The Wisdom of the Herd Introductory Workshop - Tauranga Nov 2019 (1)

Are you a counsellor, psychotherapist, coach, or body worker who's curious about how working with horses helps people grow and heal? This two-day introductory workshop is the perfect chance to experience the healing power of bodily awareness and attuned relationship, guided by a herd of four-legged masters.

As the title of a recent survey of trauma treatment puts it, "the body keeps the score". Many contemporary approaches to treating trauma emphasise both the importance of creating a safe container of relationship, and gradually reconnecting clients with their bodies, in order to rewire the brain and nervous system. Engaging the power of relationship and tapping into bodily wisdom is also hugely beneficial for anyone wanting to process grief, heal anxiety, develop self-confidence and self-trust, transform the emotional components of physical illness, or simply understand themselves better and live a more fulfilling life.

Horses are masters of bodily and relational awareness. They live fully present in the moment to every sensation and emotion, and are also finely attuned to their herd members and the wider environment. Their capacity to extend this awareness to their relationships with humans makes them excellent teachers - just as their compassion and willingness to support other members of their (horse and human) herd makes them powerful healers.

The Wisdom of the Herd introductory workshop will outline the key principles of equine-led growth and healing work, but the emphasis is on hands-on practice with the horses. It is a non-riding workshop and no previous horse experience is required.

This equine-led, somatically based work is profoundly transformative for clients. One recent client wrote:

Thank you so much for the opportunity to spend time with your lovely herd and yourself recently.

I am deeply thankful for the profound but gentle shifts in my awareness that I have come to recognise in the time since your equine coaching workshops. Some of the mental rejigs happened quite obviously while I was participating or holding space on the days, but others I can honestly say have resulted in deep tectonic movements within that I am noticing as time goes on - and in a positive way.

I have had previous complex trauma and PTSD and have struggled to feel deeply engaged and truly safe internally for some time. After this experience of support and guidance with the horses I can feel this abating rapidly and still have that sense of calm that I left Potent Equine with. I notice I am not triggering and stressing out as much anymore and if I do I can quickly employ the wonderful horse wisdom for people that I learned and experienced. Absolutely, embracing the concept of 'returning to grazing' swiftly after stress has been the best take home message ever!. Highly recommended!!

Thank you so so much to you, Anam Cara, Bella, Ginny, Cherokee, Luka and Lulu for this healing experience - I will return!

Price: $600 each (incl GST)

Limited to 6 participants. Registrations close 1 November 2019.

For further information, or to discuss whether this programme is for you, contact Ingrid on 027 4879923 or ingrid@potent.co.nz.