Seattle Hakomi Education Network

Descriptions of the five Level I Hakomi Workshops

Four two-day workshops are presented in Seattle on a regular basis. They are prerequisites to level two training and they are available for anyone interested in learning Hakomi skills. All four level one workshops are designed for both lay and professional people and are very rich experiences that can be part of a therapy or personal growth program or a part of training for professionals, or both.

All level one workshops are available to groups outside of Seattle. If you are interested in organizing workshops in your locality please contact us. These level one workshops are briefly described below. With the exception of the one day introductory workshop the two day workshops can be taken in any order. You need not take the introduction to enter the level one series or the level two training.

Loving Presence

Good listening skills are essential for producing and managing results. They can be used by health care professionals, teachers, therapists, nurses and doctors. This workshop teaches the skill of compassionate listening, a deep and effective way of listening and responding to others. We will also gently examine some of our habitual ways of relating. We will discover which habits deepen our communication and which ones move us away from satisfying connection. These skills can be learned in a weekend workshop and practiced in everyday conversations with friends and family members.

Quieting the Mind

In whatever walk of life we find ourselves: as business or healthcare professionals, parents or friends, the ability to access and maintain serenity in the midst of everyday life allows us to relate with others in a more satisfying and successful manner. When the mind is calm, we experience a sense of stability, strength and peace, improving our ability to understand ourselves and others. The capacity to approach the world with a sense of equanimity allows us to acknowledge the myriad inner voices of the mind while remaining centered and at ease, reducing feelings of overwhelm and stress. In addition, recent research suggests that this state of being has a positive affect on the immune system.

Nonverbal Awareness

Attunement and emotional resonance are essential for providing safe, meaningful and effective interactions with others. This workshop is designed to help you discover and practice this essential rapport building skill with your family, friends and co-workers. Ninety percent of our emotional communication is expressed through gestures and body language. Through compassionate, attentive self discovery, participants learn to notice and acknowledge this subtle communication system in themselves and others.

Nourishing Communication

The art of comforting is the oldest and simplest way to calm and nourish ourselves and others. As essential as air, water and food, comfort is often difficult to accept from others because of past disappointments and betrayals and can be challenging to give in an effective manner. This workshop is designed to expand our skill in giving comfort to others and to identify our own barriers to being comforted and emotionally nourished.