Embodystudy
Experiential movement CPD workshops for somatically oriented therapists and embodied movement practitioners
A week has passed since the workshop, and I feel that a subtle shift occurred which has left me feeling lighter and more relaxed. I will definitely continue to use somatic movement both as a personal resource as well as in CST practice. I think I will find this a beautiful resource for CST. I am experimenting using some gentle somatic movement before my clients arrive which puts me more in touch with my own frequency - PS
It was very supportive for my craniosacral practice. I learnt some useful tools and gained a greater somatic awareness of subtle qualitative differences within me and the other through the slightest of variations in movement, touch and perception. Both facilitators made me feel welcome and reassured by providing a safe space to be seen and heard. I didn’t feel judged at all. The guided practices and reflective dialogue exercises were clear and easy to follow. - AS
Very safe and supported facilitation. Nicely paced and opportunity to share in duos and small group. Enjoyed the slowness of the content and invitation inwards. The reminder to slow done and hand over to my own body’s innate wisdom in a held space. As a TRE provider and Whole-body focuser it was a familiar space to be in. Was different in a way being held by dancers and movement practitioners. It was a deeper and different invitation inward. I enjoyed this space immensely - DD
The aim of Embodystudy is to bring somatically oriented movement enquiry into our living archive of practitioner resources; deepen practitioner embodiment, and to develop and embed this experiential knowledge into our session work as therapists
Embodystudy asks the questions; How may a grounding in embodied movement practice inform the qualitative depth of practitioner experience and efficacy in therapy sessions? How might cultivating this become a profound resource for us as practitioners? How is our language informed and a shaped through embodied experience?
Workshop series aims – Offer experiential movement explorations relating to ‘embodiment as a way of learning’ that inform our BCST practice specificity and nuance, supports and resources us, deepens our capacity to be with what arises as experience through spacious ease and presence. Experiential practice orientations may include; The inner landscape of sensation and feeling tone, fluidity, tensegrity, spiral and three dimensionality, folding and unfolding, gravity and levity, flow and balance, mass and materially, form/gesture and the symbolic. Reading the other through touch in movement, rusting the ceaseless correspondence between self and other, appreciating stillness in movement/movement in stillness.
Workshop 2 - Introduction to Somatic movement practice ‘Movement as resource’ 15th November 2025 10 - 6 (Arrival 9,30 for 10 start) Cost £100 - £70 Impacted Living (limited places available, please state interest at booking) Morning 10-1pm orientation to material, movement warm up and grounding, experiential guided movement practice as a group exploring folding and unfolding, gravity and levity, fluidity, tensegrity. Working in pairs to witness each other in movement, work through touch in movement. Reflection, contemplation and integration time, sharing in small groups. Lunch 1-2 bring your own lunch to have on site or access the town centre for shops and cafes. There will be 15 minute break in both morning and afternoon. Afternoon 2-6pm Guided movement enquiries into the inner landscape of sensation and feeling tone, mass and materially, form/gesture and the symbolic. Reading the other through touch in movement. Reflection, contemplation and integration time. Exploration of 'hands on' through a craniosacral informed lens to take a reading of our practioner experience in relational to the earlier work. Note - This is not a table exchange, no tables are provided at this time, we will use the floor or chairs. Closing sharing forum ‘how might our practitioner resources and felt sense be informed by embodied practice. Please note this is a movement workshop, we will be moving as individuals within the group, at times using the floor to lie and roll upon as well as working through the levels between the floor and being upright. We may additionally move as a whole group, in pairs and trios and use witnessing to hold space for a partner and learn through non-judgemental presence. You are invited to engage with the material at whatever pace feels right for you and to work within your own requirements and needs, to be adaptive in order to take care of yourself.
Facilitators - Ben Ash and guest facilitator Rachel Lopez de la Nieta each draw on over 30 years of experience in the field of somatic movement, dance improvisation, contact partner-work, and creative teaching practice. Ben is a registered and practicing Biodynamic Craniosacral therapist, and teacher on Craniosacral therapy practitioner trainings with Circle Cranio. Ben previously taught on 2 practitioner training cycles at CTET between 2016-2022. Ben enjoys designing ways for learning and research to happen through creative approaches to embodiment and movement. Rachel is a trained professional dancer with an interest in the application of eastern philosophy to experiential embodied practices. She completed Living Anatomy training in 2006, holds an MA distinction in Creative Practice, with a focus on contemplative movement research and is a qualified pregnancy and Hatha Yoga instructor with an extensive training spanning some 30 years. Ben and Rachel have been working together in creative practice for over 2 decades and have extensive experience holding spaces for learning through their practice of co-directing and facilitation of workshops for adults, young people and children, professional dance artists, community workshops, investigative practice labs, and presentations of research at artistic and academic symposiums, most recently through their collaboration with Neurolive - Neuroscience meets Dance movement therapy at Liverpool John Moors University. Ben and Rachel have a meditation practice within the Dzogchen tradition. This practice supports them in their lives, their work and family. They draw on it as a resource to stay grounded and spacious, and to allow ease, presence and response-ability in action.
Location - Batchworth Lock education centre
Rickmansworth waterways trust
99 Church street, WD31JD
