The Body Knows A Six Week Immersion: The Gift of Somatic Resource

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

“Absolutely incredible, life changing session”

"It gave me the courage to put the map down and explore the territory for myself." 

The Body Knows Immersion is a body-based self study & group learning journey. 

In a time where many of us are again, or still, experiencing limitations with embodiment and playful, pleasurable self-expression, an embodied self-care practice can support our wellbeing, ground us and remind us of the freedoms that we always have.

This online six week immersion will help you develop the practical skills to tune into your whole-self using creative somatic interventions & body based practice to vitalize your Nervous System's resiliency, reduce anxiety and begin to redefine your relationship to joy & pleasure.

Through verbal group processing, non-verbal somatic and physical embodiment practices you will tap into your body's natural urges, desires, fears and creativity to increase sensitivity, emotional awareness and confidence.

As your listening skills develop you will get to know yourself in new ways, and have a better understanding of who you are and what you need.

What is somatic resourcing?

Somatic Resourcing is the practice of inviting our mind/body to attune to sensations of safety or goodness, however small they may be. The process of attending to a felt sense of “goodness/okayness,” begins the process of teaching our nervous system that it can experience stress, and then come back to a state of calm. 

One of the foundational practices guided on the course is an exercise from Organic Intelligence called ‘Orientation to pleasure practice.’

 Overview 

• You will have one 60 minute 1-2-1 Body - Oriented Coaching session with Dani to support you over the course.
• Each week you will receive a detailed follow up email & video recap of the practices we covered from each theme. 
• You learn the meaning of; Somatic awareness, The Felt Sense and nervous system self/co-regulation.
• 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. 
   

Practices & theories we will draw inspiration from

• Active Listening & Journalling
• Alexander Technique
• Focusing & Orientation Practice 
• Systemic  Ideas & Approach 
• Imagination & Somatic Resourcing
• Lecoq The Moving Body: Acting, Clown, Improvisation
• Authentic Movement & Gaga Dance

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Structure

WEEK 1- Sensing

Opening our embodied sanctuary by turning on our senses; noticing the subtle details and unique textures that each one brings. 

This week we lay the fertile ground for our somatic - embodiment journey together. You will learn somatic practices inspired by Feldenkrais and Taoism, and receive an in depth practical introduction to somatic movement meditation.

Keywords: Discovery, subtlety, fertility, rebuilding, playfulness, creating space.

WEEK 2 - Play 

Leaping into liminal space and tasting what it means to embody your creativity!

In this session you will explore embodied creativity, connection, surprise and risk. You will playfully discover deep contact with yourself and others by learning light and playful techniques drawn from clowning, improvisation and theatre. We will celebrate our fallible and imperfect bodies as the main portal for spontaneity, authenticity and meaning. You will discover the role of body impulses and emotions in tension release, self-expression and presence, and reflect on the role and position of our inner child - like expression through learning, healing and play.  

Keywords: Wild Play, expansiveness, unblocking, clowning, transformation, release, taking space, empowerment.
 

WEEK 3 - Rewilding

Using nature and imagination as a resource for embodied change. 

Here we research how malleable we can actually be & how things like self limiting beliefs or negative self-talk literally shape us. Using practices from acting methodology, nature connection, authentic movement & ritual you will learn how to rewire your body language through imagination and nature. You will dig deeper into your embodied wisdom to let go, shift and make space for your intuitive self to emerge.

Keywords:  Ritual, co-creation, staccato, meditation, reflection, nature, imagination, harvesting.

WEEK 4 - Pleasure & Sensuality

Pleasure is your birthright. 

Welcome to your sensual sanctuary; a place for you to gently practice sensing what feels good. This week we weave together our learnings so far through verbal processing and non verbal somatic techniques to connect or reconnect to your experience of pleasure; this is the celebration of what it means to be human, feeling the pleasures in life whilst also acknowledging the lack of pleasure in our lives and how we can nourish this part of our being. 

Living in a results - base society it’s easy to neglect or reject our right to pleasure. Our bodies then adapt and we find we can no longer feel pleasure when we want to and might even experience numbness or pain. Our bodies are however wise and can always adapt again with practice and time.
 

Keywords: Self - Love, acceptance, bliss, sensuous, grief, release, inner knowing.

WEEK 5 - Rest 

Dreaming and deeply listening to what our bodies truly need from moment to moment.

This week we will surrender to what it means to rest. Gentle and tender somatic movement, self massage and deep soma meditative states. We will come together in community and kinship to share our experience and challanges in feeling our bodies need to rest in a society that is constantly ‘doing’.  We will practice embodied tools to soothe and calm your nervous system and discuss the experience to discover what works for your unique system. 

Keywords:  Surrender, Softness, deep listening, stillness, somatics, group processing
 

WEEK 6 - Integration

Our final week together to reflect and begin to pause for integration.  It is a ripe place to feel into the delicate tendrils of realisation, understand how to metabolize epiphanies and connect the dots between subtle insights. We will weave together your needs for this time and structure what you will put in place to support your integration.

 Note; It is advised to book the following day off so that you can fully drop into your integration process

Keywords: Sharing discoveries and learnings, journaling, ritual, reflection, closing circle

This course may be of benefit if you are

• Feeling disconnected from your mindbody, nature, play and pleasure.
• You are wanting to learn in community and have accountability to practice embodied wellbeing.
• Are wanting to create your own embodiment - somatic practice or add to your already existing one.
• 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, to feel fit and healthy 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.

Is this course for you?

• This course is fully inclusive and valuable to everyone regardless age (18+), ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and experience, religious beliefs, income and otherwise. 
• Although this course 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 course.
• No previous experience needed with The Body Knows coruses, workshops or similar.

About Your Facilitator: Dani Tonks

www.danitonks.co.uk

Dani lives in north Bristol with their partner Hugh. Her pronouns are she/they and are proudly queer. Originally from Stafford, West Midlands, she left home at 17 and since lived across the UK and parts of  EU exploring the weird and wonderful human experience. She loves dance, acting improv and  the power of pleasure & play as tools for self study and transformation. Dani stepped into the world of burlesque in June 2024 with their alter ego Ember Fox . They're an advocate for body positivity, mental health, creative self expression and eating disorder recovery. From their lived experience of this illness they're passionate about sharing their journey to help others feel less alone. Dani has been a regular  facilitator and event producer with The Psychedelic Society for 6 years. Dani also coaches corporate groups, teaches movement classes  and  1:1 somatic coaching at Elevate Studio Bristol.

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

Dani has worked with organisations such as Craigberoch.org, Novartis, The Psychedelic Society, Medicine Festival, The Collective, House of Togetherness, Spike Island Arts Centre, Antidote, Shape History Marketing, Shine Charity and Beat Eating Disorder Charity. 

She has also 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:

Systemic Psychotherapy  (in training) - Bath University Oct 24'

Mental Health First Aid - Bath College 2024

The Somatic School -  (ICF Accredited Training)

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)

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

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.

“What a blessing to have discovered Dani’s work! I have done one wild play workshop before joining the 6 weeks course because I was totally immersed in the first experience. I signed up out of curiosity, not knowing what to expect, and now 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. Everyone on the course holds space for you—you will find respect, appreciation, love, honesty, vulnerability with different beautiful beings. 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

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Investment

I offer three payment options to support people on a lower wage. If you consider yourself to be a high earner then paying an abundant option helps to subsidise places for people on lower incomes. We really appreciate your support.

If you feel strongly called to come but cannot afford early bird option, please get in touch and we can discuss a payment plan or bursary place (if available)  to support you.

Early Bird - £190

Standard - £255

T&C's for Payment Plans

The total course fee of £255 is payable in 4 installments one week before the course ends. No refunds are available; however, in extreme circumstances, transfers to the next course may be considered upon written request. Course access is granted upon payment of the first installment, and failure to comply with instalments may result in cancellation. If at any point you can't  keep up with payments please get in touch so we can discuss alternative options to support you.  Your purchase constitutes acceptance of these terms. Thank you.

EVENT DETAILS

You’ll need to create a free zoom account which you can set up here: zoom.us

DATES: Six consecutive Tuesdays. Each session is 7-8.45pm
TICKET PRICES: £195-255
DOORS OPEN: 18: 50
NO ENTRY AFTER: 19:00 To avoid disruption to the event, latecomers may not be admitted.

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

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