Summer Check In
Happy peak summer!
These are the dog days of summer - my favorite season. How is summer going for you? I’m writing to connect and share what is happening for me.
As many of you know, my family sold our home in Maine and are living back in Toronto. I love being back in the city and I feel fortunate to be seeing clients in person for somatic counselling on Thursdays in mid-town Toronto. I also see clients virtually Monday through Wednesday. Fridays I teach yoga!
A Glimpse into what I’ve been up to…
In addition to providing individual counselling, I teach Somatic Yoga at the new 889 Community in Yorkville on Fridays from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. Not sure what Somatic Yoga is? Read on to get a sense of how I teach this class.
Somatics is a broad and intertwined field. Underneath the umbrella of Somatics you find practices like dance, tai chi, the Alexander technique, pilates, Chi Qigong, and other mind-body activities. In my somatic class (unique to me) I guide people to become aware of bodily sensations, breath, emotions, thoughts, energies, and impulses. We practice interception, awareness of your body’s internal senses and signals, and proprioception, awareness of your body in space. As I teach, I draw from Polyvagal Theory which emphasizes the role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating health and behaviour. I share practical techniques to help bring about homeostasis in your system like grounding, breathing, sounding, and orienting to name a few.
Principles that inform my teaching:
• Going slowly - the body has a different pace
• Your body is intelligent
• Honouring your unique experience - you are your own best teacher
• Noticing your experience with interest and curiosity
• Exploring, inquiring, and sensing instead of performing
• Exercising choice
The class format often looks like:
• An embodied check-in
• Breath work
• Slow mindful movement
• A restorative pose
• A short meditation
My intention for teaching this class is to inspire “full human beingness.” If you are experiencing stress, pain, or recovering from trauma and wish to cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself, this class could be helpful. By engaging regularly in this kind of practice, you will increase body awareness, build nervous system resilience, enhance presence, and engage in self care.
This is YOUR invitation to join me.
Pre-registration is required through
889 Community.
As a friend and client you may access a
one-time 25% off
class packages and drop-ins.
Your one-time code: LISA25
In July I completed a weekend silent mindfulness meditation retreat in Caledon led by teachers Felicia and Ante Pavlovic of Yoga Therapy Toronto. One of the practices that was shared to facilitate grounding in the present was:
LOOK
LISTEN
FEEL
Here’s how: Use your eyes to scan your environment - really take in what you see. Layer on listening to any sounds that you hear, and lastly notice what you feel, both on and inside your body, eg, your clothes, the breeze on your skin, your heart beating. Try this practice while engaging in mindful walking. Use look, listen and feel as a mantra. So often, we become lost in thoughts and stories. Awareness is a radical and generous gift we can offer ourselves and others.
I’m journaling first thing in the morning outdoors before engaging with anyone or technology.
I am using this amazing book, The Book of Alchemy, by Suleika Jaouad, as my way in. The book contains short essays and prompts from wonderful writers, artists and thinkers. You read an essay and prompt each day and then journal. I am appreciating what this process is revealing.
I highly recommend this book. Journaling provides a way to more deeply know yourself.
While I hope you are slowing down and enjoying the gifts of summer, I encourage you to think ahead and consider what supports you might need this fall. My counselling practice is almost at capacity. At the moment, I have space to take on one or two more new clients. Reach out soon if you are interested in working with me. I offer complimentary twenty minute phone consultations.
I also offer support through private yoga and mindfulness meditation sessions that can be tailored to your unique needs. All my services compliment one another.
I leave you with this quote by the poet Mary Oliver:
“To pay attention. This is our endless and proper work”.
With warmth,
Lisa
PS If you enjoyed this newsletter and think someone else might find it helpful, I’d be grateful if you shared it with them.