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Finding Home Within the Body

The question of home often stirs images of physical spaces—places where we grew up, or environments where we feel safest. But what about the most immediate residence we inhabit—our own bodies? Are we truly at home in our own skin, muscles, bones, and breath? How do our individual experiences, our "somathèques," interact with the world around us? What is home in my body? Do I know its place? Can I name it? Is home a friend?

A Unique Workshop to Explore Your Somathèque

We invite you to a transformative journey that takes the questions of home and embodiment to a place of exploration and discovery. Taking Root in the Somathèque: A Movement & Embodiment Workshop, hosted by Laure Marin de la Vallée, is designed to be more than just a physical exercise; it's a passage into the self.

Date, Time, and Other Essentials

• Date: November 10, 2023
• Time: 6pm
• Location: White Wall Studio, 4532 ave Laval, Montréal
• Cost: $30 (Sliding scale available)
• How to Reserve: Email laure@mxmarin.ca to book your spot

Inclusion Statement: All Are Welcome

We are committed to making this workshop accessible and inclusive for all individuals, regardless of their financial situation, background, or level of experience. That's why we're pleased to offer a sliding scale payment option and abide by the principle of NOTAFLOF—No One Turned Away For Lack Of Funds. If cost is a barrier for you, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly to discuss alternative arrangements. We want to ensure that everyone who wishes to participate can do so.

Safety and Consent

I am working with Jonathan Lilly's Movement Event Agreements, you can find them here. I will discuss them at the start of the workshop for the purposes of informed consent:

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What Awaits You

The Practices Currently Inspiring This Workshop

My ongoing research and exploration of embodied practices lend depth and breadth to this workshop. Please note, I will not be talking about theory during the workshop. Here are some key influences.

1. Taijiquan: This Chinese practice, often described as a moving meditation, has deeply informed the workshop's focus on fluidity and balance. Taijiquan offers a nuanced understanding of the body's internal dynamics, teaching us how to harmonize our movements with our breath and intentions. I am currently a student of Gongfu and Chinese Medicine at the Montreal Gongfu Research Center

2. Alexander Technique: This transformative practice brings mindfulness to our daily movements and actions. It's not just about 'correct' posture but about developing a harmonious relationship with our bodies. By integrating principles from the Alexander Technique, this workshop aims to cultivate a heightened sense of body awareness and mindful presence.

3. Contact Improvisation: This practice serves as a cornerstone for the workshop. Contact Improvisation encourages physical communication, spontaneity, and a deep sense of connection. It allows for a beautiful exploration of personal boundaries and mutual respect, mirroring the complex dance of human interaction in a tangible, visceral way.

4. Gendlin's Focusing: As a field of active inquiry, Gendlin's Focusing offers tools for tapping into the wisdom stored in our bodies. It provides a structured way to pay attention to the 'felt sense,' a concept that aligns closely with the workshop's theme of exploring the "somathèque."

By fusing these diverse yet complementary practices, the workshop aims to provide a multi-layered, enriching experience. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to these philosophies, this workshop invites you to delve deep into your own "somathèque," exploring how this living archive can be both a teacher and a sanctuary.

While these practices inform the workshop, our focus will be experiential rather than theoretical.

Introducing The Fountain Practice

At the heart of this workshop is The Fountain, a transformative practice adapted from Cristina Svane’s 1992 article in Contact Quarterly. Initially designed as a tool for collecting, watching, and reporting one's experience of witnessing movement, it has evolved into a method for harvesting writing from both movement and observation.

Here's how it works:

1. Watching and/or Dancing: Participants engage in movement or serve as witnesses to the movement.
2. Writing: Immediately after, participants write for 3-5 minutes in silence, capturing their observations or feelings.
3. Reading: Participants then read what they wrote out loud in a circle, sharing their experience in a pure form without discussion.

This structure enables participants to explore both conscious and unconscious patterns that arise through movement and contemplation, thereby enriching their emotional and mental landscapes without the filter of debate or discussion. By incorporating The Fountain, the workshop aims to offer a textured, multi-layered experience that encourages you to explore the boundaries of your somathèque — your living archive of gestures, postures, and embodied experiences — as you journey towards understanding what "home in the body" means for you.

Understanding the Somathèque

The term "somathèque" is an evocative blend of the words 'soma,' derived from the Greek for 'body,' and 'thèque,' borrowed from the French word 'bibliothèque,' meaning library. In essence, it captures the idea of the body as a living library, a repository of gestures, postures, and experiences. This term was coined in the works of philosopher Paul B. Preciado, who offers a lens to view the body not just as a biological entity but as a complex vessel shaped by social, emotional, and experiential factors.

The somathèque concept transcends the individual; it is a dynamic archive that is continually enriched by our interactions with others and our environment. It acknowledges that our bodies are not isolated systems but are part of a larger ecology of human and non-human elements. Within this workshop, we will delve deeply into how our personal somathèques are shaped, how they interact, and how they can be consciously curated. We'll explore the layers of your somathèque, examining how it is influenced by your unique life experiences, your interactions with community and society, and even by ancestral and collective memories that you may carry within your cellular structure.

I am personally invested in an embodied inquiry to explore the felt sense of the Somathèque.

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Workshop Objectives

1. Cultivate a Space of Trust and Mutual Respect: Our primary aim is to create a safe and welcoming environment.

2. Deep Individual Exploration and Collective Conversations: Expect dialogues, self-reflection, and group activities that enrich your understanding of home within the body.

3. Multi-sensory Exploration of "Home in the Body": Through diverse techniques like contact improvisation, silent reflection, and written word, we aim to explore what "home" truly means within our bodies.

4. Guided Improvisation and Somatic Awareness: Prepare to unlock unconscious patterns and awaken a sense of embodied wisdom through spontaneous activities.

5. Interplay of Collective and Individual Experience: How does your personal somathèque relate to the collective? This workshop offers a platform for this crucial dialogue.

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What You'll Need

• Comfortable attire for movement
• A journal or notebook for reflections
• An open heart and curious mind

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Conclusion

In a world that constantly pulls us outward, it's a revolutionary act to turn inward, to find home within our bodies. Join us for a memorable evening that promises not just movement but movement towards understanding, acceptance, and, ultimately, homecoming.

See you on November 10th!

Reserve Your Spot Today

Spaces are limited and filling up fast. If the themes and objectives of this workshop resonate with you, we encourage you to reserve your spot at the earliest. For reservations and more details, email Laure at laure@mxmarin.ca.