Are you desiring a safe, nurturing space to take time off from the demands of life, and show up authentically with a range of open-hearted humans?

This autumn, you are warmly invited to take a long exhale, digital detox & connect with yourself & others in BodhiSpace, a beautiful & grounding Buddhist sanctuary in the heart of Neukölln.

This full day combines Hatha & Yin yoga with the communication modality of Authentic Relating to offer a deliciously restorative day of self care and open hearted connection.

There will be two editions of Somatic Sanctuary, each with a different theme. You may attend one or both, as you wish:

Saturday 12th September: Community & Belonging

Sunday 2nd November: Awareness & Attunement

After taking this precious day for yourself, you are likely to step into the week ahead with a profound sense of well-being, a remarkable connection to your body and an experiential toolkit that you can use right away to make your everyday life even better.

WHO is this day for?

Essentially, this day is for you if you have been feeling stressed, overwhelmed and/or lacking meaningful connection in your life, and need some time to recentre, reground and reconnect.

My experience includes working with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs); neurodiverse people; people suffering from anxiety and depression; people going through major life shifts; and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

No prior experience of Yoga or Authentic Relating is necessary to take part in this workshop.

If you have any questions about whether the workshop would suit you, pop me a message and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

WHAT will actually happen?

We will sandwich the interpersonal connection activities of Authentic Relating with Hatha Yoga at the beginning (to both ground & energise you) and Yin Yoga at the end (to help you gently integrate the day).

Hatha Yoga is a steady, grounding practice that combines longer asanas (postures) with steady pranayama (breathwork) to restore balance in body and mind. Rooted in ancient tradition, it supports strength, flexibility, and inner calm by harmonising the active (sun) and receptive (moon) energies within us.

Authentic Relating is an interpersonal meditation. It is the practice of listening and speaking in deeper awareness of our present moment sensations, curiosities and boundaries, allowing us to weave richer, more truthful and emotionally attuned human-to-human connections. Some exercises will involve (consensual) platonic touch.

Yin Yoga focuses on deeply relaxing the nervous system, by bringing fresh life force (prana) to your connective tissue and vital organs. Through deep stretches, long holds, and mindful breathing, your body is given permission to fully release any tension that has accumulated over time.

Together, we will create a rich container to explore the many layers of our human experience, to invite loving, consensual touch, and arrive more deeply into present moment awareness.

Through these enriching practices, we can understand and celebrate the treasures of interpersonal relating, as well as connection to self.

WHERE will it be?

The event will take place at the beautiful urban sanctuary of Bodhispace, Neckarstraße 12, 12053 Berlin, Germany.

The FACILITATOR

Laurie King

I'm Laurie (he/him), a queer British-Kiwi who’s current home-base is Berlin. My passion is creating spaces that cultivate healthy, thriving human-to-human relationships, helping people take off their masks, feel their sensations and celebrate their aliveness on Earth. Since 2019, I have organised and facilitated hundreds of Authentic Relating, Dating and Embodiment workshops across Oceania and Europe.

My training includes World Peace Yoga School (250 hours), The Embody Lab, Authentic Revolution, and Connection Institute. I have facilitated at internationally acclaimed festivals such as Stretch and Ignite, and organisations such as ART International and Authentic Bay Area.

My workshops have sparked thousands of nourishing connections, turning many strangers into life-long friends. I look forward to holding space for you!

I also offer online Holistic Coaching sessions, inspired by Authentic Relating, Positive Intelligence and Somatic Experiencing techniques.

For more information, check out itoiauthenticrelating.com.

For Insta, check out @itoiauthentic

Laurie has offered many connection workshops in Amsterdam, Vienna, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Wellington & Auckland, as well as Berlin. Here's what others have said:

"What resonated deeply with me was Laurie's approach to emotions. The way they were described as "E" stands for energy. For me, "E" is about expression, and this workshop allowed me to express my emotions freely. Feeling supported and honoured in this space was truly liberating" - Mallikah

“Thanks to this workshop, I was able to let go more than ever before, and really let in non-sexual, loving, supportive touch. Thank you to Laurie for offering another step up the mountain of growth & healing” - Samantha

“Thank you so much for creating a space in which such well-aligned people could come together. I can't think of the last time I met so many wonderful, open-minded people in one go like that. It was a real pleasure” - John"

I live with complex PTSD and anxiety so in the past I have really struggled to open up to people and build meaningful connections. Discovering these workshops has been a life changer and both my therapist and I are thrilled with how my confidence has blossomed in recent months. Laurie's time and generosity really means the world to me" - Sarah

“Thank you for the beautiful workshop we shared: I really enjoyed it and there was a wonderful sense of warmth and connection in the room at the end, amazing job” - Henry

HOW MUCH will I invest?

€65 - Low income ticket

€75 - Medium income ticket

€85 - High income ticket

There are limited spaces so book early before it fills up!

Why are tickets sold by income?

In order to make the event as accessible as possible, there are three ticket types available. It is up to you to decide which ticket you purchase, depending on your own feelings about your level of disposable income and how much you would like to contribute for the event.

If you would really like to attend but do not have the funds for the lowest ticket option, please get in touch and we can figure something out!

Practicalities:

Where: Bodhispace, Neckarstraße 12, 12053 Berlin, Germany.

When: There are two editions (you don't need to attend both) -

Saturday 13th September, 10.30 - 17.00

Sunday 2nd November, 10.30 - 17.00

Dresscode: Comfortable clothing that's suitable for yoga.

Food: Tea & snacks are provided. Lunch will be potluck style so please bring something to share!

Language: The workshop will be facilitated in English, but you may do the exercises in German if it is your common language.

Refund policy: Full refund if cancelled three weeks or more before event. 50% refund if cancelled up to one week before event. No refund if cancelled less than one week before event.