Stand-alone gatherings are a deep-dive into a single topic over a 2-hour period. The format of the evening, regardless of the topic, consists of lectures, guided meditations, and experiential exercises that enable you to apply the learning to your unique situation. The intimate group format is especially designed to create space and pace for meaningful sharing, support and input.
Embracing Our Bodies From the Middle
“My thighs are too big,” “My boobs are too saggy,” “My butt's too big (no, I mean too small),” “My wrinkles are awful,” “I hate my muffin top” and, of course, “I’m fat!” Sound familiar? And for every gripe, there’s a diet, a product, a chemical, a treatment or a class that’s guaranteed to fix it. But what if we didn’t need fixing? What would it mean if we actually accepted and loved our bodies in their entirety, with all of their wonder and imperfections? In this gathering, we will examine our beliefs and feelings about our bodies, why we insist on hanging onto them, and move towards literally “Embracing our Middle.”
Embracing Our Limiting Beliefs From the Middle
Limiting Beliefs are old and outdated thoughts that keep us stuck. They are usually rooted in childhood and, at that time, may have served us well. For example, painful childhood experiences may have caused us to develop beliefs such “I can’t trust people” or “It’s better not to say anything” as a way to protect ourselves from future pain. However, these beliefs often became established as facts and we began to behave accordingly. As adults, they don't necessarily serve us though we seldom stop to ask if they are true or outdated. This gathering will help you identify, examine, and challenge some of your limiting beliefs.
Embracing Our Protections From the Middle
Our ego is designed to protect us. To do so, it has learned strategies and defense mechanisms that pop up instantly when we feel emotionally threatened. These instinctual reactions – anger, withdrawal, busyness, overeating, overworking, etc – aren’t bad or wrong, but they are almost always a form of protection.
The painful irony is that while these ego reactions are intended to protect us from pain, they also remove our vulnerability, and with it they mute our true selves and power. In this supportive gathering, Shayna will help you identify your individual protections, what purpose they serve, and how to identify more life affirming behaviors.t
Embracing Forgiveness From the Middle
Most people think of Forgiveness as a dramatic moment when one or both people decide to forgive a past transgression and make amends. In the movie version, the scenario includes tears, hugs, and apologies. This is NOT what this evening is about. In fact, it has nothing to do with the other person. This gathering is about practicing with healing our own resentment to the offending person - the resentment that blocks our growth and limits our joy. Forgiveness does not require that we accept or condone the behavior or necessarily interact with the other person again. But, by not forgiving the person, and hanging onto anger and blame, we continue to punish ourselves and remain frozen in time. This gathering guides you to explore forgiveness in a gentle, facilitated manner within a supportive space.
Introduction to Mindfulness
What is it? Why the buzz about it? And how does one practice it? This gathering will provide an introduction to the concept and process of Mindfulness. Through experiential processes and guided meditations, Shayna will guide you to explore what is means to be mindful in real-time.