still movement: embodying peace in difficult times (apr. 16-18, 2010)

The chronic stress that is the result of a context of economic crisis and cuts to social services can play out in violence to self, others and the land. We may both participate in and witness violence in many forms – to ourselves, to others and to the land. In the midst of these times how can we gain inner peace and develop a spiritual practice that can support us to embody a presence of peace? In this workshop we will use ceremony, dance, theatre games, movement, stillness, breath and presence skills as resources for self-care, creativity and finding a place of centre in working with conflict.

Objectives of the workshop are to learn:

• Embodiment practice (awareness of body sensations and circulation of energy)
• Body-oriented skills in coping with high stress and trauma
• How stress, violence and trauma affect the body and the benefits of non-verbal approaches in countering the effects of trauma
• Embodied peace as spiritual practice
• How to embody peace collectively in creative, fun and powerful ways incorporating theatre and dance
• Using ritual and ceremony in non-violence practice
• The relationship between embodied non-violence and embodying peace