Continuum

Beth Pettengill Riley, RSDE/T, MA, CYT is a global leader in somatic movement education and therapy, as well as a seasoned somatic movement activist with over 40 years of experience in facilitating workshops in Continuum, Yoga and Meditation.  She has a Master’s in Education with a specialization in Dance from Stanford University. Beth is an award winning Yoga teacher and founding member of Mt Madonna Center. She was honored as one of 25 Prime Movers of Santa Cruz County at Cabrillo College in 2016 where she served on the dance faculty for over 20 years. Beth is a Signature Yoga Teacher at the new 1440 Multiversity and passionately engages embodiment as a spiritual path while maintaining a private practice in Santa Cruz, CA, assisting individuals in finding greater freedom of movement. She currently serves as President of the board of the International Somatic Movement and Therapy Association (ISMETA). She studied extensively with Continuum’s founder for nearly 4 decades.

Cherionna Menzam-Sills has been a therapist since 1978. She was authorized by Emilie Conrad as a Continuum Movement teacher in 2007 after moving to Santa Monica to dive in deeply with her. Also a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist, she has taught across Europe, the USA and Canada, often with her husband, Biodynamics pioneer Franklyn Sills. Her recent book, "The Breath of Life: An Introduction to Craniosacral Biodynamics" (North Atlantic, April 2018), draws on Continuum and other somatic practices to explore Biodynamics from a feminine perspective.

Cherionna has also studied extensively with prenatal and birth therapy pioneers, William Emerson and Ray Castellino, completed doctoral studies in Pre- and Perinatal Psychology. She has practiced and taught in this field, including teaching embryology through movement since 1998, and teaching graduate students at Naropa University and Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. Her passions for embryology and prenatal psychology are now contributing to a book conceived when she first met Emilie and infused with Continuum insights and inquiry. Currently living in the UK, Cherionna has a private practice including online and in-person mentoring and supervision in Continuum, Biodynamics and prenatal and birth trauma/therapy.  

Drawing on her experience as a dance/movement psychotherapist, prenatal and birth therapist, and years of practice in different forms of bodywork, yoga, breath work, mindfulness meditation, she has been exploring effective ways of working with trauma using Continuum as the main modality. Cherionna is committed in her life and work to embodied presence.