You are invited!
During the months of September and October, I will be leading IN-PERSON weekly Mind-Body Skills Groups (MBSGs) at my house.
“Mind-Body Skills Groups are educational, supportive groups built upon developing self-care skills. They are highly experiential and integrative techniques–such as meditation, guided imagery, autogenic training, breath work, movement, self expression and other approaches–are taught in a supportive environment.” You can read more here: https://cmbm.org/onlinegroup/
The first meeting will be the week of Sept 6-11th (depending on the doodle poll results) and we will plan to continue for 8 weeks. I completed training to facilitate these groups from the Center for Mind-Body Medicine. Previously, I have been leading groups in this format on Zoom, and over the last 3 years, I have led 6 rounds of these groups. You can read about the experiences of past participants here:
Why am I offering this?
The conventional, allopathic model of medicine that I trained in is outdated and misunderstands important fundamentals of holistic health. When I learned about Mind-Body Medicine at a retreat with the CMBM at Esalen Institute in California, I understood that holding space for group work can have a profound effect because it addresses our present moment consciousness directly. We are energetic beings, and addressing our energetic nature can be more effective and thorough than limiting our attention to the body as a constellation of mechanical processes.
In the future, I am aiming to lead in-person healing retreats for healthcare workers to address trauma and burnout. I am especially interested in working with performing artists and creatives because they are already on the path of embodiment, and I am learning to be on that path for myself too.
What To Expect During Our Groups
We will meet in-person and will start on time. You are invited to arrive up to 30 minutes early to settle in. Keep in mind that you will be asked to bring your full attention for our two-hour sessions. We will start with a simple relaxing breathing technique and go over guidelines for our time together. There will be time for introductions, and “check-ins” for every group. Anything shared will be confidential.
Each week, we will practice one technique of self exploration, and then share about our experience with the group. These techniques can provide powerful insights in a group setting even for individuals with vast experience with similar techniques. They are also accessible to beginners and thus adaptable for many different kinds of groups.
The group will end on time, and we will close with a gentle relaxation technique. My role is to manage time, lead activities, and support all participants for the best group experience. I am not serving as a therapist or doctor for anyone in the group. Instead we are trusting and allowing for insights and healing to occur spontaneously. Borrowing from Stella Eisenstein’s “Resonant Attention” technique, we are leaning in for miracles. As a facilitator, I will also participate in the exercises and share my experiences.
Price, Commitment:
It is important to commit to attending all sessions because spaces are limited. Of course, scheduling conflicts inevitably arise, so do let me know if you will need to miss a session. I believe the value of this offering is in the range of $400-$800, and I am open to receiving donations of any amount. At the same time, because I find these groups so meaningful, I offer them as a gift and no one will be turned away due to inability to pay.
If you would like to participate please contact me as soon as possible by email (ddietle12@gmail.com) or phone (402-686-0259) to reserve your spot. Also, select all the times that would work for you on a weekly basis on this Doodle poll:
https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/b69APjQa
I would like to have a conversation on the phone with each participant before we begin!
Thanks for reading, and I hope you can join me!
-Drew (Waterbird)
Putting this invitation together was a good exercise for me. It does not appear that this group will be coming together in this way like I had hoped for next week. Other plans are in the works, and I will post more soon.
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