Somatics: Movement, Voice & Contact

“Beautifully expansive, but also completely safe!” - M

Beauty, pleasure, joy, connection... What else can one ask from a single session?” - B

"Gently pushing you out of your comfort zone but with great results." - A

Somatics: what does it mean?

If you have some familiarity with alternative wellness practices, you may have heard the term “somatics".

Somatics describes any practice that uses the mind-body connection to help you become aware of your internal self and listen to signals your body sends about areas of discomfort, pleasure or imbalance.

These practices may allow you to access more information about the ways you hold on to your experiences in your body. Somatic experts believe this knowledge, combined with natural movement and touch, can help you work towards a deeper understanding of self.

The Invitation

Is to share a conversation with your body through verbal, non verbal, somatic and physical embodiment exercises and guidance to explore your relationship with your whole body and the more than human world.

The classes are designed to nurture your own experiences aswell as the opportunity to share in smaller groups after each movement exploration.

What to expect

• A non judgmental safe space for you to arrive just as you are, all feelings are welcome
• Experiential space for solo self study and group work
• To deepen your embodied awarness skills
• Sharing circles and new connections
• Gently explore outside of your comfort, with ease and support
• Practice and understand embodied boundaries and concent
• Playful somatic experiments and games
• To explore your movement vocabulary and creative self expression

Somatic - Based techniques we will draw inspiration from are

• Active Listening
• Authentic Movement
• Contact Improvisation
• Somatic Meditation: Focusing & Orientation Practice
• Free Play & Dance
• Mindfulness / Bodyfulness
• Your own inspiration and intuition.

“Packed with really insightful practical techniques to begin to reconnect with your body and fall in love with yourself again - Dan

Is this class for you?

• This class is fully inclusive and valuable to everyone regardless of relationship status or model you’re in, age (18+), ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and experience, religious beliefs, income and otherwise. 
• Although this class can be therapeutic, it is not therapy. Whilst we set up a container that enables trust and honesty, we ask everyone to take responsibility for their experience. Please speak to your therapist or health professional if you have experienced abuse or trauma through touch or otherwise before you decide to take this class
• No previous experience needed with The Body Knows courses, workshops or similar.

Testimonials

"Absolutely incredible, life changing session. Dani is an amazing facilitator who really helps you to embrace your inner child, be silly and play. She transports you to another world and I will be implementing the things she taught us into my everyday life." Maggie.

“I am amazed by the after-glow effect it left on my life. I feel much safer in my body because it’s so much easier now to just be silly and intrigued by whatever arises. Whether you consider yourself a wallflower or a wild animal, this is an open environment for everyone! You show up as who you are and be reminded that there is your facilitator’s guidance but also your body’s, so just do whatever you feel. This course was my weekly joy-dose. Thank you, Dani. Much love. ” - Maram.

“It felt like a really natural way of being, of playing, allowing the child self that always sits inside the freedom to unfold without judgment. Dani's sensitivity to the whole, and the way she guided us and nudged us softly in different directions felt really natural and balanced." - Asher Sai B’Hahn

"Dani's facilitation was magical. I felt like I was softly guided into the world of play without even realising that she was taking me there, and then she held me there so gently and unobtrusively that a whole world could develop around me that was beautifully expansive, but also completely safe!" - Maddy Li

About Your Facilitator 

Dani Tonks

Somatic Coach & Movement Teacher 

Instagram

Facebook

LinkTree

Dani is an a trauma informed Somatic Coach, trained actor, self taught dancer, pleasure /play activist and movement facilitator. With over 12 years of practical experience within somatic and embodiment work she has developed a playful and sensitive approach, combining a range of disciplines including acting, contemporary dance, somatics, alexander technique, ritual, meditation and clowning.

Dani has formed collaborations across the UK with organisations such as The Psychedelic Society, Medicine Festival, The Collective, House of Togetherness, Craigberoch Business Accelerator, Antidote, Shape History, Bristol Council, Shine Charity and Beat Eating Disorder Charity.

Dani has worked as an international performer, director and workshop facilitator for over 12 years. She has worked extensively in film, theatre, radio and TV, and has toured internationally with self devised shows.

Organisations she has worked with include:

The BBC, The British Youth Filming Academy, Contact Youth Actors Company at Contact Theatre (Manchester), The Royal Exchange Youth Company (Manchester), CYAC (Contact Young Actors Company) and Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company. 

Education & Training:

The Somatic School -  (Accredited Somatic Coach)

Orangic Intelligence for Coaches

Trauma Informed Facilitation with Bryony Beynon

East 15 Acting School (BA Acting; Somatic & embodiment work, animal studies, archetypal work and Jungian Psychology, contemporary dance, clown, Laban, Meisner technique) 

Alexander Technique with Trish Baillie 1 yr (Manchester School Of Theatre)

Tough Cookie Mental Resilience Training 

The British Youth Filming Academy (2 Years; movement/embodiment & voice training and acting for screen)

Embodied Activism by Rae Johnson 

Jon Davis Clowning School

Teatr Pieśń Kozła / Song of the Goat Theatre (Poland, voice and prose,biomechanics, classical acting training)

15 years of professional training, teaching & performance within embodiment, movement & somatic

The Venue: Elevate Studio Bristol

---

FEEDBACK @ Wild Play Lab / Dani Tonks

"This workshop opened my eyes to new creative possibilities in my life. Thank you so much for providing me with a space to be vulnerable and play amongst some lovely people!!" - Beth. C

"Dani's workshop was one of the best sessions I ever attended. She held the space so beautifully, and wove together a really smooth and playful unfolding. It felt like the perfect antidote to the busy and serious routine of London - I will definitely be back!" - Margot. B

"What a wonderful session that was. This time it felt incredibly delicate and tender as well as the usual contagious laughter. Dani holds the group well, is dynamic to the needs of the group. Pulled up and out of yourself so you can feel you have left your old skin behind. Shiny and new" - Charlie. R

"Wonderfully guided by Dani, a great way to get into your body and let go of the mind" - Megan R.

"Great fun experience playfully exploring being a human. Dani was a great facilitator guiding us through the activities always making us feel really safe to explore. Look forward to coming again." - Matt. K

EVENT DETAILS

TICKET PRICES: £14-£25

DOORS OPENS: 12:55

DOORS CLOSE : 13:00

To avoid disruption to the event, latecomers may not be admitted. 

ENQUIRIES: wildplaylab@gmail.com

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

For PSYCHEDELIC KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES please check out the Psychedelic Society website. 

Our facilitators have agreed to our code of conduct. Learn about our procedure for raising concerns

MEMBERS of the Psychedelic Society get a discount off almost all of our events.
Join from £5 a month and become part of this amazing community with invites to special events and more.