We learn a lot of things at school… but in my education there was a HUGE missing piece of skill sets and a way of being that would prove much more useful (in my opinion ) than a lot of what I crammed into my short term memory to pass exams! Without a conscious learning experience that is shaped around who we genuinely are as human beings and the world we belong to, what we genuinely need to embody and live and love with joy and freedom, and how to connect to and nurture life and relationally in all its different forms (including intra personally), we form self concepts, world views, relational practices, practices of self and co-regulation, goals and ambitions (and therefore careers) that limit and block our aliveness and interconnection. We teach ourselves and others, and often from a place of limited understanding.
Me and my classmates taught each other how to regulate our nervous systems, for instance with eating disorders, alcohol, people pleasing, perfectionism, rebellion, egotism… we taught each other how to have relationships from movies and from largely fear based strategies around submission, control and having approval rather than being genuine, present and available. Whilst many people had a better ‘education’ than what was offered to us, it is clear that a lot of our celebrity role models, people in positions of power, a lot of our media, music, cultural practices (based in consumerism, individualism and capitalism) and myths (eg romance) and even teaching practices are not teaching people the art of living, the art of joy and wellbeing.
I offer ongoing courses in collaboration with other professionals that cover a wide range of material, in varying formats. Some groups are more like interactive lectures, some groups will be a very personal exploration into sensation, breath, emotion; some will be more centered around collaboration and learning in community and widening an experience of the sense of self that includes others and nature as part of us. Some groups are more geared towards learning and practicing self regulation tools, others around communications skills such as Non Violent Communication (https://www.cnvc.org), in others we might even explore herbs that support the nervous system and sleep as an adjunct.
What remains consistent is the foundation of all of the content of the course – reconnecting to your natural intelligence, health, aliveness and joy and living from that place.
I have lectured and offered groups for many years and love facilitating a space for people to explore, have fun and reconnect to themselves and each other. I have an MA in somatic psychology and have studied and practiced embodied therapeutic movement in many forms over the years. I have also lectured at trauma and addiction treatment centers helping patients understand and befriend their nervous systems, minds and bodies.
We all learn and practice together, and our practice is informed by time tested and evidence based practices from spiritual traditions, trauma informed somatic psychology theory and practice and deep ecology. Topics included are subjects like:
- Learn about the nervous system, regulation and co-regulation: how to track and limit dysregulation and build and nurture resilience. De-pathologise symptoms of nervous system dysregulation, trauma and addiction and deepen into self acceptance, understanding, compassion and agency.
- Learn relational skills that support you to thrive
- Learn about and practice embodiment practices to deepen you connection to the life force and all you are connected to 🙂
- Through Ecopsychology and deep ecology broaden ones sense of self and reengage from your centre to contribute meaningfully and relationally to the world we belong to.
- Learn more about the mind and how to calm and quieten and witness, rather than identify with, the mind
- Learn supportive lifestyle practices to support balance, joy and harmony in your body, mind and relationships, such as self massage, deep rest, living more in alignment with nature and the seasons, etc
- Consciously establishing one’s culture and value system
Gatherings happen Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 am; through a combination of online and in person sessions in Biarritz.
Please reach out to me for more information or to sign up for a term!
Elise