MELT Bodywork Open Session and Potluck
Hello dear community! We are a group of individuals who are passionate about healing justice and liberation. About us: bit.ly/meltabout.
Please join us for a casual gathering of bodywork / massage care exchange and connection -- OPEN SESSION edition.
Please RSVP! Specific entry instructions will only be sent to the RSVP list.
Our previous gatherings (bit.ly/bodyworkjam) have been formally facilitated skillshares. This time will be a little different -- we'd like to open a more open session space for informal exchange, practice, and light socializing. If you are excited about this idea, let us know! We are considering hosting this in a recurring cadence in addition to the formal skillshares.
What to expect:
What is an open session? We envision a freeform space and invitation to practice massage, or simply hang out with old and new friends in a lovely space. We'll be playing lowkey music, chitchatting, stretching, chilling, napping, snacking on yummy potluck food, and we'll invite y'all to do the same. You can massage or not massage. This is basically what we do with our groups of friends, and we'd like to introduce others to this style of hang. Note that the entire event is strictly platonic.
7-10pm. This is fluid; come and go as you wish!
We will offer a small amount of formal instruction at the very beginning (~7-7:15pm), so come early if you'd like to catch that.
We will encourage informal skillsharing. Each of us has so much to teach each other -- you probably have experiences and knowledge that someone else does not, even as a beginner. Each one, teach one: share your favorite stretch or a massage technique you recently learned. Model expressing needs: share what parts of your body need work, or healing cultures you come from.
You are welcome to come solo, bring a buddy, or a group of friends! During the gathering you may give/receive more widely on/from strangers, if you feel comfortable doing so.
Suggested donation of $10-30, and NOTAFLOF. All proceeds go towards out community mutual aid fund: bit.ly/meltmaf. Venmo @sticky-pan with "melt maf" in the description to donate. And apply to the mutual aid fund if you would benefit from bodywork and could use support! bit.ly/meltmafapply.
Bodywork and massage therapy is one way for us to care for our bodies and each other. These forms of care are often inaccessible to communities who need it most. With this gathering, we aim to:
Facilitate a bodywork and massage skillshare, to build up more individuals with the skills and knowledge to heal and care for all our communities.
Open a space for community connection and healing. Healing is a crucial form of connection. When we heal another, we heal ourselves and our community.
What to bring
Something to share for the potluck :-)
A picnic blanket or yoga mat, if you have one. Extra are always welcome!
Other preparation notes:
Please refrain from wearing any perfumes or fragrances. Since we will be working closely with each other’s bodies, we want to be conscious of those with scent sensitivities / allergies.
If you can, shower the day of the event, or the day before at the very least. Out of respect for each other’s comfort and hygiene, please arrive with a clean body, and apply deodorant if needed.
Avoid eating a large meal right before the event.
Covid and safety precautions:
Stay home if you have any symptoms or have had a recent exposure (including non-Covid symptoms).
Unlike our formal skillshares and to accommodate the fluidity of this gathering, we will not be requiring covid testing. Covid tests will still be available at the door, if desired.
Alert the organizers if you test positive for Covid in the days after the event.
Filming and media consent: We want to capture the sweetness of this gathering! Please note that by RSVPing and attending, you are consenting to be photographed and filmed. We would like to put together a recap video to share the magic of this space and support our future mutual aid efforts. If you’re feeling camera-shy or have specific privacy concerns, please come chat with Whitney or Vicki so we can be mindful of your space~