Somatics: Movement, Voice & Contact
| May 14 |
Sun 14th May 2023
8am – 9:30am EDT (UTC -04:00) |
| Elevate, Museum Street, Bristol, UK | |
| https://dandelion.events/e/dp6zl | |
| Hosted by |
The Psychedelic Society
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| Activity | The Body Knows / Dani Tonks |
| Local group | South West |
| Facilitators |
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| Attending |
< 10 people
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| Enquiries to | hello.danitonks@gmail.com |
| Add to calendar | Google · ICS |
| QR code |
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“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
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
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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.
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This event started about 2 years ago
Your details
Upcoming The Body Knows / Dani Tonks events
The Body Knows: Somatic Movement + Embodied Resource
- Dani Tonks
- Mon 12th Jan 2026, 2:15pm – Mon 16th Feb 2026, 3:45pm EST (UTC -05:00)
- Online
Feedback on The Body Knows / Dani Tonks events
| Gemma G. on WTF IS SOMATICS: A beginners guide to embodied awareness | 2 months ago | |
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Dani holds space so well: with awareness, humour, kindness & heart. The workshop felt very spacious with lots of room to learn, share and practice.
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| Anonymous on WTF IS SOMATICS: A beginners guide to embodied awareness | 2 months ago | |
| Nora Bryde on The Body Knows: Taster Workshop | 4 months ago | |
| Anonymous on The Body Knows: Workshop Bristol | 7 months ago | |
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Enjoyable afternoon of lighthearted playful exercises. Dani made it feel fun and not forced at all. She created a safe place for us to explore our comfort zones. I feel it could have gone somewhat further in this regard but there are limits to how deeply this work can go in a 2hr session. I'd recommend it to those who are new to embodiment work. I'd have liked to go a bit deeper personally.
The Psychedelic Society replied
— Thank you for your feedback ♡ The longer workshops such as the full day/weekend events or the 6 week course maybe worth looking into for the deeper experience you're looking for. You can view the upcoming course below: https://dandelion.events/e/thebodyknowscourse |
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| C on The Body Knows: Workshop Bristol | 7 months ago | |
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Great workshop, really well run. Felt like a safe and nurturing space. Dani is such a wonderful facilitator. A great way to connect with the self and others. Thanks Dani!
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| Anonymous on The Body Knows: London | 8 months ago | |
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Dani is an exceptional facilitator, effortlessly blending wit, authenticity, and a contagious energy that captivates the room. She creates a space where I felt truly comfortable to engage, explore, and express myself. Her ability to unlock energy within me was transformative, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone seeking to explore dance, art, or somatic experiencing as part of their meditation or healing journey. Thank you, Dani, for your unique presence and for being unapologetically yourself—you truly made an impact.
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| Akash Singh on The Body Knows: London | 8 months ago | |
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Dani is such an authentic, playful and generous space holder. The workshop really allowed me to tune into my felt sense and I feel inspired to take some of the practises into my day to day life :)
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| Anonymous on The Body Knows: London | 8 months ago | |
| Anonymous on The Body Knows: London | 11 months ago | |
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It was a lovely experience! I didn't realise how disconnected I was from my body and maybe from everyone until I went to it and started to feel and identify things in me. It's a very respectful and smooth process of self discovery. Dani is very knowledgeable and invites to spontaneity in a very happy and playful way, her coaching skills are amazing too. I loved it and recommended it to anyone looking for an initial step into connecting with the body and others.
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| Anonymous on The Body Knows A Six Week Immersion: The Gift of Somatic Resource | about a year ago | |
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Dani is such a brilliant facilitator and teacher, and I feel very grateful to have done this course with her. I have a fairly overwrought and over-stressed nervous system which can be activated pretty easily, and this can be limiting - to a certain degree debilitating, at times - in all sorts of ways. The course covered aspects of life where I am often limited by my own reactivity/stress responses - like rest, playful connection, curiosity, body + sense-attunement, for example - in ways which were gently exploratory and really revelatory. Dani's teaching is very trauma-sensitive + informed — in the way that she teaches, she models how we can attune to the body's 'yes's and 'no's and also how we can gently challenge ourselves when the moment is right. There is theory in this course, which is super interesting + clearly explained , but the thing I valued maybe the most is that this course is really about actually doing 'bodyfulness'/body attunement. I've come away from it with tangible resources that let me feel grounded and awake to the things happening in my senses/feelings/body, which is a massive gift, not just in navigating the difficulty of post traumatic stress-response but also in more fully feeling the beauty of sensation, perception, + feeling. And as well as all of those brilliant things, the course was a lot of fun :)
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