CLASSES/WORKSHOPS
The following is a list of classes and workshops Bella has taught or is planning to teach in the future.
WRITE WHERE YOU ARE: THE ART OF BEING PRESENT ON THE PAGE
We don’t need to know what we are going to say in order to begin writing; we simply need to be present. We start writing wherever we are, writing what may seem hopelessly mundane. But if we stay with ourselves, observe life closely, open our senses, let everything in, and record specific details, a mysterious expansion and ascension occurs.
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GET MOVING: A CREATIVE MOVEMENT & WRITING WORKSHOP
Creative movement is an exquisite muse. Breaking habitual movement patterns and discovering untapped ways to experience the body, creates additional pathways in the brain, which lead to new and original ways of thinking. In this workshop you will be invited to shed your inhibitions, move your body, and express whatever words, sounds and images arise. You may be surprised by what you find. The body's intelligent, knowing and revealing movements often articulate what words cannot. By combining creative movement with writing you will stretch your creativity, both physically and verbally. You will also have fun, make noise and stand in your stillness—excellent places from which to engage and inspire the writing process.
When it comes to talking about sex—one of the most intimate, personal and revealing experiences of our lives—many of us have no idea where or how to start. We are embarrassed or we don't want to break the code of silence society has created around this “taboo” subject. But it can be extremely liberating, enlightening and empowering to explore this fertile ground, especially for women. Our sexual experiences say so much about us; they reveal who we are as opposed to whom we think we are, or who we think we should be, or who others imagine us to be. Standing in the truth of our sexual stories, uncovering them and acknowledging their power, leads to an uncovering and acknowledging of our true Selves. Engaging in this process means we have to give ourselves permission to say anything, and reveal everything. For such courageous intentions we will create a safe and sacred place in which we are free to dare and risk and sometimes fail—even spectacularly if we are lucky!
Our bodies tell the stories of our lives. They are rich in detail and always true. But often we don't listen to or understand what our bodies are trying to tell us. In this workshop we give body parts voices and let them speak on paper. The wisdom that arises from these voices can be startling, revealing, painful, funny, illuminating and often healing. You will also have an opportunity to respond to these voices and carry on written conversations with them. This is a rich and valuable way to expand awareness; by becoming more deeply connected to body parts, by listening to their wisdom and forging open discussions with them, you will gain a new perspective on your whole Self. Ultimately it is the Soul that speaks.
Our workshop begins with the creation of life-sized body tracings, front and back, which participants fill in and mark up, creating a personalized body map with unique signs and symbols. These signs and symbols may be obvious or obscure. Drawing skills are appreciated, but not necessary; what we're after are clues and images—sparks we can fan into flames while we write about our maps. This process might reveal roadblocks, detours, even fatal accidents, but can just as easily (or perhaps additionally) point the way to buried treasures you may not have known were there.
Student Testimonials Taken From Anonymous Course Evaluations:
“The moving mediations really got me out of my head and helped me write from my body.”
“The BODYTALK work gave me a way to release and express things that I hadn’t looked at.”
“Deep stuff comes up, but Bella is very grounded and has a lot of resources. I highly recommend this work and have told friends about my experience here.”
“BODYTALK is the perfect companion to my work in Psychological Therapy. The blending of body awareness with verbal (written) expression is inspired. Mixing movement, meditation and writing provides enough technique for any student to be able to join in on the same level.”
“I enjoyed the creativity of Bella’s classes, and how my classmates became progressively more open and expressive.”
“I highly recommend BODYTALK to writers and non-writers alike, and will encourage my friends to take it if it’s offered again.”
Student Testimonials Taken From Anonymous Teacher Evaluations:
“Bella is a great combination of teacher and artist, able to communicate process as well as encourage individual achievement. She consistently provided a safe atmosphere for students to share and grow, with many offering deeply personal experiences.”
“Always attentive, Bella gives very specific comments and suggestions to each class member and is startling in her attention to detail in her evaluations. At the same time, she is very flexible in her thinking and able to synthesize input from others.”
“When Bella teaches it’s much more than a class. It’s writing, it’s therapy, it’s a journey! I’ll probably be 75 years old and still remember what her class did for me.”
“Bella created a safe environment where I felt free to express my deepest feelings and not censor them.”
“Bella has insight, depth, warmth, and talent for inspiring students to trust themselves and access long-lost stories and core emotions.”
“Her classes are small and intimate. Bella is a very caring person, which shows in her teaching.”
If interested in any of these course offerings, contact Bella.