Trauma Into The Body – Healing Into Relationship
Recently, on my way to the bioenergetics workshop in Montreal, Quebec, led by international trainer Violaine De Clerck, I had an experience that left me feeling dumbfounded and isolated.
My flight was cancelled because of a major snowstorm, as were most flights that day. How was I to get to the workshop on time? With my bioenergetics training, I soon realized I needed a sense of connection to help me through this experience. I called my colleagues who were also travelling to the workshop from other cities. We talked about our known skills for self-soothing, and it was this connection with my colleagues that grounded me enough to be able to calm myself and deal with the stress that I was feeling.
Interestingly enough, this experience fit right in with the theme of the workshop, “Trauma Into The Body – Healing Into Relationship”. Every morning at the beginning of the workshop, the group of 12 participants was led into a grounding dance, and we could feel how important it is to have strength in our legs to move in the world and stand up for ourselves. It is this connection we feel with the earth through grounding exercises and connection with others that enables our agency.
In her warm way, Violaine described the polyvagal theory and taught us a few techniques that proved to be very effective. The purpose of the techniques was to facilitate people feeling safe and grounded. It is only within safety that healing can occur.
The whole workshop was very satisfying because of Violaine’s exceptional teaching style, and opportunities for experiential practice, theoretical discussion, and connection.