About
“Because Humaning is harder than adulting”
The Center for Somatic Leadership & Communication empowers individuals, leaders, and groups by using somatic play resources to expand emotional, interpersonal, leadership and communication skills for fuller, authentic expression and human harmony.
Built on the premise that all humans make better choices when they feel emotionally and interpersonally resourced, we envision a world where people live and lead from their unique vital center and co-create an equal playing field for all. In our work, we help you explore:
How do I live and lead from my heart?
How do I come into harmony with others while expanding myself?
We are proud to be a 2024 WEGO Grant recipient!
What is Somatic Play:
Somatic means relating to the body. All of the Center’s services utilize a distinctive blend of Somatic experiencing and Play, inspired by the InterPlay system. This approach combines the proven value of improvisation as a growth tool set with the power of somatic intelligence for communication. Whether in a workshop, class or 1-on-1 coaching, you will be supported by our process of Expressing, Experiencing and Expanding your authenticity.
This approach is based on the InterPlay system, a system of improvisational movement, storytelling and vocalization.
InterPlay is proven to make people feel significantly more connected, energized, and body-aware in groups and have more ease even after only one experience.
Watch the video to get more familiar with this approach.
Core Values
Depth
We fearlessly dive into the human experience to provide simple, direct guidance.
Playful
We trust the path of creative, wise, lighthearted play for wayfinding.
Honest
We listen honestly, compassionately and respectfully to every Body.
Quirky
We affirm each unique human expression and our collective diversity.
Somatic
We follow the leadership of the body to discover accelerated pathways for ease and abundance.
Monisha Mittal
CEO, Chief Embodiment Officer
Welcome to my slice of the Internet.
Hello. My name is Monisha Mittal and I am a Play Architect and Somatic Practitioner.
Over the past five years of playing regularly and facilitating play for others, I’ve witnessed how embodied play accelerates self-compassion, self-trust, and self-honesty. Driven by a deep respect for human agency and expression, I have always been fascinated by how we show up in systems and how those systems shape us in return.
I started the Center so that individuals and teams can access their somatic intelligence and inner power, and thrive in authentic connection with themselves and others. I believe all systems perform better when each of you can be, speak and act as your true Self.
Chief Embodiment Officer
I stumbled into improvisation, creative facilitation, and InterPlay as a way to explore how humans connect, communicate, and lead. Rapidly, I discovered that my largest intelligence is somatic—my body knows what my mind can’t always name. In fact, I realized that my own brand of neurodivergence means I process the world through my body first, picking up information below the level of words, and faster than my mind. Embracing this helped me relax into myself, finding belonging from the inside out after a life-long journey of feeling othered and different.
Now, it is my honor and joy to merge the wise physical play of InterPlay with deep dive somatic communication techniques so you can embrace your unique wiring.
Formal Education and Training
Monisha Mittal began her career in community development finance, mentored by leaders such as Jeremy Nowak (The Reinvestment Fund) and Monisha Behal (Northeast Network). Her work spanned neighborhoods in North Philadelphia and villages in Bihar, India, experiences she later brought to the Federal Reserve, where she received a Special Award for Initiative and Innovation from Chairman Alan Greenspan.
Over the next two decades, she applied principles of empowerment and equality to workplaces, helping federal and non-profit teams and organizations improve performance, adapt to change, and align communication.
Monisha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. She completed a fellowship at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2016.
She received her coaching accreditation from the Applied Depth Institute in 2018. In 2020, she became a Certified InterPlay Leader (CL), and in 2023, a Certified Life Practice Program Leader (LPL).