The Body Knows: Weekend Bristol

"I am amazed by the afterglow effect it left on my life." 

Do you sometimes find it challenging to regulate and understand your stress responses?

Are you curious about deepening your connection with yourself and others?

Can inhibitions hold you back from showing your authentic self?

The Body Knows is a 4-hour immersive workshop held over two days, designed to help you reconnect with your whole body.  Together, we’ll safely explore the liminal space of "meeting the edge" and stepping outside of your comfort zone. Using the magic of somatic states, improv, and embodied play, you’ll discover practical tools to support transformation, healing, and personal growth.

This workshop amplifies your ability to problem-solve, tap into the divine joy of the cosmic laugh, and reconnect with the wonder of being fully alive.Through playful experiments, movement, and creative, body-based practices, this workshop helps you:

• Build resilience and care for your nervous system
• Reduce anxiety and restore balance
• Boost confidence and immunity
• Revive your joy, spontaneity, and a deeper connection to pleasure in a gentle safe way

The Body Knows is an interactive and practical experience designed to help you "self-study" in a safe, non-judgmental, and playful space.

"It gave me permission to become absorbed in the everyday miracle of experience in a way that I’ve previously associated only with psychedelics."   

The Body Knows workshop is a sister programme developed by Dani Tonks from The Body Knows 6 week online course and The Body Knows Weekend.

 Overview: 

• The workshop is 4 hours in total and is spread over two days. It's encouraged to meet before and after each day to connect with the group.
• You will receive a follow up email on what we explored over the weekend.
• You will have the opportunity to share in smaller groups to form deeper connections & group support.
• There will be a mixture of embodied practices, such as movement and meditation, theatre games as well as sharing circles and rituals.
• It’s encouraged to have a movement journal to document your practice. This can be written, drawn,  recorded via voice notes or video or a mixture of all these mediums. 

"We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing."

Themes We Explore

• SENSE - Presence, grounding, connect
• PLAY -  Unblocking, inner - child,  curious, flow state
• PLEASURE - Surrender, softness, deep listening
• INTEGRATE - Reflect, sharing, journal, clarity

Practices we will draw inspiration from

• Active Listening & Journalling
• Embodied Boundaries & Consent
• Focusing & Orientation Practice
• Free Play, Clowning & Improvisation
• Learn the foundations of ‘embodied awareness', somatic resourcing & The Felt Sense’ 
• Somatic Movement & Dance as tools for embodied self awareness and creative expression.

Is this workshop for you?

• This workshop is fully inclusive and valuable to everyone regardless of age (18+), ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and experience, religious beliefs, income and otherwise. 
• Although this workshop 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, trauma or otherwise before you decide to take this workshop.
• No previous experience needed with The Body Knows courses, workshops or similar.

“Absolutely incredible, life changing session.”

This  workshop may be of benefit if you are

• Feeling disconnected from your body or/and playful authentic expression
• You are wanting to learn in community and have accountability to practice embodied wellbeing.
• Are new to embodiment - somatic practice or want to refresh your knowledge
• Seeking new ways to unlock creative or emotional blockages that are holding you back and want to create more space for self development.
• Wanting to give your body some self love and attention whilst having fun too!
• You're a yoga teacher, therapist or body worker and are seeking a supportive place to practice your existing skills with like minded people.

Testimonials

"Absolutely incredible, life changing session. "  - Maggie.

"I am amazed by the afterglow effect it left on my life."  - Maram.

"Beautifully expansive, but also completely safe!" - Maddy Li

THE VENUE: Elevate Studio Bristol

Elevate Studio is situated near the gorgeous harbour side at Whapping Warf. Click here for directions.

Travelling out of town? Some Accommodation options below

Airbnb - Prices range, good if you need privacy.

YHA Bristol - Great reviews, close to venue, good value.

The Full Moon Hostel - Shared accommodation, cheap(ish), fun vibe!

Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa - If you fancy something swish!

About Your Facilitator 

Dani Tonks

Somatic Coach, Educator & Artist

• Instagram
• LinkTree

BIO

Hi there! My name is Dani, I live in North Bristol, though my roots lie in the West Midlands. I come from a working-class background, with ancestry that traces back to my  maternal grandparents from Northern Ireland.  My families stories, resilience, privilege and complexities have influenced my journey, shaping my passion for creating inclusive spaces where people  can connect and grow. My work is grounded in honoring personal stories and celebrating the strength that comes from lived experience.

I am a trauma-informed Somatic Coach, trained actor, dancer, and workshop facilitator. Currently, I’m studying Systemic Psychotherapy at the University of Bath as part of a 4 year MA. Alongside my private coaching practice I  work part-time as a Recovery Navigator within the mental health sector in Bristol.

I enjoy exploring my personal creative landscape through performing arts and teaching, which remains a meaningful, inspiring and therapeutic outlet for me.

With over 15 years of practical experience in somatic and embodiment work, I’ve developed a playful yet sensitive approach that draws from a variety of disciplines, including acting, contemporary dance, psychotherapy, somatics, ritual, meditation, and clowning.

I am the founder of The Body Knows (formerly known as Wild Play Lab), where I curate workshops and retreats, facilitating the unfolding of play and embodiment as powerful tools for self-transformation and wellbeing.

The Body Knows has collaborated with a range of incredible organisations across the UK, including; Home Care UK, Spike Island Art Centre, Craigberoch.org, Novartis, Shape History, The Psychedelic Society, Medicine Festival, House of Togetherness, Noisily Festival, Antidote, Shine Charity and Beat Charity.

In addition to this work, I’ve spent over 12 years as an international performer, director, and workshop facilitator, working extensively across film, theatre, radio, and TV. I’ve also toured internationally with self-devised shows.

Some of the organisations I’ve had the pleasure of working with include the BBC, The British Youth Filming Academy, Contact Theatre (Manchester), The Royal Exchange Youth Company (Manchester), CYAC (Contact Young Actors Company), and Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company.

Relevant Education & Training:

I have regular supervision, therapy and ongoing CPD.

• University of Bath - Systemic Psychotherapy AFT (currently training)
• Member of AFT (Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice)
• The Somatic School -  (ICF Accredited)
• Organic Intelligence® for Coaches Training
• 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, 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)
• Jon Davis Clowning School
• Teatr Pieśń Kozła / Song of the Goat Theatre (Poland, voice and prose,biomechanics, classical acting training)

Investment

I offer three payment options to support people on a lower wage. If you consider yourself to be a high earner then paying a support ticket option helps to subsidise places for people on lower incomes e.g Early Bird or bursary places. We really appreciate your support.

EVENT DETAILS

You’ll need to create a free zoom account which you can set up here: zoom.us
DOORS OPEN: 13:55
NO ENTRY AFTER: 14:00 To avoid disruption to the event, latecomers may not be admitted.

REFUND POLICY

There are no refunds on tickets. Tickets can be transferable to another participant if organised by the buyer up to 12 hours before the event. In particular cases of extreme circumstance with at least 24 hours notice of cancellation, the buyer may be authorised a transferred ticket to a course at a later date.

ENQUIRIES: hello.danitonks@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.