The demands upon our religious leadership have shifted dramatically in a short amount of time. Yet, our very same human bodies have traveled with us to this new paradigm -- bringing all their experiences, needs, and resilience. In this two-day retreat time, Megan draws on her experiences and training in embodied somatic healing work to support our bodies for the long-haul of ministry. She’ll offer you opportunities to “try on” body-based practices in your home -- while still being connected online. She’ll also teach a few practices for sharing with our communities. The first session (May 5) will focus on sensing our competence and moving with our bodies from “rapid response” to long-term resilience involved in the decisions and changes surrounding us. The second session (May 6) will focus on “un-zooming our bodies” (dealing with screen fatigue) and embodying endings (anticipating and managing grief, cancellations). If you wish to feel more fully present as you move through your days, come treat yourself to some loving awareness of the ways your body has been showing up for you throughout the past few weeks.
Wednesday, May 6
Schedule
4:00-4:30pm Worship
4:30-6:30pm Somatic Practices
6:30-7:00pm Closing Worship
4:00-4:30pm Worship
4:30-6:30pm Somatic Practices
6:30-7:00pm Closing Worship
Feedback and Request for Testimonials
Your responses to these questions will support future events in embodied somatic learning and practice.
Also, positive reviews about Megan's leadership and care for colleagues will help build her somatic education ministry with Unitarian Universalists and religious professionals. Please scroll to the bottom of the page to contribute a testimonial to be added to her website or shared with prospective clients.
https://forms.gle/tjuWNG2hjMRNg92j7
Also, positive reviews about Megan's leadership and care for colleagues will help build her somatic education ministry with Unitarian Universalists and religious professionals. Please scroll to the bottom of the page to contribute a testimonial to be added to her website or shared with prospective clients.
https://forms.gle/tjuWNG2hjMRNg92j7
Tuesday, May 5
Schedule
1:00-2:00pm Opening Worship and Covenanting with a very brief check-in
2:00-4:00pm Somatic Practice programming
4:00-4:55pm Business meetings
4:55pm Check-Out
MANUSCRIPT FOR ACCESS/FOLLOWING ALONG (please do not share or reproduce)
Practice Group Instructions (link)
Summary of Practice Instructions
- Imagine the tunnel of ancestors supporting your back body.
- Place a hand or prop behind you, making a layer of protection and support for your lower spine, your back body.
- Get curious with the type of support that helps you feel the tunnel of ancestors behind you, or feels the most supported.
2. Lower Belly or Hip Bones
- Hands hovering or making contact with our lower belly. Hands and fingertips finding our hip bones.
- Modifications - one hand in back and one in front of our belly, feeling our depth. A rowing motion (if you need/want to be more active), feeling more settled back by rocking forward and leaning back.
3. Declaring our Competence
- Create and speak aloud your sentence: “I am [#] years old. I am THIS experienced. I have THIS MUCH training. I know a lot of stuff.”
- find the intensity, speed, volume, tone that feels just right.
- try to repeat the “right” version a few times
- notice your sensations (what presents itself) - temperature, movement, numbness, blankness, stillness, contact, pressure, texture, emptiness, fullness, a mood, an image.
Practice Group Instructions (linked here, includes above)
- Tunnel of Ancestors and Our Back Body
- Imagine the tunnel of ancestors supporting your back body.
- Place a hand or prop behind you, making a layer of protection and support for your lower spine, your back body.
- Get curious with the type of support that helps you feel the tunnel of ancestors behind you, or feels the most supported.
2. Lower Belly or Hip Bones
- Hands hovering or making contact with our lower belly. Hands and fingertips finding our hip bones.
- Modifications - one hand in back and one in front of our belly, feeling our depth. A rowing motion (if you need/want to be more active), feeling more settled back by rocking forward and leaning back.
3. Declaring our Competence
- Create and speak aloud your sentence: “I am [#] years old. I am THIS experienced. I have THIS MUCH training. I know a lot of stuff.”
- find the intensity, speed, volume, tone that feels just right.
- try to repeat the “right” version a few times
- notice your sensations (what presents itself) - temperature, movement, numbness, blankness, stillness, contact, pressure, texture, emptiness, fullness, a mood, an image.
Practice Group Instructions (linked here, includes above)