I have participated in the Up & Down live workshops twice. Each time I was in very different places both physically and emotionally.
The first time I was thawing from an emotional blockage. Upon arrival Irene and Elia greeted everyone with warmth and smiles and snacks! The process to unfold was very gradual, beginning with time to familiarize with the room and an exercise to help notice how our bodies felt in the space. The timing of everything was perfect. We learned layers of movements and neuropatterning concepts that became fluid and integrated over our time together. After the second day though I became incredibly nauseous. But Irene had already mentioned that sometimes shifts happen in unfamiliar ways. The third day I was still queasy but then something happened. There wasn’t an exact moment but through the gentle movements and awareness it let go. I let go. By the end of the day I was beaming. I hadn’t felt that good… ever? My cup was full and I was hooked on exploring the plasticity of the mind. I proceeded to join Irene’s 12-week course.
The second time participating I came in on a different level. My rheumatoid arthritis had gone into a giant flare and though I had started to unravel stored emotion and was feeling more emotionally connected my body still had other ideas. I was worried about weight bearing on my hands and getting up and down from the floor and being on my feet a lot (problems I’d never had to consider before). But the movements are so personal that I could still fully express myself even in my less mobile state. I found myself enjoying being quieter in the group and not “trying” so hard. I found the support of others in the room to bolster me and inspire me to be authentic when sharing with the group. I even cried in front of the whole group- something I’ve never done in my life. And though I was embarrassed at the time, later I was proud of my new vulnerability. There is a strength that comes from working with the softness of our hearts and mine was no different.
The workshops have been a beautiful condensed leaping point to embrace a new way of being in the world. They have left me forever changed and with brilliant nuggets of skills to move forward. I’m deeply grateful to Irene and Elia for sharing their knowledge so freely and emphatically.
