About Manal Al Dabbagh
Roots
The Roots
Manal Al-Dabbagh
A whole world lives beneath the ground, unseen and unnoticed by most. Roots work quietly in the darkness, far from applause and the spotlight. Yet, they are the foundation of everything; without them, no tree stands against the wind, and no flower blossoms through the changing seasons. All the beauty, strength, and growth we see above the surface are simply the fruit of what has unfolded in secret.
These are the roots of my journey and my work.
The Seed
What moves the seed to grow is a love of knowledge, a curiosity about what is happening inside me, and a desire to understand the world around me.
I have taken paths that few understood at the time. My journey began with the study of biochemistry, but I soon found myself drawn to movement, art, and the body, to a wisdom within that cannot be learned from a book or in a lab. I discovered Nia technique in 2008, and through it I learned that true connection begins when the heel touches the ground, grounding us in reality and away from the noise of our thoughts. I learned that embodiment is a way to access the body’s wisdom and to express oneself through movement. I moved through a nonlinear journey of learning and training in somatics, embodiment, nonprofit management and coaching.
Learning and exploration are at the heart of my work. Completing a master’s degree in Creative Health at the University of London brought together my passions for science, creativity, and holistic wellbeing. This ongoing journey continues to deepen my understanding of the many layers of human experience, allowing me to support others with curiosity, empathy, and a sense of wonder as they navigate their own unique paths.
The Journey
Milestones Along the Way
Each milestone added a new layer of understanding, and together they shaped my own signature.
Biochemistry
The journey began with precise science: understanding the human being through cells and biological processes.
The Start of My Most Important Learning Journey: Parenthood, 2005
My journey as a mother, and coming to know myself through my children.
The Nia Technique
True connection begins with the heel touching the ground, giving us grounding and a connection to reality.
Befriending the Nervous System
The nervous system is not an enemy to be controlled, but an intelligent system that needs our friendship and understanding. The body always wins, and healing begins with small steps.
Interviewer and Podcast Host
An effort to understand the world around us and to accept differences as part of reality.
Discovering Dyslexia
That my mind works in a different language, one I had struggled against for a long time. Understanding came with compassion, not regret, and it has become part of what nourishes my work.
Master's in Creative Health
The picture came together: practices and training that serve the human being as a whole, not as separate parts.
Learning
My Teachers and Experience
Behind every practice I offer stand deep roots of learning from teachers who shaped my vision of embodiment and creative health.
Paul Linden
He taught me to tell the difference between what is genuine in the body and what is forced, and to break any practice down into its smallest parts so that it is easy to learn.
Wendy Palmer
She inspired me to accept the "difficult" parts of myself and to see them as fertilizer for growth rather than a burden to carry.
Deb Dana
She was my guide in understanding the language of the nervous system, and in learning to track the small "glimmers" of safety that help our system regulate itself again.
Betsy Polatin
She taught me to value simple, everyday breathing practices, which bring about profound shifts when we give them enough space to be repeated.
Helen Terry
She was my first doorway into body awareness, and from there began the journey that has become the foundation of my facilitation practice today.
Credentials
Certifications and Training
My diverse training and experiences have blended together to form a language that honors each person’s uniqueness.
My journey in developing facilitation and leadership skills grounded in body awareness, from the fundamentals to advanced inner work with the Self.
- Leadership Embodiment Fundamentals (2015)
- Leadership Embodiment (2020–2021)
- Advanced Leadership Embodiment (2024)
- Embodied Facilitator Course (2018–2019)
- Smart Body, Smart Mind (2020–2021)
- The Power of Embodied Transformation (2020–2021)
- Self-Leadership Training: An Introduction to Internal Family Systems (2020–2021)
- IFS Online Circle: Internal Family Systems Fundamentals (2022–2023)
The cornerstone of my academic and professional path, and my deepest specialization and most recent academic development, bringing together art and therapeutic practice within a recognized academic framework.
- MASc in Creative Health, University College London (2024)
- Intensive Programme in Arts and Health Research (2024)
- Diploma in Therapeutic Arts (2022–2023)
My deepest and most specialized area, focused on understanding the autonomic nervous system and therapeutic work with trauma. It forms the scientific foundation of my approach to the body and emotions.
- Safe and Sound Protocol (2020–2021)
- Safe and Sound Protocol Remote (2020–2021)
- Personal Neurobiology (2020–2021)
- Polyvagal-Informed Practice (2020–2021)
- Trauma-Informed Care (2020–2021)
- Polyvagal-Informed Play Zone Pro Certificate for Practitioners (2022–2023)
- Mental Health First Aid (2022–2023)
A long, progressive journey in Nia spanning many years, leading to the Black Belt. It is the movement and body-based foundation on which the rest of my experience was built.
- Nia White Belt (2010–2011)
- Nia Blue Belt (2010–2011)
- Nia Green Belt (2013–2014)
- Nia Brown Belt (2015)
- Nia Black Belt (2016–2017)
- Nia 5 Stages (2020–2021)
- Dancing Mindfulness (2018–2019)
- Embodied Yoga Principles (2018–2019)
An early stage of my journey that focused on holistic human health through nutrition and self-healing, and that later paved the way for my move toward body-based and nervous system work.
- Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Training (2013–2014)
- Holistic Radical Coaching (2016–2017)
A management and professional background that allows me to work with organizations and companies in a language that brings together the human side and structured professional practice.
- Master’s in Nonprofit Management (2010–2011)
- Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching (2018–2019)
- LEGO® Serious Play® Advanced Training (2024)
My Work
Services I Have Offered
Spaces I have designed in different forms, all sharing one purpose: connecting with the body and its wisdom.
One-on-One Sessions
Facilitating body awareness and nervous system regulation, tailored to each person's needs.
Group Workshops
Bringing together movement, art, and creative facilitation, for individuals and organizations alike.
Long-Term Organizational Programs
Tailored to the needs of each organization, from health centers to pioneering knowledge initiatives.
Retreat and Nature Facilitation
Designing movement and creative practices that suit the nature, setting, and goals of each retreat.
Training Content Design
For those who want to bring this knowledge to their team or community, with content that fits their context and needs.