*** PIVOT from Fall Retreat to a 6-week class***
6 Week Online spiritual learning community class to explore nervous system care as a way of life. Two optional in person classes with our guest teachers outside of the online class if you wish.
Learn to be powerfully present and connected to your Sacred Self and all that is--amidst life's stresses. All our nervous system states can be a portal to our awakening if we can offer ourselves compassion and have the tools to work with them. Learn a host of simple, powerful techniques to balance your nervous system in a fun, engaging, retreat atmosphere.
During the class series, we will learn to more skillfully respond to flight, fight, and freeze (and fawn) nervous system states based on Polyvagal Theory with influences from deep ecology, Internal Family Systems, Focusing, as well as Tantric Yogic and Buddhist teachings. The class will offer teachings on Polyvagal Theory and how different approaches are needed for our different nervous system states. It will also be a spiritual community of learners integrating this into our lives.
The bulk of the weekly class will be experiential with an opportunity for you to reflect on which practices you like best and when you might want to use them.
Exercises during the class range from toning and humming to somatics to yoga, breathwork, and meditation, and much more. All activities are voluntary, trauma-informed, and you can pick and choose how you participate. There will always be alternate options for you to choose how your time is spent. Part of the training will be to practice and claim your full bodied yes and no with the practices.
The class will offer a time to practice in community, inquire deeper, and take home evidence-based techniques for yourself and to share with your clients or others in your life. The training comes with an extensive set of short videos, handouts, inspirational resources, and articles for you to use for yourself and/or clients long after the retreat. Enjoy learning in the company of like-minded others.
Retreat Facilitator: Holly Makimaa, CPS, CTSS, RYT200 Holly brings over 25 years of combined experience leading retreats, trainings, and workshops. She helps us remember the love we are beyond all nervous system states. Her approach draws on practices such as yoga, qigong, nature attunement, and meditation as well as journaling, community ritual, and creative expression. She teaches Nervous System Care and Trauma-informed Journaling and Mindfulness for EMU's School of Social Work Continuing Education Program. Holly works as an individual and organizational spiritual coach and trainer for nervous system care integration.
Guest Teachers:
TatiAnah Thurnberg, LMSW, will be leading us in a nervous system exploration using vocalization to up and down regulate our nervous systems using toning, humming, singing, creative movement in partnership with each other and alone. You are in for a treat! No experience necessary. I am not a singer and love TatiAnah's accessible approach to vocalizing.
Jennifer Lenders, C-IAYT professional yoga therapist 800hr, will be sharing her vast depth of practice and knowledge with us to lead us in exploring Breath and yoga practices to begin to calm the waves of the mind in prepartation for meditation/mindfulness. We will be learning to identify with the stillness always here amidst the waves. You will love Jennifer's open-hearted approach and accessibility.
The team members bring a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and neurodivergent-aware lens to all they offer and a wealth of personal experience finding joy and calm in life's challenges.
