KEYNOTE: The Wise Body with Dr. Hillary McBride

Many of us who have spent time in faith settings might have learned to believe our bodies are bad, having mistakenly been instructed that our bodies are the cause of sin, our fallen nature. Dr. Hillary McBride will provide an introduction to embodiment as a spiritual practice, and shares about how a different understanding of new testament writings can support us to experience our bodies as good, the place where the Holy dwells. Her new book, The Wisdom of Your Body is available for order now.

Dr. Hillary McBride is a registered psychologist based in British Columbia Canada, whose work has been recognized by the American Psychological Association, and Canadian Psychological Association. She completed her PhD in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia (UBC), and recently won the Young Investigators Award for her research contributions so early in her academic career.

Her work in her private practice, teaching, and research, includes expertise at the intersections of spirituality and mental health, trauma, body image and eating disorders, embodiment, and feminist psychology.

Her first book, Mothers, Daughters, and Body Image: Learning to Love Ourselves as We Are, was published in 2017. She is the senior editor of the textbook Embodiment and Eatingdiers: Theory, Research, Prevention, and Treatment, which was published in 2018. Her next book, The Wisdom Of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection through Embodied Living, comes out in 2021.

She is the host of Other People's Problems, a podcast about therapy and mental health. The great loves of her life are her husband, daughter, the ocean, and chai tea. You can learn more about her work at www.hillarylmcbride.com

The Body Is In The Soul with Christa Hesselink

The first session of the day will include exploring a helpful framework inspired by this beautiful quote by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” We’ll discover the importance and pleasure of grounding in the Divine through our bodies as we attend to our spirit and prepare for a great day ahead.

Christa is the founder of SoulPlay.ca and is the host of this online gathering. She has been guiding individuals and groups as they dig deeper into their spiritual life for her entire twenty-five-year career.

As a life-long learner, Christa continues to acquire training to support the well-being of others. In addition to two formal post-graduate degrees, she’s a certified coach, yoga instructor, spiritual director, and certified Enneagram Practitioner with the Narrative Enneagram. As a best-selling author and respected keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and retreat leader, her focus content includes transformation & vulnerability, the inner-life of an effective leader, contemplative spirituality, grief & loss, and soul care.  You can learn more about Christa and SoulPlay.ca here: www.SoulPlay.ca

Intuitive Eating with Heidi Smith

Intuitive eating is the ability to connect to our own internal signals for hunger, fullness and stress. It's a way of trusting and honouring our body so that we can enjoy food that makes us feel good without guilt! In this workshop we will discover a way of connecting to the body through mindful eating. We will also explore some of the common barriers that get in the way of intuitive eating. You are invited to bring a small piece of chocolate or other special treat to enjoy as we try a mindful eating practice together. You may be surprised what you discover!

Heidi provides a unique perspective by combing her expertise on nutrition and exercise with her passion for mindfulness, dream analysis and reconnecting to our intuition. In addition to being a Registered Dietitian, Heidi is a certified faciltator of the MBSR program(Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), a trained SoulCollage®Facilitator and an Advanced Dream Pattern Analyst. Heidi uses her facilitation skills to help you turn inward, to listen to your body, to be curious about your mind, to awaken your heart and to find what fuels your fire to live life with vitality. You can learn more about Heidi here: www.heidismithnutrition.com

Tune In with Lynn Holden

Do you wonder what clues your body holds for your journey toward wholeness? Would you like to be better able to tap into this source of wise guidance? 

Our bodies remember everything we experience in life. Our embodied memories may be somewhat distorted though because they are based on our perspective at the time of the experience. Regardless, important parts of ourselves retreat, and hide in our bodies awaiting support.

In this workshop, we’ll create the conditions for the hidden parts of you to emerge from the recesses of your body. Applying Gestalt principles and the wisdom of the Enneagram, we will experiment together and learn practices you can do at home.

Lynn is a lifelong learner who is committed to personal and spiritual growth. As a spiritual director and a licensed professional counselor, she creates safe space for reflection and exploration as she gently guides others into slowing down and living the questions. You can learn more about Lynn here: www.lynnholden.com

Embodied Empowerment with Robin Lacambra of GOODBODYFEEL Studio

Join GOODBODYFEEL founder, movement educator and social justice advocate Robin Lacambra for an empowered embodiment experience.

In this session she will share how GOODBODYFEEL is working to create change in the health and wellness industry and our communities by creating safe, inclusive spaces where all bodies are celebrated and personal agency is emphasized.

All classes are taught from anti-oppression, trauma aware and eating disorder informed frameworks and are designed to explore how self-care is an act of community care and resistance in these highly charged times.

Robin will lead you through an accessible movement practice that blends yoga, Pilates and mindfulness allowing you to tune into your unique body and experience the wisdom that lives within you.

Robin is the founder of GOODBODYFEEL Movement Studio and host of the Empowered Embodiment Podcast. She describes her work as being an empowered embodiment educator - blending practices like Pilates, yoga and mindfulness and sharing them from anti-oppression, trauma aware and eating disorder informed frameworks. Robin is also a somatic coach, social justice advocate and eager student of diverse movement practices. Her aim as an empowered embodiment educator is to help facilitate others to move mindfully and feel good in their bodies as well as recognize the intersection of physical practice and social justice, self care for community care. You can learn more about Robin at her personal website - royolaroyola.com, and GOODBODYFEEL here: www.goodbodyfeel.com

Introduction to Sacred Dreamwork with Allie Kochert

Are you curious about your dreams? Are you wondering how they can be helpful for exploring and widening your lens on your life and inner growth?

Carl Jung says that "The dream is a little hidden door in the innermost and most secret recesses of the soul." What happens when we choose to take a peek behind that little door?

We all dream and are all innate dream workers. Dreams are a natural extension of our body's sleep-wake cycle, necessary for our mind-body wellness-- if we go without dream sleep, our mental faculties significantly suffer. So how can we tap into this nightly natural process--and use its delicious, delightful, and mysterious messages for our soul wellness too?

Join Allie as we discuss what sacred dreamwork is and how to establish a relationship with your inner wisdom that shows up in dreams. Bring a dream, or a dream image, to work with on your own as we engage together on how imagery, energy, and intuition can be fruit for your spiritual journey. No dreamwork experience is necessary. Plan to walk away inspired to dream!

Allie holds space for others to grow into their resiliency, authenticity, and soul's purpose. As a certified spiritual director, dream worker, licensed psychotherapist, and resiliency coach, she holds multiple certifications and two decades' experience supporting folks on the healing journey and burnout recovery. She has companioned folks in their dreams for years and hosted dreamwork circles since 2017. She serves seekers in her spiritual direction practice, Root Grow Thrive, where she offers mind-body-soul care, soul support groups, online retreats, and dreamwork circles. She also serves clients in her private therapy practice, Rooted Growth Counseling. You can learn more about Allie here: www.rootgrowthrive.com

Resonant Soul by Corps Bara Dance Theatre

We are in for a treat!

Canadian dance company, Corps Bara Dance Theatre, creates meaningful experiences for artists and audiences through
collaboration, holistic body-mind-spirit engagement and local partnerships.

Harnessing the potency of expressive, moving dancers and beautiful imagery, Resonant Soul is a series of short curated experiences designed to draw viewers into a moment of calm, contemplation, and renewal. Exploring hopeful themes like presence, empathy, interconnection, and breath, Resonant Soul is a mindfulness and spiritual practice tool for individual and group well-being. Learn more here: Corps Bara Dance & Resonant Soul

Note: ALL of the sessions are LIVE. There will be no recording of any of the sessions.