When Things Get Heated: Somatic Practices for Triggering Moments
Queerness creates beauty and complexity in the way we relate to ourselves and other people. Moving through the world as an outsider, particularly early in our lives, can create a body that is sensitive to certain triggers.
These can leave us with reactive people-pleasing, numbing out or avoiding, or defensively pushing back. Ever find yourself reacting in ways you regret? Does it ever feel like your body just “takes over,” even if you mean to respond more calmly?
In this workshop, through safe, partner exercises, we’ll learn foundational somatic practices from the Strozzi Institute to help us stay mindful in moments of activation or “trigger”—and interrupt the typical sensation-to-impulse-to-reaction pattern our bodies have learned.
By patiently paying attention to the sensations until they subside, we can mindfully respond, acting and speaking in ways that are more aligned to our value.
This is for all self-identified queer men who want to learn how to strengthen relationships in their lives—romantic, familial, professional, and or/chosen—and connect with like-minded local men.
Workshop will run from 6:30 to 8:30PM, and folks are welcome to stay until 9:30PM for informal socializing and connection.
This workshop is being hosted by Zach Bell & Jeff Sun, both trained somatic coaches through the Strozzi Institute.
Zach is a men's group facilitator and certified somatic coach, who helps purpose-driven professionals to communicate better in all their relationships, especially during conflict. His method, the Bodymind Breakthrough, brings together Nonviolent Communication, somatics, and role play to create practical, meaningful changes for leaders and teams. He is passionate about men's work, and founded realmenshare.org to help men share their vulnerable stories out-loud.
Jeff is an executive coach and facilitator who partners with individuals and teams to help them become their most effective, aligned, and authentic selves — in work and in life. He also has a passion working with queer men and is the founder of The Midlife Retreat, a program for queer men to wrestle with the changes and transitions of midlife in intentional community.