California Institute of Integral Studies – San Francisco, California
May 3, 2025 – 10:00am – 5:00pm PDT
We are movement. In the words of somatics innovator Emilie Conrad, “Movement is not something we do. It’s who we are.” The body speaks through breath, posture, muscle tone, movement patterns, and moving narratives. Life experiences shape these movements. From stress, fear, and uncertainty to life change and trauma, we can be forced into shapes that are not our own.
Join human rights psychotherapist and somatic and dance/movement therapist Amber Elizabeth Gray for an experiential workshop exploring her polyvagal-informed somatic & dance/movement therapy body of work. This work derives from Dr. Gray’s 25 years of experience working with survivors of extreme trauma and a deep dive into Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, a theory that illuminates the central role our autonomic nervous system plays in our relationships with ourselves, and others.
In this unique in-person workshop, Dr. Gray presents a combination of basic theory and neuro-scientific evidence to support a straightforward introduction to the material, relevant for all who experience the variability of life’s weather. She offers a rich variety of body-based practices and processes to soothe, ground, regulate, and energize, preparing participants to immediately practice the principles of this work in their own daily life, relationships, and work.
However we each relate to the intense dynamics and changes of our current times, our own ability to navigate how we feel and move in response to shifts in life can empower us to weather present and future challenges.
Register Here
Please note: CIIS offers scholarships for anyone where the cost is a barrier, Applications for all programs are due 14 days (about 2 weeks) before the event date. Apply for a scholarship here.