"Flow of Life"
Body-Mind Meditation and Movement Class
Grounding in the body and
in your
authentic
self, feeling and using your life energy, flexibility where openness is
needed, strength to support your life's unfolding - these are some of
the
themes related to well being that I visit in my Core Energetics
Movement Classes.
In this class, participants
use
physical
exercises from Core Energetics to support their
development physically with the body. Core Energetics is a therapeutic
process of unifying and connecting the body, emotions, mind,
intentions,
and spiritual self into a unified whole that expresses the complete
reality
of the person. This work is sometimes called “body-oriented”
psychotherapy
because it addresses the structuring of emotion and thought in the body
as well as mentally. I've developed this class so that participants can
use movement and physical exercises to access their own individual
structure
of emotion and thought through their bodies to promote unity and well
being. I
lead
class participants in these exercises in a "class" type of format,
without
going into the deeper process work or interactive work that is more
appropriate
for an individual session or workshop format.
The Core Energetics
Movement Class
is structured
as six 50-minute sessions. Each of these 6-session classes has a
central theme that I weave into each of the six sessions. Some examples
of recent
themes include body-mind-strength, passion, and
resistance. Each individual class meeting also has a
specific focus
which
builds upon the work of the previous session.
I give attention and care
to create a safe and supportive environment in which you can open up
your investigation and your expression in a safe way with clear
boundaries.
Awareness, mindfulness, and empathy for yourself underlie all of the
exercises.
The six sessions are
structured as follows:
- Session #1 is an
introduction to
body-mind
therapy with an experiential focus on grounding, presence, mindfulness,
structural alignment, and maintaining “friendliness” toward your
process.
This grounding in the body and in the self has the benefit of reducing
dissociation, fostering increased presence to support you in being more
present in your life, and in the authentic experience of your emotions
and liveliness.
- Session #2 builds and
expands
on the first
session with a focus on flexibility and strength in the
body and mind.
Strength
and energetic charge are needed to support further expansion into
new attainments. Flexibility is helpful in shedding outgrown attitudes
and habits.
- In sessions 3 and 4 the
focus
is on emotional reactivity
and authentic emotional expression. Participants use physical exercises
and movement to open up blocks to their core emotional experience and
expression, which contributes to a more full experience of life and
liveliness. Emotional reactivity, defense and responses to stress are
examined to open up authentic experience.
- Sessions 5 and 6
finish the
series with a focus
on surrender and action in relation to the flow of life. It is in that
flow that we can feel the vibrant quality of our liveliness, which is
our opening to pleasure and creativity. The previous sessions provide
the
ground for and contribute to this expanded experience of internal unity
and flow.
Each session begins with 5-10
minutes
of discussion in which the theme for the session is conveyed in order
to
provide conceptual ground for participants. Each of these sessions
offers
the opportunity to explore one’s being and develop awareness without
going
into interactive or deep emotional process as might be done in a
Core Energetics therapy
session. I use a meditative/mindfullness approach in all six sessions,
using the body and movement as a meditation object. Past
participants
have found this format to be a helpful addition to other therapy, their
personal
development process, or contemplative practice.
Here are some comments from
past
participants:
"I find that on
the
weeks I
attend your class, my private therapy sessions are much more dynamic. I
have more energy to confront my resistance, and feel more satisfied
with
my forward motion afterward. It brings up material that arises from my
body, which I think gets at issues more centrally than when I
intellectualize
about them..." -- Class Participant
"I was able to
experience my
self (and
others) in a more integrated loving way. This was facilitated by the
openness
and support of the group." -- Class Participant
"Your leadership of
the
group was very
loving and nurturing. It enabled me to bring the best of myself out and
to share that with the group. It helped me to be open to their loving
energies
too." --Class Participant
"This class has helped
me to feel again. To have my own feelings and not be
afraid." --Class Participant.
The "Flow of Life" class is
held
in my
office in SE Portland, OR on
Tuesdays at 1pm. Pre-registration
is required. Cost is $90 for the 6 sessions. You are welcome to
contact me by email
or by
phone to 503-963-8600 to register for the next 6-session class start.
Questions?
Click here to read my Body-Mind
Movement Class Frequently Asked Questions list.
