"Integrating Body and Mind with Spirit!"

Workshops can be tailored to corporate environments, school settings or as in the case below as an integral part of a self-defense workshop. I divide the curriculum into three interrelating sections - Body, Mind and Spirit, each of which has theoretical and practical components.  Each lesson will integrate all three of the following:

(Physical) Self-Defense:

• Learn an acronym for the most vulnerable areas of the body and how to attack these areas and escape quickly.
• Practice striking pads with full force using hands, elbows and knees and how to protect yourself from strikes.
• Discuss how to escape from various attacks and holds.
• Practice techniques that leverage a smaller person's strength against a larger assailant.
• Practice rolling and falling and escaping to standing from positions on the ground.
• Apply these techniques in a more alive way when you don't know what's coming.

 (Psychological) Conflict Resolution:

• Learn to set boundaries with an appropriate level of speech.
• Practice speaking politely, speaking firmly to set boundaries, and raising your voice with confidence when boundaries are violated.
• Discuss the difference between conflict and conflict resolution - responding vs. reacting (the fight or flight response).
• Learn what not to do - how arguing is like fighting and how this feels physically (attack and defense mode)
• Practice non-resistance: listening with an open attitude - seeing your partner's perspective; expressing fully how you feel without blame or judgment and making requests that involve a resolution for the future (blending with the energy of an attack).
• Discuss the meaning of "The enemy is within" and "True victory is victory over one's self" in light of conflict resolution.

(Spiritual) Self-Awareness and Emotional Centering:

• Learn that the word spirit means "to breathe."  Practice using your breath to relax tension in your body and mind and find your "center".
• Learn how centering makes you more aware of your surroundings and less likely to be attacked in the first place (awareness vs. paranoia).
• Practice centering and recentering physically. 
• What throws you off center?  What are your buttons?  Discuss what makes you mad, what makes you scared and what to do about it.
• Learn about balance and imbalance in light of the yin yang symbol.
• Practice walking in a centered way in the face of intimidation.

Conclude with story and discussion about what underlies violent behavior and how to transform conflict with difficult people and situations into opportunities for understanding, growth and compassion.