to download the handout, any preview materials and the Zoom link. Be sure you have these materials available before you login to the study group.

There is a limit to class size, so be sure to register early.

After a group finishes, all attendees will be emailed an evaluation form for that session. To receive study group credit attendees will need to keep their cameras on during the study group and complete and submit the evaluation form within two weeks.

Recordings of select past study groups are also available in the SOBI Bookstore.

The study groups are a full three hours, with no credit given for homework time.

Out of respect for the Instructor and the other students please be on time for the study group.

Chair Ortho-Bionomy

with SOBI Registered Advanced Instructor Jim Berns

January 15, 2026

6:00 PM Eastern, 5:00 PM Central, 4:00 PM Mountain, 3:00 PM Pacific, 12:00 PM Hawaii (US and Canada)

Three hours--Online through Zoom

SOBI member $55; non-member $75

In this SOBI sponsored Study Group, I will show you techniques that I developed to do Ortho-Bionomy with someone in an upright position in a chair. I will share how I work with most of the body, including the neck, back, arms, pelvis, and legs.

You can use a regular chair, and you won’t need a massage chair for this practice.

The practical information I will show you can be used in multiple settings, whether at home, a gathering, an office, or just about anywhere!

This can be an excellent way to introduce Ortho-Bionomy to someone, and to have others watch what Ortho-Bionomy is.

No practice partner is needed for this Study Group. Be prepared to take notes, as I will present lots of information that you can use.

REGISTER HERE

About Jim

Jim Berns is a Registered Advanced Instructor of Ortho-Bionomy and an Advanced Practitioner. He has been trained directly by the founder, English osteopath, Arthur Lincoln Pauls DO (UK). Jim is co-author of Ortho-Bionomy A Practical Manual (North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA). This training book has sold over 15,000 copies. Jim was given the “Excellence in Massage Education Award” by the AMTA-CA (American Massage Therapy Association, California Chapter) for his excellence in teaching and sharing his knowledge. He has lectured to and trained over 7,000 health practitioners in his career. Jim brings to his 32 years of teaching-detailed information, a compassionate heart and a “unique” sense of humor. He has been using Ortho-Bionomy since 1980 and has taught internationally. He has been a certified Massage Therapist since 1979 and is a registered California instructor in Massage Therapy. Jim has presented several times at the bi-annual conferences.

Upcoming 2026 SOBI Study Groups
February 19 Melinda Doden Supporting the Liver	March 5 Sara Sunstein Chapman's Reflexes Self-Care
March 19 Deb Benson Quantum Entanglement Chains of the Phase 7 Symbols	April 16 Carole Poffinbarger Psoas and Diaphragm
May 21 Shaney Rockefeller The Role of the Tailbone	June 18 Rob Rich A Structural Approach to Plantar Fasciitis
July 16 Sheri Covey Understanding the Fascia of the Neck	August 20 Susan Smith TBD
September 17 Melissa Malm Anterior Neck, Hyoid, and Trachea	October 15 Bettina Beaucamp TBD
November 19 Morel Stackhouse Ethics	December 17 Rouel Cazanjian Phase 7

Past Study Groups

Did you miss a previous study group? Recordings of select past study groups are available in the SOBI Bookstore. Take advantage of these excellent resources to deepen your understanding and practice of Ortho-Bionomy. The two newest available recordings include:

Combining Ortho-Bionomy and EFT
with Bettina Joy Beaucamp
Explore the combination of Ortho-Bionomy and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)! Both approaches empower the client, are gentle, and non-invasive. In this study group you will learn: why EFT is so effective; the basic protocol for EFT as well as how to create scripts in EFT; how clients can use EFT as a self-care tool; and how to use EFT before, during, or after an Ortho-Bionomy session.

Ask Luann Anything
with Luann Overmyer
Spend time with Luann Overmyer, an Advanced Instructor with over 40 years of Ortho-Bionomy experience and one of the original developers of the Society’s training programs. In this special session, she answers wide-ranging questions on working with pain, refining techniques, deepening client relationships, and supporting self-care. Whether you’re looking for practical skills or personal insight, Luann’s wisdom offers guidance to enrich both your practice and your own well-being.