Over dit evenement
This is the original Cuddle Workshop as created by founder Wilrieke Sophia. For this specific edition a journalist from De Correspondent is present.
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➡️ EVENT SOLD OUT? QUESTIONS ABOUT PRACTICALITIES? THE FAQ TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO: www.exploringdeeper.com/faq.
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‼️ For this event, journalist Johannes Visser from De Correspondent (www.decorrespondent.nl) will join us. For this reason, tickets are at a discount compared to usual Cuddle Workshops! Only come to this workshop if you don't mind a journalist in the room. ‼️
He’ll introduce himself, and his reason to visit:
"Hi, I’m Johannes Visser, an education journalist at De Correspondent (www.decorrespondent.nl). Right now, I’m working on a series of stories that try to answer this question: how can education help create a kinder, brighter and better future? To explore this, I visit places where people learn things they didn’t get taught in school, places where values worth pursuing are at the center. That’s why I’d like to write a piece about the cuddle workshop. How can we learn to be kinder and more curious about one another? No photos will be taken, and I can keep names anonymous if you’d like. Hope to see you soon!"
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Experience a Cuddle Workshop by the person who created the original format over 13 years ago!
Cuddling is not only nice, but it is also very healthy. Touch lowers stress and increases happiness. But cuddling is also a way to get to know yourself better. Do I dare to make my boundaries and desires clear?
Just a few proven benefits of cuddling:
- consensual touch lowers stress in your body
- cuddling strengthens your immune system
- cuddling balances your nervous system
- cuddling strengthens your heart
- cuddling lowers feelings of fear and loneliness
- and in addition, a workshop like this has the potential for you to process trauma and become more confident.
A cuddle workshop is a structured workshop that focuses on loving touch. We do this through exercises that are aimed at making contact with ourselves and with others. We’ll start gently, without touching each other, and slowly build up the intensity for those who wish so that everyone can follow along and it’s not too fast for anyone – although you never have to do anything you don’t feel like doing!
We always start with a moment to come to ourselves and let go of all the hustle and bustle of daily life. From there we will make contact with ourselves and with others through exercises. For example, by taking turns stroking each other’s hands. The exercises are sometimes playful, sometimes more intense, but always in a way where you get to choose your pace. If you don’t want to do something, you don’t have to. The exercises we do are very diverse and change every time.
The event focuses on loving attention and touch. We stay away from sexuality these evenings. Not because sexuality is wrong, but to experience platonic touch without 'next steps', leaving the idea of a hierarchy of touch, so well known in our society.
Elements that you can expect in this cuddle workshop: meditation, mindfulness, dance, massage, breathing exercises, somatic awareness, The Wheel of Consent and neo-tantric aspects.
FOR WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP
This workshop is for both experienced and starting cuddlers. When you feel anxious or insecure about connecting with other people and want to learn, this is for you. But also, if you want to recharge and indulge in a night of abundant cuddles, you are very welcome! There are always people a bit nervous, which is absolutely okay, and we take this into account.
All our workshops are queer-centered and straight-friendly. That means, to us, that our workshops embrace diversity beyond the traditional cisgender, straight, slender, neurotypical, or young body. Partnering for exercises is never based on (assumed) gender.
You can come alone (many people do), with your partner/s or friend/s. If you come with a partner, you are welcome to stay together for the whole workshop, or play with others too.
The evening consists of exercises that you can do on your own, in twos, or in larger groups. As in all of our workshops, you are encouraged to sit out of anything. Witnessing is valid participation.
👋 ABOUT WILRIEKE SOPHIA
Wilrieke Sophia (they/them) is a sex & intimacy educator, (TEDx) speaker, advisor & coach for creative makers and scientists, author, and founder of Exploring Deeper and Cuddle Workshops International.
The main focus of their work is empowerment through self-knowledge and understanding, radical self-inclusion, the embodied experiencing of boundaries and desires, and an extensive practice of consent – all based on a foundation of trauma awareness and neuroscience, embedded in experiential spaces based on interpersonal connective practices. They collaborate with artists and scientists, and are a supervisor and mentor.
With their project Red Flags in Workshops, Wilrieke creates free materials on e.g. accountability, abuse, and power dynamics in the intimacy and wellness communities.
www.exploringdeeper.com
www.redflagsinworkshops.com
www.wilriekesophia.com
Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Fetlife: @WilriekeSophia
SOME PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The week before the event, you will receive an email with detailed information for the day, including the address and what to bring. Make sure you sign up with the email address that you use. Check your spam filter if you did not receive an email seven days before the event (if you have unsubscribed from our newsletter, these emails cannot reach you!).
ACCESSIBILITY
This workshop space is called Awananda. The elevators in this building are out of order - the owner won’t fix this to our regret. There are stairs to enter the building. On the ground floor is an all-access bathroom. The workshop is on the first floor. There are two stairs to get there. There are several bathrooms on the first floor (no all-access bathrooms), and a small kitchen with a fridge and a microwave. There are mattresses in the workshop space. There is no shower.
➡️ EVENT SOLD OUT? QUESTIONS ABOUT PRACTICALITIES? THE FAQ TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO: www.exploringdeeper.com/faq.
Our Terms and Conditions apply to all our events:
http://www.exploringdeeper.com/terms-and-conditions/.