Click for Details:
Ojai Small Group Retreat - June 24 - 27, 2010 »
Awakening from Trauma through Breath, Sound, and Movement - Mondays in March, 2010 »
Women's Workshop - The Rhythm of Life »
Professional and Personal Training »
Exploring the Braddock Body Process »
Find out more:
Get in touch:
T-Shirts made during a recent workshop activity.
« back to menuNext Small Group Retreat
in Ojai, California
· June 24 - 27, 2010
· Begins at 9 am on Thursday and ends at 4:30 pm on Sunday
· Sign Up or Contact Carolyn »
Discover the voices of the body, and the waves of the soul!
Find the “Natural Body of Balance” especially in these times of uncertainty and stress, beneath past messages and patterns, and among the manifestations of many forms of traumatic events and life situations that keep us “off balance.” You will gain an awareness of how being “off balance” stops the process of creating what you want in life.
Learn ways to come back to balance! Learn tools that create balance personally, relationally, and professionally. The body awakens, as does the mind and spirit. Learn to increase fluidity, which is strength, to be present and in harmony physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Learn ways that language, verbal and non-verbal, reflects our thought process. These non-verbal cues are the distinctive patterns in the way a person breathes, moves and makes sound. Paying attention to these “Body Voices” facilitates the next stage of growth by integrating body, mind, and spirit. Learn new ways to listen and create a balance between doing and being. Gain personal integrity, and learn ways to express integrity.
Tune up and Tune in as you move forward to a future of balance with a specific plan of possibilities! The focus of the work is the Braddock Body Process, a body-centered approach using breath, sound, and Tai Ji movement and meditation. The work is based in the ancient arts of Tai Ji and Qi Gong, whose philosophy and movement concentrate on the body/mind/spirit as a whole.
Musical expression, creative arts, cognitive exercises, dialogue, and the natural environment of the mountains and ocean are an integral part of the 4 days. This can be a life changing 4 days!
In this retreat, Ron Borczon, Professor of Music Therapy at California State University Northridge will join us. Using drums, percussive instruments, guitar and storytelling, Ron is a master of using the age-old power of sound to heal and unite us, and will help us to find the rhythm and “soul” of our journey.
Tony Allina, M.D. from Santa Barbara may also be joining us, to instruct us in Autogenic Training, a form of Somatic Meditation. His voice and words of encouragement as you enter into the wisdom of the body, and interventions using meditation are certainly a gift to use everyday!
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch are included
Lodging: Several affordable options:
- Some rooms are reserved at a local motel at a discounted price for our group.
- Call for more options
Cost: Call for information. Some scholarship money may be available.
Please note: The weekend of the retreat is also the Lavender Festival in Ojai, which means that housing may be a problem if you wait too long. Yes, time will be made to cruise the festival, taste the lavender/lemon sorbet and receive free hand massages and more!
Collages made during a recent workshop activity.
« back to menu
Awakening from Trauma through Breath, Sound, and Movement
A UCLArts and Healing Winter Program
Click this link for more information, and registration.
The body remembers trauma because it was the scene of the trauma. Trauma is expressed nonverbally in distinctive patterns of breath, movement, and sounds that we make. Healing can take place by unwinding these manifestations and the corresponding self-limiting beliefs that may interfere with emotional expression, physical health, relationships, and experiencing life to the fullest.
In this series, participants will gain awareness of how they hold trauma and acquire a toolbox of means for freeing themselves of the trauma, through the creative arts and practices rooted in the ancient art and philosophy of Tai Ji and Qi Gong. This program is intended for both professional and personal benefit for trauma of any type.
Introductory Workshop - Mon. March 1, 7:00-9:30 pm. You may register for this class separately and try it before committing to the 4-Part Follow-up Workshop.
4-Part Follow-up Workshop - Mondays, March 8, 15, 22, 29 7:00-9:30 pm. The Introductory Workshop is a prerequisite for this series.
Click this link for more information, and registration.
« back to menuThe Rhythm of Life:
Voices of the Body, Voices of the Soul
A Gathering of Women in Sacred Dialogue
· By Carolyn J. Braddock M.A.,P.C.,
and Sally Huang-Nissen, M.A.
· Call or email Carolyn for specifics.
As women, are we listening to the voices of our bodies, the voices of our souls?
Do we feel safe to articulate our thoughts and feelings? Do we have opportunities to share with others our inner most concerns and fears? Do we make the time to be with other women in sacred dialogue?
In a safe environment, supported by skilled workshop facilitators, you are invited to join other women to explore, identify, and celebrate the voices of the body and soul, and find ways to honor those voices! This is a way for you to be heard and understood. You will take away wisdom, ideas, and have “tools” to use.
Drawing from the ancient art and philosophy of Tai Ji and Qi Gong movement, and through meditation, poetry, creative expression and sacred dialogue, we will ask questions, and those questions will lead to more questions, while noticing the body response through breath, sound, and movement. The following topics will be explored:
· Who am I?
· What do I want?
· Challenges for women: Our bodies, ourselves, our aging
· Building a relationship of safety and trust
· What is sacred dialogue?
· Listening with TING
· Voices of the body
· Voices of the soul
· Tao of Saging
· And more
You will learn ways to find your own rhythm and fluidity of the body.
Call or write to inquire about dates, locations and other information.
Next Braddock Body Process Training for Professionals
Working with Sexual Trauma: Specific Tools for Self Care
· Call or email Carolyn for specifics.
· Sign Up or Contact Carolyn »
This training is designed to be specific to sexual trauma.
Participants will learn ways to understand and recognize the many manifestations of sexual trauma, and the extent to which the event has been embodied in the physical, emotional, spiritual and relational body. The body remembers because the body was where the trauma happened. This memory is expressed directly through the many “body voices” in the distinct ways a client breathes, moves and makes sound. Often the client suffers in silence, and has no verbal voice to express the kind of anger, sadness, frustration, or pain they experience. The professional needs to understand these manifestations, and know ways to deal with their own experiences as they work with clients.
In this training the following questions will be addressed:
How does the professional pay attention to their own reactions to this intense subject and expressions of the client? What are specific ways to become more comfortable in dealing with sexual trauma and while working with specific interventions? How does the professional recognize when they are off balance, and what are ways to return to balance? Often being “off balance” results in distractions, nervous tension, dissociation, avoidance, and somatic symptoms.
The pertinent topic of seduction will be addressed, as well as ways to recognize and deal effectively with the seductive client. This will include ways to set limits. This leads into the question of how to stay effective, clear and in integrity, without being drawn into making mistakes. What can go wrong and how? A “toolbox” of ideas and possibilities will be given for recognizing issues prior to being on the wrong path.
The participant will receive tools that, when practiced, will help the professional become effective, comfortable, slow down to be present and focused, unwind stress and tension, while understanding the dynamics in dealing with sexual trauma. The professional will learn specific ways to pay attention to their own reactions and what to do with these reactions.
We will use group discussion, video analysis, Tai Ji and Qi Gong, and other creative and experiential exercises.
« back to menu
Next Exploring the Braddock Body Process for Music Therapists
· Call or email Carolyn for specifics.
· Sign Up or Contact Carolyn »
· Call or email Carolyn for specifics.
· Sign Up or Contact Carolyn »
A one day workshop for Music Therapists and others interested in exploring the Braddock Body Process.