Embodied - in touch for wellbeing and mindfulness

🌈✨ Embrace the Rainbow of Connection with shared meditation moments, massage exchange, playful challenges and warm cuddles together with people from all ages, genders and orientations. ✨🌈

👚🩳 Bring your Pyjama!
We'll meet in the afternoon, but we invite you to come in your nightwear! Together, we'll create an oasis of acceptance and warmth. Everyone is welcome, regardless of body shape, gender identity, age, background, or sexual orientation. We celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of each and every person. Experience the power of platonic touch, explore how you can move freely and forge genuine connections with few words. An open space is created where everyone feels valued and embraced.

🌟 🫀Why cuddling?
Cuddling, meditation and exchanging massages are all healthy practices which we should do more often. Hormones and pheromones such as oxytocin lower your stress level, calm down your nerve system and are good for your body and mind. By touch you gain more confidence in yourself and in others. You can recharge your battery and let go of stress.

🤗🌈 Safe and inclusive vibes
You can discover the pleasure of platonic touch in an open-minded and supportive community. We create a judgment-free zone where you can be your authentic self, follow your own needs and listen to your body and soul. Be your unique self in an environment where everyone feels seen and accepted., so we can enjoy the rich tapestry of human connection.

💖 💪 What will we do?
You can come to this workshop and open space to meet new people, to enjoy amazing conversations, to touch, to be touched, to have fun, to practice asking for what you want, to practice saying “no” to what you don’t want — all in a setting structured to be a place for relaxation, exploration and enjoyment. We will start with an opening circle and a meditation, to arrive in the space and come to our true selves. In the massage corner, we will give a short massage instruction and you can practice these strokes. In other corners we will give several options to cuddle and hold each other. In the meantime, you can play a card game or have a chat.

👐🏼🫂 Open space
After these guided activities to promote trust, communication and understanding, you can step into the open space. The open space is an opportunity to open your heart and to discover what you like, how much time you like to be in contact or alone and what kind of touch is pleasant for you, within agreed boundaries. You can choose every 15 minute if you are into a moment for yourself, a chat, a massage exchange, playing a game or a ‘free-style’ cuddle. You have plenty of time to relax, share a back rub or other welcome touch, have a tea and a snack or just hang out. This time, there is also an option to play with ropes (platonic soft bondage). The "guarding angels" will support you in taking steps towards more vulnerability, to take opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.

🎵 🌱 Venue
Location: The Healing Studio Amsterdam
Address: Veenendaalplein 146-147; 1106 CS Amsterdam
A living room-like setting with a calming atmosphere featuring soothing music, soft lighting, and cozy blankets. Easily accessible by public transport (metro lines 50/54 to Gein stop). Free parking is available in front of the door. Wheelchair accessible.

⏰⏳ Times
12:45 Arrival and tea
13:00 Start workshop
15:00 Break
15:15 Open Space
17:15 Closing circle
17:30 End

Let's take a moment to move together in a mindful way. We will make an inner journey through an alternation of intensive and subtle movement, feeling our body and our breath, listening to music and coming to stillness.

NEDERLANDS: HIERONDER

Movement and meditation may seem contradictory at first glance, but in many cultures and disciplines they have been combined for centuries. Movement can be a powerful tool to calm your mind, strengthen your body and experience a deeper connection with yourself.

There are many forms of movement meditation, think of Eastern classical movement teachings such as yoga, chi-gong and tai-chi. Modern forms of movement meditation are the active meditations of Osho, dance meditations and more subtle, slow forms such as Continuüm Movement.

Everybody welcome
The meetup is mixed, so everybody is welcome: all genders, all orientations, all ages, experienced or not. You can decide whether you want to participate with shorts, leggings or in underwear. Before the meditation, we will check in with each other, to hear our names and share how we feel. The meeting will be spoken in English, unless all participants are Dutch.

Why movement meditation?
Sitting still is quite difficult for most people because we are used to being exposed to stimuli all day long, while your body needs exercise. Movement meditation provides improved concentration, inner peace and a sense of well-being. By focusing on your body and your breathing, you can also reduce stress and anxiety. Movement meditation helps you to live more in the moment, to become aware of your body sensations and to listen to signals from your body. Regular practice ensures a calm mind and a more vital body.

Online participation
You will receive the Zoom link for participation after you have registered (RSVP) for this meetup. Make sure to have a quiet space, your (yoga) mat, a bottle of drinking water and a blanket. Click on the link below at least five minutes before the start of the meetup. You will enter the waiting room and a bit later you will enter the meeting. Your camera and microphone must be switched on then, to create a safe atmosphere for everyone.

Participation on location
Do you wish you participate on the spot, in the cosy little home of Tijs Breuer? Then please send a message at least two days in advance to check availability. Make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the meditation starts. Address: Chalet 69. Westbroekse Binnenweg 56A; 3612 AJ Tienhoven (UT), The Netherlands.

⭐ Would you like to practice your massage skills with other like-minded people? And learn some new massage techniques as well in a relaxed setting? Then the massage lounge is something for you. ⭐

🤗🙏🏻 In a mixed group of all ages and genders, we will exchange relaxing massages. You will learn or improve some techniques. There is plenty of time to put what you have learned into practice. And we will learn from each others different styles.

👯‍♂️💆‍♂️ What will we do?
For this autumn edition, we will work with flowing movement. With dynamic massage forms, you create movement in the body, through a flowing sequence of subtly soft to firm rhythmic touches, such as pulling, rolling, shaking, rocking and bouncing movements.

After introducing ourselves, we will do a mindfulness exercise which will help us to get centered in ourselves. Then Tijs will give an instruction for the first massage round. We will give and receive massage in several rounds and you will change partners. After the break, there will be second demonstration. The rest of the afternoon, there will be plenty of time to put what you have learned into practice. At the end, you can share what you have experienced.

🦸🏻‍♂️👩🏻‍🎤🦹🏾‍♀️ For whom?
Everybody with a bit of massage experience is welcome. No matter if you are a man, woman, transgender or a non-binary person. Everybody is welcome, young or old, fat or thin, tall or short, in all skin tones and all sexual orientations.

👥 Feel free to bring your own (occasional) massage partner. Or meet new people to exchange massages with.

🙅🏻‍♀️ You are not forced to do anything you don't like and all touch is based on mutual consent.

👨Facilitator
Tijs is a classically trained masseur, but he works with various modern forms of bodywork, including Alchemy of Touch, Myofascial Energetic Release and Deep muscular Techniques. In his massage, you feel his presence, peace and attention. He has been organizing various workshops and retreats since 2015.

⏱️ Times
Arrival, door open, gate of parking open: 12:30 - 12:45 h
Coffee / tea: 12:45 -13:00 h
Introduction, opening circle and mindfulness exercise: 13:00 h
Instruction of massage techniques: 13:30 h
First massage round: 13:45 h
Break: 15:00 h
Second instruction: 15:15 h
Second round of massage exchange: 15:30 h
Closing circle: 16:45 h
Leave: 17:00 - 17:30 h

🏢 Venue: Awananda
Address: Kanaalweg 84A, 3533 HG Utrecht
Parking for free behind the gate, Leidsestraat, opposite housenumber 87.
Walking distance from Central Station.
Be sure to arrive in the venue on time, between 19:45 - 20:00 h.

Let's start the day with a relaxed Lying Meditation. You can do it on the floor, on a yoga mat, on your couch, you don't even have to get out of bed yet. Before getting an over-active mind, you can open your senses and regulate your nerve system. This will help you to stay in a relaxed state of mind the rest of the day, even if you have many things to do.

You can join online or in-person, on the spot, in Tienhoven (Utrecht).

What is lying meditation?
Lying meditation is a form of meditation in a lying position. Unlike traditional sitting meditation, you can completely relax your muscles and focus on your breathing and your body. It is an accessible form of meditation, especially for beginners or people who have difficulty sitting still for a long time.

What kind of meditation?
Every time will be different, but the meditations will be simple, they will take about 30-45 minutes and will be easy to step in. Here are three examples of lying meditation:

• Body scan: You systematically focus your attention on different parts of your body, from your toes to your head. By becoming aware of physical sensations, you learn to release tension.
• Breathing meditation: During a breathing meditation, you focus on your breath. You follow the movement of your breath in and out, without influencing it. This helps you to calm your thoughts and be present in the moment.
• Visualization: With visualization, you use your imagination to create a relaxing environment. For example, you can imagine yourself lying on a beach or walking in a forest.

What are the benefits?

• Increased concentration: Meditation can improve your ability to concentrate.
• Relaxation: Lying down meditation helps you to reduce stress and relax your muscles.
• Reduced anxiety and depression: Meditation can help to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
• Increased self-awareness: By focusing your attention inward, you get to know and understand yourself better.

For whom?
The meditation is open for everyone. Every body is welcome: all genders, all orientations, all ages, experienced or not. You can decide whether you want to participate with shorts, leggings, in underwear or in your pyjama. Before the meditation, we will check in with each other, to hear our names and share how we feel. The meeting will be spoken in English, unless all participants are Dutch.

Online participation
You will receive the Zoom link for participation after you have registered (RSVP) for this meetup. Make sure to have a quiet space, your (yoga) mat, a bottle of drinking water and a blanket. Click on the Zoom link which you receive at least five minutes before the start of the meetup. You will enter the waiting room and a bit later you will enter the meeting. Your camera and microphone must be switched on then, to create a safe atmosphere for everyone.