Classes

introductory sessions are 12, weekly, classes designed to lay a foundation of the basic, physical and philosophical principles of Aikido (The Art of Peace)

Aikido for Personal Growth is for those folks who want to build a better relationship with their body while stretching their mental and emotional edges at the same time

No martial arts experience required, just a green light from your doctor to take a physically challenging set of classes (you'll get sweaty every class without knuckle pushups)

This is NOT your "typical martial arts class": Aikido is rooted in non-violence and peaceful resolution of all human conflict: learning the skills of non-violence is a very different process

small class size, limited space, 8 to 18 participants

Beyond the Basics is a continuation of Aikido for Personal Growth and Development - Introductory

Beyond the Basics examines the philosophy and spirituality of Aikido as a pathway of applied-non-violence and peaceful resolution of conflict

this will involve in-depth study and unpacking of specific techniques emphasizing the principles of non-violence, on and off of the mats

as this will be an ongoing and evolving training process, it never really ends; for some people this practice becomes a life way

I suggest you take the Introductory level if you have never studied Aikido before

if you have studied Aikido before, please contact me and we will discuss options for the possibility of training

small class size, limited space, 8-16 participants

20 weeks, with potential to become on-going, opened for new students twice a year

drop in by permission only

Aikido is one of the few martial arts where folks continue to practice well into old age (80+)

this class is for 50+ folks looking for a more social, non-gym way of getting or staying fit

movements and techniques are adjusted to accommodate older body parts

stronger emphasis on the philosophical, relational and internal elements of applied nonviolence, or Aikido

the instructor is over 60 and the assistants to the instructor are over 50

small class size, space is limited, 8-18 participants

12 weeks

offered 3 times a year

for serious, adventurous partners wanting to learn a different (non-traditional) set of relationship skills

guided by the core principles of Aikido (applied nonviolence, guardianship, peaceful resolution of all human conflict), partners will be introduced to a framework of thoughts, ideas and practices designed to improve or expand their intimate relationships

through the lens of Aikido, partners will learn to look at power dynamics within relationships in a new way, and in turn, develop a new understanding of the power dynamics of their relationship with their partner(s)

large time frame (16 weeks) allows for ample, safe and supported practice of the new skills and the addition of complimentary relationship skills (ie: communication, boundaries, trust building etc.) if needed

small class size, space is limited, 18 participants max

commitment to the work is required

this is not an acting class and no experience in acting is necessary to attend, just enthusiasm

this class is for folks who want an embodied, emotionally connected path of self discovery and personal growth

using principles and techniques from Method Acting (Stanislavsky), participants will learn to build stronger, more conscious connections between their emotions and the price the body sometimes pays to carry them

when used effectively, the skills allow folks to stay more level and grounded, reduce or avoid feelings of overwhelm, be more emotionally aware and present in the moment, and a greater sense of the value and validity of your emotions

this is a physically active situation. Movement and some degree of flexibility are required

small class size, space is limited, 8-18 participants

16 weeks long

no drop-ins please

for young men struggling with, or against, the limitations and expectations of patriarchy and toxic masculinity in 21st century culture

looks at current male culture and opens a conversation about the gap between what young men are expected/allowed to be and what young men actually want to be

looks at how and where power and authority are distributed in society and considers if the power holders are the right folks for the job

looks at the subtle and obvious ways media and social norms influence male behaviour by playing on unconscious or invisible, easily manipulated aspects of being human

offers clear, practical, skills and thinking tools to identify, examine and reality check patriarchy, male entitlement, and toxic masculinity

opens participants to a different more expansive frame of what it is to be a 21st century male with an opportunity to actively connect to shared experiences and wisdom in a group setting

small class size, space is limited, 8-16 participants

"closed" group

not a support group

20 weeks

offered twice per year

commitment to the work is required

for men struggling with, or against the limitations and expectations of patriarchy and toxic masculinity in 21st century culture

this workshop looks at at how the limitations and expectations of current male culture influence and impact family, career, educational opportunities, health care, politics and social movements

looks at how patriarchy and toxic masculinity impacts participants in their daily lives in an effort to determine the costs and benefits men pay and receive from patriarchy

looks at the confluence of patriarchy, toxic masculinity and white supremacy in current society and offers clear, effective, actionable responses that can be used in the moment and in the long term

opens participants to a different more expansive frame of what it is to be a 21st century male with an opportunity to actively connect to shared experiences and wisdom in a group setting

small class size, space is limited, 8-16 participants

"closed" group

not a support group

20 weeks

offered twice per year

commitment to the work is required

this class is for partners wanting to deepen and enrich their relationship with themselves and improve their relationship with each other

participants will be introduced to a practical, skill-based process designed to increase emotional self-awareness, refine or expand communication and boundary processes, and enrich and enliven the connection between partners

participants will look at power dynamics in healthy and toxic relationships in order to more readily identify their own unrecognized patterns and habits in their relationship with their partner

opens participants to a more conscious and intentional kind of relationship that supports the growth of a high quality, life long relationship with your partner of choice

participants will come away with a clearer understanding of what a healthy relationship is and how it works and what “healthy relationship” actually means to them

small class size, space is limited

partners only, up to 18 participants

"closed" group

not a support group

20 weeks

commitment to the work is required

this class is for folks who struggle with self esteem, self worth and self perception. The sessions will focus on developing a comprehensive set of unique skills for self reflection, a process for self discovery, and a path for self direction

The framework of this offering is more fluid, and thus more organic. While participants may have challenges in common, how, where and why the challenges appear is unique. This group is meant to focus on the unique aspects of our relationship with ourselves through the lens honest self reflection and compassionate self reliance and resilience

Sessions will involve the introduction and practice of embodiment and self regulation skills to deepen self awareness and connection to self, in conjunction with science based information on how our body, our brain and our emotions really work

Relevant offerings will include body image and self perception, voiceless-ness and communication, family of origin messages and reality checks, optimism, defeatism and potential, self sabotage and self rescue, skill development and ownership and more

The objective of this offering is to identify the current self story we are telling us, about us, in order to reality check the hidden positive and negative messages we may not notice in the moment. To learn how to see ourselves less darkly through the cloudy glass of an old, possibly untrue, story that may not have fit you, ever

Participants will come away with a new, more accurate sense of who they actually are, what they actually want, and a handful of ways to create a new, more accurate and honest self story

small class size, space is limited, up to 18 participants

"closed group"

not a support group

16 weeks

commitment to the work is required