This apprenticeship is committed to process centred -relational learning. Most trainings will bank information, techniques and research into you. This course operates differently, it centres your personal journey as the basis for your development. Nowadays it is too easy to hurry through a course, allured by the idea of what you should become. This is usually something far away from yourself, your fears, but also your gifts. This apprenticeship will grow your intuitive, heart based capacities for you to rely on as your professional integrity. We create a container for your vision and self- love to thrive so you can become a robust and confident therapist.
You will receive a course manual with extensive information but more importantly, you are asked to reflect on the teachings. Students must work with this material until they come upon their own realisations. If knowledge is extracted, it becomes transactional and no-one is respected. Much of our learning also happens in community, in group process as it naturally unfolds. Learning arises from being witnessed, acknowledged and mirrored in the group.
To be present to this course, you need to engage with your personal healing and consider the value of holding back the tide of modern life. You will be asked to put in boundaries with family and work and set aside regular time for your self care and yoga practice. These commitments are important to get the most out of this apprenticeship and to gain the depth and integrity needed to work therapeutically with yoga.
Here are the key features of decolonial, relational- feminine centred learning:
*Embodiment is the essential source of knowledge and heart -womb consciousness is the guiding light.
*Emotional literacy is as important as cognition. Feelings are of equal value to ‘fact’.
*Female researchers and wholistic health professionals are held with as much credibility as those with influence and power.
*Critical reflection is key: interrogating the terms against which bodies are judged to be unintelligent or lacking.
*Knowledge is gained through process, which involves a willingness to descend into yourself and become stirred.
*Rather than relying solely on written texts for knowledge, you will be asked to draw upon your own testimony and embodied experience.
*Decolonial learning also recognises the power imbalances operating in the education system: White, Middle Class, Male, Western authors have the greatest power and privilege to disseminate their research and knowledge.
*We build relationship and trust so that learning can be real and fulfilling.
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Who is this course for?
Female bodied women of any life stage, age, sexual orientation, socio-cultural background, religion, spiritual tradition, body ability/shape and BAME -mixed heritage women. If you have a disability and are restricted in mobility this course could still be open to you.
Inclusion & diversity
As a trauma informed and decolonial approach, I prioritise affinity groups for belonging, healing and protection of vulnerabilities.I aim to decolonise inclusion and diversity, allowing for many truths, needs and experiences.
This work and training therefore focuses on the needs of female bodied women, Each identity group should have access to the holding, space and language terms that support them. Female bodied women recovering from trauma, harm or loss will require boundaries and protection to speak in terms of reference that locate their body in their gender identity in different ways to non binary folks, trans women or trans men.
I have worked for 30 years at depth with women's gender oppression and embodied healing., I cover female specific anatomy and sacred biology which is something that I believe is essential for trauma recovery ( not essentialist). I uplift and recognise the work of queer therapists and trainers and believe my course can co-exist along side these trainings .
I do believe that having a vagina IS important to a women's experience and I come from a Desi- Sufi heritage where Hijra ( trans) women are part of the fabric of life. They gave blessings at births and weddings (including to my mum). My tradition recognises women as either spiritual women (hijra) or biological, These female spheres remain distinct and can overlap. Both women would support, recognise and complement each other's purpose and role.
Many Asian and African societies have third gender peoples. The Kathoey in Thailand, for example, traditionally stay with male sexual physiology, male legal status but present with female gender identity. Third gender in the global south does not easily equate to Western trans or non binary terms or practices.. In the UK, Europe and US, trans and queer people face huge social challenges and patriarchal violence. Gender issues create much legal and social conflict. Queer identity and third gender culture has deep historical roots, acceptance and significance in global south countries.
Please get in touch to further discuss if you have any questions.