Embodied Relating SF: A full day playshop
Move. Touch. Listen. Be known.
Imagine a full day playshop where you can arrive fully into your body, show up authentically with other heart-centred humans, and get straight to the core of what truly matters, through conversation, movement & touch?
Welcome to Embodied Relating, an experiential embodiment training where you are invited to move fluidly between contact and conversation through the modalities of Authentic Relating and Contact Improvisation.
This April, you are invited to HeartLab SF, a beautiful sanctuary in the heart of The Mission. Come explore the many layers of yourself and others through a journey of deep, meaningful, playful communication and contact games.
Enter a room full of strangers and loved ones alike - cultivate and deepen connections that may last a lifetime!
WHY spend the day at Embodied Relating?
The connection skills you will learn and practice include:
✨ Developing interoceptive awareness - learning to track what's alive in you in real time
✨ Practicing neuroceptive attunement - discovering how your nervous system settles, opens and comes alive in the presence of another
✨ Cultivating embodied curiosity - meeting others with genuine interest, so they feel truly seen and welcomed as they are
✨ Expanding your window of tolerance through safely exploring and feeling your 'stretch zone'
✨ Cultivating embodied consent - learning to feel your yes and your no before you speak them
✨ Rediscovering the somatic signature of joy - letting pleasure, play and delight be a full-body experience shared with others
I look forward to welcoming you into a beautiful container that is sure to inspire you to step further into the kind of life you truly desire.
WHAT will actually happen?
Activities will explore conversation, movement and physical contact, with and without words and vision, through the modalities of Authentic Relating, Contact Improvisation, sandwiched between Ecstatic Dance & Yin Yoga.
Authentic Relating (AR) is a pioneering communication modality that invites you to connect playfully and courageously, through radical honesty, active listening, and the permission to share what's truly alive in you. The practice draws you into presence, embodied awareness, and the rich space that emerges between people when masks come off.
Contact improvisation (CI) is a dance form that emphasises spontaneous movement and physical connection between two people or more. It encourages exploration of balance, weight-sharing, and communication through touch, inducing a trance like state of surrendered flow.
Ecstatic Dance invites us to surrender to what is arising in our body when deeply in connection with music, following each natural impulse and channeling poetic expression beyond the mind, inducing a natural state of ecstasy.
Yin Yoga focuses on deeply relaxing the nervous system, by bringing fresh life force (prana) to your connective tissue and vital organs. Through deep stretches, long holds, and mindful breathing, your body is given permission to fully release any tension that has accumulated over time.
We will use blindfolds in some of the activities to invite you into deeper connection with your physical sensations and internal reality, unblocking your inhibition so as to reveal your truest essence.
Safety disclaimer:
Consent will be emphasised throughout the day. You will continually be reminded to listen to your body and only do what is within your personal boundaries. While you will be encouraged to stretch yourself and widen your window of tolerance, you will practice identifying your stress zone are strongly advised to regulate if you push yourself too far.
There will also be a support team on hand if you need to co-regulate at any point.
WHO is this playshop for?
Essentially, Embodied Relating is for you if you’re a curious, open, emotional human being or want to learn how to be one! This weekend will enhance your interpersonal relationships and enrich your self love within.
This playshop is particularly suited to those deepening their somatic communication skills - learning to listen to and speak from the body's intelligence in relationship.
Whether you are body worker, therapist, seasoned workshop/retreat goer, or you are newly stepping into these practices, you are sure to get something valuable out of this weekend.
You are also most welcome if you’ve been recently feeling blocked, anxious, lacking purpose or direction, and need to reground and remind yourself what's truly important and who you truly are.
My experience includes working with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs); neurodiverse people; people suffering from anxiety and depression; people going through major life shifts; and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
If you have any questions about whether the event would suit you, just book a 15 minute discovery call with Laurie, or write him a message :)
The FACILITATOR
Laurie (he/him), is a queer British-Kiwi who’s current home-base is Berlin. His passion is creating spaces that cultivate healthy, thriving human-to-human relationships, helping people take off their masks, feel their sensations and celebrate their aliveness on Earth. Since 2019, he has organised and facilitated hundreds of Authentic Relating, Dating and Embodiment workshops in Oceania and Europe.
His training includes The Embody Lab, Authentic Revolution, Body Electric, World Peace Yoga School and Connection Institute. He has facilitated at internationally acclaimed festivals such as Stretch and Ignite, and organisations such as ART International and Authentic Bay Area.
His workshops have sparked thousands of nourishing connections, turning many strangers into life-long friends. He looks forward to holding space for you!
For more information, check out itoiauthenticrelating.com or insta @itoiauthentic
Laurie’s workshops have already touched & impacted many lives. Here's what others have shared:
“This was a game changer for me. I'm blown away on a daily basis as to how easy communicating and relating has been since doing Laurie's incredible workshop" - Andy
"The experience was very restorative for my nervous system. Connectivity through a delicious winding path of interactive games and movement expression experiences lead me to a very open and receptive creative space. Highly recommend. Amazing facilitation." - Lily
"What a wonderful event. The exercises encouraged me to stay very present and in my body. Laurie created a very sweet and safe space to learn and explore. The connection experiences were very fulfilling. A rejuvenating and enjoyable time indeed!" - Lisa
“Thank you for the beautiful workshop we shared: I really enjoyed it and there was a wonderful sense of warmth and connection in the room at the end, amazing job” - Henry
"I love Laurie’s energy, wisdom, execution and light touch" - Tess
"I live with complex PTSD and anxiety so in the past I have really struggled to open up to people and build meaningful connections. Discovering these workshops has been a life changer and both my therapist and I are thrilled with how my confidence has blossomed in recent months. Laurie's time and generosity really means the world to me" - Sarah
"Laurie's approach to mix Authentic Relating with conscious touch and movement is very interesting. Theses complementary practices made me feel more whole and deeply connected with others. Laurie is also incredibly kind and I felt safe, warm and welcomed from the start" - Benjamin
“The exercises allowed me to center myself in heartspace - free to be held by others in love and in my own experience while also able to hold them in their experience. As such, it’s a perfect space for co-regulating. The experience was so nurturing I forgot to eat dinner - and I wasn’t even hungry!” - Justin
"I felt so deeply and beautifully seen, heard and held by everyone in the group, and that was in large part because of Laurie's gift of facilitation" - Megan
HOW MUCH will I invest?
$99 - Earlybird ticket (available until April 4th @ 11pm)
$139 - Regular ticket
$179 - Last minute ticket (day before & morning of)
Spaces are limited so book early before it fills up!
If you would really like to attend but do not have the funds, please get in touch and we can figure something out!
Practicalities:
Where: HeartLab SF, 3095 21st St, San Francisco, CA 94110.
When: Sunday April 26th, 10am to 6pm.
Dresscode: Comfortable clothing that's easy to move in. Please bring a blindfold as some activities are blindfolded.
Yoga: All experience levels welcome. Please bring a yoga mat.
Food: Tea, coffee & snacks are provided. Lunch will be potluck style so bring a lunch offering to share :)
Refund policy: Full refund if cancelled 3 weeks before. 50% refund if cancelled between 1 and 3 weeks before. No refund if cancelled less than 1 week before.