About This Event

The Surrender Series: Reclaiming the Body Through Somatic Practices A trauma-informed workshop series for women About the Series The Surrender Series is a series of somatic workshops, webinars, events and more designed to support nervous system regulation, embodied self-awareness, and authentic connection. These sessions create a safe and respectful space for women to gently explore the body as a source of presence, balance, and inner safety. Reclaiming the body through somatic practice invites you into a deeper relationship with your body through mindful movement, breath, sound, and rest. Grounded in trauma-informed approaches, these practices prioritise choice, consent, and personal pace. This is a space to reconnect with yourself, release what no longer serves you, and remember your body as a place of wisdom and belonging. Important information All the surrender offerings can be booked for teams, companies, organisations and small groups. Please contact me for an informal connection call to discuss costs and details. Workshop Details (current community offering) Location: The Salisbury Centre, Edinburgh Time: 10:00 to 13:00 Duration: 3 hours Group Size: Maximum 12 participants Participants: Women only Cost: Discounts available when booking for 2 people or multiple workshops. 1 community space per workshop. Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reclaiming-your-body-through-somatic-and-integrative-practices-tickets-1837871636539?aff=oddtdtcreator Sometimes life feels overwhelming, leaving you disconnected from your body, restless in your mind, or carrying more stress than you realise. As women, we often don’t get the space to pause, be seen, witnessed or nurture ourselves. The Surrender Series aims ot start a Surrender Revolution. Reclaiming the Body workshops offer a gentle, women-only space to slow down, reconnect, and restore your sense of balance. In these workshops, you will: Have the opportunity to explore how you can cultivate more calm and stillness in your everyday life Reconnect with your body and its natural rhythms Release tension, stress, and the weight of constant doing Learn nurturing strategies that work for you, not someone else Feel witnessed, supported, and empowered in a supportive, compassionate space where you are in choice It’s your time to pause, breathe, and step fully into your own strength and calm. What to Expect (Each session includes a blend of the following elements): Somatic Practices Breathwork for all bodies, intuitive movement, shaking, progressive muscle relaxation, somatic movement and guided body based awareness (just some examples) Nervous System Regulation Tools Grounding, orienting, emotional release, and support for the vagus nerve Mindfulness and Compassion Practices Trauma sensitive mindfulness and compassionate mind training techniques Group Co-regulation and Connection Gentle group based exercises that foster a sense of safety and belonging Creative Integration Each workshop closes with live sound, meditation or gentle chanting to support restoration and integration Surrender Cards Intuitive reflection prompts offered throughout the session to encourage deeper listening and letting go. A fire ceremony may be held in the garden to close the workshop during warmer and drier months. Core Values Trauma Informed Consent-led, confidential, respectful, and paced with awareness of the nervous system. You choose what you want to try or engage in. Somatic and Embodied Focused on lived, felt experience rather than performance Choice Based All practices are optional and adaptable to individual needs Relational and Restorative Emphasising co-regulation, connection, and deep presence Workshop Dates and Themes January to April 2025 31 January – Landing Softly Begin the year with grounding and presence. Experience the power of the drum, played by Cori, a sound therapist. This session includes gentle body scans, breath awareness and small, mindful movements, supported by soft sound to help the body settle. The session is inspired by the work of Peter Levine, with a focus on interoception and pendulation. It also reflects my interpretation of Arielle Schwartz’s trauma informed body work, body based self compassion and support for vagal stimulation. Through meditative practices, you will explore the window of tolerance and cultivate personal resources for regulation and resilience. 28 February – The Quiet Between The Quiet Between is a gentle somatic session inviting you to rest into stillness, breath and sensation. Grounded in mountain mindfulness practice, we will cultivate steadiness, presence and inner support. The session includes yogic and somatic breathing practices with a focus on finding inner calm and activating nervous system regulation. Restorative and yin poses will be used to encourage deep release, spaciousness and ease, allowing you to settle into the quiet between movement and breath. 7 March – Held by the Body Discover a sense of inner holding through grounding, resourcing and trauma sensitive mindfulness, with an emphasis on choice and ease. Through mindful movement and gentle body awareness, you are invited to reconnect with yourself in a way that feels supportive and unhurried, drawing on the work of David Treleaven to prioritise nervous system safety. The session closes in stillness with soft, steady drumming. The rhythm offers a soothing anchor, supporting somatic release and subtle internal shifts, helping the body to settle, integrate and feel held. 26 April – Unfolding Slowly Let the body guide you through slow, tender movement, progressive muscle relaxation and compassionate awareness. This session offers a gentle introduction to compassionate mind practices, supporting the embodiment of compassion while softening self judgement and releasing the inner critic. let go of somatic blocks, embrace the power of embodied boundaries, This session is inspired by the work of Paul Gilbert. May – fire ceremony, date dependent on weather. September to December 2025 12 September – A Place to Rest Create a sense of inner refuge through supported restorative movement, mindful self-touch and Yoga Nidra. This session offers an invitation into deep rest and restoration, allowing the nervous system to settle and replenish. The practice closes with a grounding sound journey to support integration and a feeling of safety and ease. 24 October – Embracing change This somatic workshop invites change to be felt, experienced and embodied, rather than simply understood. Drawing on practices inspired by the work of Bessel van der Kolk and Dr Scott Lyons, we will explore how the body holds experience and how gentle, intentional practices can support regulation, resilience and growth. Through guided awareness, mindful movement and nervous system focused exercises, you will be supported to listen to your body, build capacity and integrate change in a grounded and sustainable way. 28 November – The Softening Path The Softening Path invites you to explore breath, movement and somatic awareness as a gentle route to presence and ease. Through mindful breathing, slow, tender movement and attentive body awareness, the session supports release of tension, cultivation of calm and a deeper connection with yourself. This practice encourages the body to soften, the mind to settle and the nervous system to find balance. 19 December – Returning Home Complete the year with an integrative session drawing from breath, movement, compassion and sound. We honour your journey and return to the wisdom of your body. This session will encourage release and resourcing to prepare for the festive time. Booking and Enquiries You are welcome just as you are. No previous experience is needed. To book your place or enquire about community spaces, please contact Cori. ☀️ KOA YOU TUBE CHANNEL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAd67YlzLS6lQYV2PNbFEBQ… ☀️ KOA ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/koaedinburgh/ ☀️ KOA ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/koaedinburgh/ ☀️ KOA WEBSITE: www.koa-edinburgh.co.uk ☀️ KOA eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/koa-32911387263 ☀️KOA the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/koa-unplugged/id1791292533

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