SOMATIC JOURNEYS: THE DANCE OF HEALING

In this two-day intensive, we dive deep into ourselves, discovering and redefining ourselves through mind-body movement and dance. Somatic movement is a powerful way to connect our mind and body and transform our ways of relating to self, other and the world. We will use Dance Movement Therapy to explore how posture and movement can reveal patterns; changing how we move can change how we feel. Memories are held in our musculature; these holding patterns can constrict our movement and emotional freedom. Somatic movement explorations reveal patterns in our movement and mind that no longer serve us, patterns that may be preventing us from being more present and authentic in our lives. Somatic release work is through allowing our sensations and feelings to guide us to forgotten and abandoned parts of ourselves, parts that need to be revisited and healed. Using Authentic Movement practices, we let the body move us. We follow what the body wants to say and express. Movement can be used to shift relational patterns, how we treat ourselves and others. We can create new patterns for where we want to go and how we want to be in our lives. Allowing ourselves freedom of movement, allows us to experience more flexibility and joy in our mind and bodies.

This workshop will use dance practices, movement explorations, meditation methods, drawing, writing and spoken word as modalities for self-discovery and self-development.  Creating a safe space for self-exploration is of highest importance for the structure of the workshop.  We will pursue deep explorations while cultivating self-care and self-compassion for healing.

This workshop is open to anyone; no experience is necessary. It is designed to welcome all people who would like to cultivate a deeper understanding of and connection with their psyche and soma.

In this intensive we will:
- Learn how Authentic Movement can be used for self-care, self-discovery, and self-healing
- Explore ways to interweave meditation, mindfulness, breathing and movement to address stress and elevated cortisol
- Learn how to explore deeply within ourselves while remaining safe.
- Find new ways to express and communicate to ourselves and others
- Identify what you want to cultivate in life and create pathways to start the process

Day 1 - 23 July:
- Learning Authentic Movement
- Identifying patterns for relating to self and others
- Breathing and moving
- Ways to work with chronic pain
- Creative representations for communicating

Day 2 - 24 July:
- Understanding inner child work
- Creating inner child mapping
- Embodying and liberating historical patterns
- Creative representations of healing

Schedule:
10 am-13 pm: Morning session
13 pm-14 pm: Lunch break
14pm-18pm: Afternoon session

Cost:
One day: 120 BGN
Both days: 200 BGN

What to bring:
Please wear comfortable clothes, layers and socks. A yoga mat or blanket for a soft surface if you would like. Bring a notebook, and any of your favorite writing and drawing implements.

Course Instructor
Chrystabel Butler brings a wide range of experience to movement and dance.  With a background in competitive gymnastics, she has pursued research and teaching in various somatic dance modalities.  She is an Integrative Psychotherapist, Dance Movement Therapist, as well as a certified instructor for Yoga and Pilates.  She has taught Contact Improvisation in UK, Japan, Bulgaria, Egypt and Australia and provides personal movement coaching through authentic movement and rehabilitative modalities.  Engaged with intensive study of Axis Syllabus since 2014, passionate about approaching dance through an understanding of anatomy, physics and biomechanics, she currently leads classes and workshops in Axis Syllabus Inspired Movement and Dance.