** HELLO BODY - WELL OF WISDOM - MYSTICAL WONDERLAND! ** We dedicate this journey to you. We prioritise time to be with you, our consistent companion. We are here in presence, to listen and commune. This is a time to give thanks. This is a time to re-commit to one-another.
In this intentional, community-rich Saturday night down Chaps, our inward and outward focus will be directed upon the mystical wise wonderland that is our body.
We will move with it. Breathe it. Connect with it. Commit to it.
We will love up on our bods by finding ways to land upon appreciation for it, the keeper of our wisdom, the transmuter of our pain, the vehicle in which we are able to experience life through, the portal to our remembrance.
Cacao Ceremony:
We will anchor in and ground with a heart-centered cacao ceremony. The ceremonial-grade cacao you will be invited to welcome into your being is grown upon and sustainably harvested from the native trees of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala sourced directly from Ruk'u'x Ulew Women's Collective and brought to us by Audrey of LoveBean Cacao.
Cacao is a plant medicine that aids in heart-opening and/or unveiling of the heart’s shadows. When we combine the energy of this medicine with the practice of altered consciousness journeying alongside our presence and availability to innerstand the heart’s whispers, content in the realm of bliss, joy, love, longing, grief, resentment, sadness or a deep sense of stillness may be experienced. Any arising emotion is serving you perfectly, so the invitation is one of allowance and surrender - to feel fully without judgement for the purpose of growth, healing, expansion and unconditional self-love.
Please let us know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, on heart medication or anti-depressants so we can adjust your dosage and check in with you.
Shamanic Breathwork Journey:
Consciously connecting the breath via a shamanic breathwork journey is known to unlock and draw into our conscious awareness messages, visions, interactions, experiences, memories and symbols that when processed and integrated illuminate that which is required to aid in our becoming. Try not to overthink it and simply breathe until you are surprised!
Shamanic Breathwork is a dynamic body based and feeling focused modality of transformation that anchors us deep within, bringing us home to our centre. Arrive willing to commit to the process and surrender to the experience as you are guided to breathe until you are surprised. An art-therapy process and integration circle will follow your journey to assist you in making sense of all presented for you.
Note: Shamanic Breathwork requires a commitment to a cyclical breathing pattern and has the potential to bring about intense feelings which may result in strong physical and/or emotional release. This practice involves voluntarily hyper-oxygenating your bloodstream, paving the way for reaching an altered state of consciousness where you may experience possibilities that are not grounded in this reality (dependant on your level of output - you are always in control).
It is not recommended for pregnant women though if you are pregnant and wish to join, please alert us and you will be offered a gentler breathing pattern.
Shamanic Breathwork trigger/activation warning:
This practice encourages the authentic and uninhibited expression of all that arises in real-time. This could appear as screaming, crying, laughter or other forms of vocal sounding. While this modality invites you to remain within your own process and interpret visceral reactions to other people's authentic expressions as data to become curious about, if you feel this may be too strong an experience for you then a private session with Frankie may be more suitable.
Your Facilitators - Grace & Frankie:
Grace & Frankie, co-founders of Centre of You, bring you the very modality combination (ceremonial cacao and shamanic breathwork) which facilitated their meeting in Ubud, Bali and paved the way for Centre of You to be. Grace upholds a particularly special personal relationship with the spirit of cacao alongside shamanic teachings, both of which underpin the foundations of the space this journey is taking place within. Frankie is a qualified Yoga Teacher, Reiki Grandmaster and Shamanic Breathwork Facilitator. Both Frankie and Grace are Ordained Shamanic Ministers and intend to warmly guide and hold you through the sharing and delivery of their combined teachings.
Preparation:
It is highly recommended to not consume a heavy meal in the hours preceding our gathering so your time spent journeying is on a relatively empty stomach. Some light grounding snacks for after the experience will be provided.
It is very common for your shamanic journey to begin as soon as you have said an energetic YES to this event invitation. Note down (mental note or tangibly in your journal) any promptings, insights and resistance that enters your consciousness and body.
Things to note:
Centre of You has plenty of bolsters, blankets, and cushions for you to get cosy with. Wear comfortable, lose clothes that will enable movement and deep breathing with ease. An eyemask and journal is recommended as are any familiar personal items that will aid you in feeling grounded (crystal, teddy, scarf, etc).
Arrival: Endeavour to arrive between 4:15pm - 4:30pm. To preserve the experience for all involved, doors will close at 4:45pm. Truly, it breaks our heart to have to turn latecomers away yet the disruption to the whole group experience by virtue of lateness does require management. We ask that you find understanding and consideration for the timebound nature of the container and make every effort to arrive on time.
Driving: Know Centre of You is on Chapel St and ample time to find a car spot is best to be factored into your plans. Park direct on Chapel St (spots unmetered after 5pm) or in Anchor Place, the open-air parking lot in the side street that runs opposite Centre of You (unmetered after 4pm).
Public transport - tram: Both the number 6 tram & 78 tram stop on the corner of High St/Chapel St. This is stop 31 on the number 6 tram (Moreland/Glen Iris) & stop 45 on the number 78 tram (North Richmond/Balaclava).
Public transport - train: Both Prahran & Windsor stations along the Sandringham Line will get you walking distance to Centre of You.
Finding Centre of You: Centre of You is nestled within the arcade that Chapel St Bazaar is in (217 Chapel St). It is up a flight of stairs with a wide landing at the half-way-point. Unfortunately, this current version of Centre of You does not have a wheelchair accessible lift. If you could use support in getting up the stairs or would like to discuss ways to make your experience at Centre of You more comfortable, please reach out via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Accessibility: At COY we aim to ensure our community and events are inclusive and accessible while alongside upholding the needs and responsibilities of our business and the businesses of our collaborating facilitators. Should you be in a time of financial challenge and unable to pay the full ticket price comfortably, please reach out via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Ticketing T&Cs: We get it, life happens, therefore we will gladly refund you up until 24hrs before the event start time. After that, we have a strict no refund/no transfer to future events policy.
If you are no longer able to attend and wish to pay forward your ticket to someone within the community, be in touch via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Questions? Email grace@centreofyou.com.au or reach out via Instagram DM.