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Ojai Small Group Retreats - June 26-29, & Oct 30 - Nov 2, 2008 »
Women's Workshop - The Rhythm of Life »
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Exploring the Braddock Body Process »
What is the Braddock Body Process? »
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T-Shirts made during a recent workshop activity.
« back to menuNext Small Group Retreats
in Ojai, California
· June 26-29, & Oct 30 - Nov 2,2008
· Sign Up or Contact Carolyn »
These 4-day workshops begin on Thursday morning and end on Sunday afternoon. The workshops are for those who wish to further empower themselves personally and professionally. Some of these groups have a specific focus. Within the structure of a small select group, usually 7-9 people, each individual sets a goal or has a specific topic of interest to explore during the 4 days. The focus of this work, the Braddock Body Process, is on a body-centered approach: using breath, sound, and Tai Ji movement and meditation. The work is based in the ancient art of Tai Ji and Qi Gong philosophy and movement, therefore concentrating on the body as a whole. The body awakens, as does the mind and spirit. Tai Ji, a slow easy movement, is also used to treat a variety of health issues, and relaxes the body. What an incredible sense of freedom to move from the center, a deep place inside the body, listening carefully to the great wisdom that our many “body voices” have to tell us! Music, and musical expression, creative arts, cognitive exercises, body dialogue, and the natural environment, are an integral part of the 4 days.
The participant can explore, identify, experience, process, and release old self-limiting beliefs and behaviors, and learn body-centered interventions. This means learning to recognize the connection between words that are spoken and the non-verbal response in the body. These are the many “body voices”, which are distinctive patterns in the way a person breathes, moves and makes sound. Listening to these “body voices” facilitates the next stage of growth by integrating body, mind, and spirit. The individual focuses on creating a renewed balance and leaving with a “tool box” of ideas for stepping forward to create new possibilities in life. On top of Meditation Mount, a sacred place with a spectacular view of the Ojai valley, participants enter into the process of inquiry, and journaling, in order to deepen the exploration. This can be a life changing four days, finding the spirit, voice, and coming home to the body!
A “team” joins me, and depending upon the workshop, includes Dr. Tony Allina M.D. who teaches Autogenic Training/Somatic Meditation, Music Therapists, Doris Green, who teaches Qi Gong and Alexander Bodywork. Scholarship funds may be available!
The following is a sample of days at the workshop. This description is very general as it changes for each workshop according to the needs and composition of the group, the material being presented, and other factors. There is always a balance between individual and group time. The material presented and focus of this time is in the Braddock Body Process a body-centered approach using breath, sound and Tai Ji and Qi Gong movement, and also includes creative arts exercises and other experiential activities and “tools” for personal and professional use.
The first day we meet here at The Braddock Institute in the morning. After introductions and beginning experiential activities, we move to the Ojai Retreat Center, with a gorgeous view on the top of a mountain where we will be for the remainder of the day. Doris Green, an Alexander Bodywork Teacher and Qi Gong Teacher (with me) will present the morning session. We will directly experience dialogue in a variety of modalities, and enter into other creative projects. All activities are based on the goals that each person sets for these four days. We break for lunch at about 12:30 until 2:30. We begin again at about 2:30 and continue until 6:00. On all days, breakfast and lunch are provided and catered by one of the local restaurants. Participants are on their own for dinner however, most of the group goes out together at one of the reasonably priced restaurants in town.
Following dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, I offer an optional session for about an hour and a half for those who wish some more individual time within the group to clarify, process, experience, ask questions or gather more tools. This allows the process to deepen.
On Friday, depending upon the weather, we may go to the beach nearby. There are a series of things that we will do including experiential activities using examples of breath, sound, movement, creative arts, music, and other activities to learn and practice. All that we do is oriented to the individual's personal and professional growth. (In the past several workshops, dolphin swam and jumped in the water in front of us!) Saturday, we may go to Meditation Mount or the park, in order to connect to ourselves, process, share, experience, and identify tools needed to develop new patterns. The group will explore ways of looking at possibilities, and in some workshops, form a book of possibilities and choices, all with a goal of moving forward to experience life in the fullest.
Saturday afternoon Tony Allina M.D. will join us to teach a session on Autogenic Training, a form of somatic meditation... an amazing and powerful afternoon! Participants will learn specific techniques for exploration, and for lessening somatic symptoms. He will share stories, research, and other information about the use of these tools. Sunday we continue exploration (I like that better than the word “work”) through individual time, writing, and group sharing.
We begin on Thursday at 9AM and end each day at about 6 PM. We end on Sunday at about 4:00 or 4:30. Housing is available with several options.
Collages made during a recent workshop activity.
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The 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.
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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.