Connecting to Compassion

Connecting to Compassion ~ 6 Class Series with Kirsten Wilkinson

Do you have a loud inner critic?  Do you sometimes struggle with offering patience to people in your life?  Are you looking for a way to connect to humanity during these challenging times of isolation and lockdowns?  Do you need a space to connect to yourself in a compassionate way?

If the answer to any of these question was “yes”, then it is time to connect to compassion though your new or existing yoga practice.  

Right now we have so many reasons to feel anxious, lonely, overwhelmed, angry, stressed, gloomy, and ultimately out of touch with ourselves and our communities.  However, through this exploration of practices that promote compassion, we will find ways to tap back into our wholeness and wellbeing.

In this 6 week course you will learn techniques for creating self mantras and affirmations, practice yogic based movements and shapes that work towards self awareness and curiosity, as well as experience breathing and mindfulness imagery exercises to stimulate the mind/body connection.

“Sometimes the hardest part of the journey in believing you are worth the trip.” Maya Angelou

The approach of this class is based on both scientific methodology and felt sense experiences.  Kirsten focuses on the micro level by starting this course focusing on cultivating self compassion, and then expanding outward, exploring ways of embracing community compassion, and eventually expanding into compassion towards our globe and humanity as a whole.  

Classes will include journaling prompts, mindfulness practice, breathing exercises, gentle flow and restorative stretches, affirmation and mantra work, invitational language, as well as extra resources, videos, articles, and practices you can explore on your own all in the scope of compassion.

This class is for you, if… 

  • you want to lower feelings of stress and anxiety in your body

  • you are eager to find easy to nurture your innate resilience

  • your mind and body crave more ease

  • motivation for the things that drive you has waned

  • happiness boosts feel good

  • self image and self worth are you inner critics favorite punching bags

  • you feel lonely

  • you hope to improve your immune response

  • you have moderately high or high blood pressure

  • you are committed to building and maintaining healthy relationships

  • you want to explore boundaries 

  • you are called to increase or sustain your capacity for empathy and kindness

What are compassionate practices?

  • curiosity of ones self and our surroundings

  • mindfulness 

  • present moment body sensing and awareness

  • self holding and touch

  • affirmations

  • personal mantras

  • gentle flow

  • expansion and contraction stretches in the body

  • non judgement

  • shifting perspective

  • non attachment of outcome

Week by Week:

Week 1 & 2 - Self Compassion and Stimulating the Vagus Nerve ( our nerve of empathy)

Week 3 & 4 - Community Compassion and Expanding our Heart (our organ of fire and compassion)

Week 5 & 6 - Global Compassion, our centering our Basket of Humanity, and Tonglen. 

Included in this course:

  • 60 minutes of guided practice

  • variations to suit every body

  • lifetime access to the recordings

  • breathing exercises

  • wide range of compassionate practices from many traditional sources

  • affirmation, mantra, and journaling prompts

  • invitational language

  • Access to the Healing Motion Community and special discounts on other online community classes and private sessions with Kirsten

  • Automatic enrollment in Healing Motion’s Free Online Community Yoga Offerings with lifelong access to the recordings past and present

  • Personal support by email throughout the course

  • Discussion board to connect with community and participants during this course

  • extra resources, videos, articles, and practices you can explore on your own to connect to self-compassion, community compassion, and global compassion

PLUS

practices for self exploration, self restoration, and discovering your currently present wholeness.

*Also note that 25% of your registration supports Legacy Motion’s programs with individuals and communities impacted by trauma