"Wanting to reform the world without discovering one's true self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes."

    Ramana Maharshi

 

            

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs—ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

      Howard Thurman                              

                                                                                                                       

If you've ever participated in a genuinely great conversation, you know that conversation is so much more than mere chatting and tongue-waggling.  Every conversation is, rather, a vital opportunity to explore and share our experience of ourselves and our world. When we bring our whole selves to a conversation, it is a way of intimately connecting with ourselves, each other, and the things that really matter to us.  Every significant decision or action involves a conversation, even if that conversation occurs silently within the solitude of our hearts and minds.

Etymologically, conversation actually refers to the act of living—a manner of conducting oneself in the world.  Yoga literally means yoke or union.  Conversational Yoga is, thus, the act of living with greater unity and conducting oneself in the world with integrity.  It is the practice of embracing and embodying yoga in everyday life. 

Our Conversational Yoga practice is an opportunity to work together applying integral perspectives and practices to real issues and important questions that you are currently living.  Collaboratively, we support more coherent alignment with your inherent wholeness, or what we like to call, "actionable integrity."  Sometimes, this looks like sitting with you one-to-one and focusing our attention on particular issues.  Other times, this involves collaborating with you and others in your community, network, or organization to problem-solve, brainstorm, design, present, host or facilitate experiences that generate potent insights, goodwill, and synergy.

One-to-One Coaching Conversations

In a world of lauded productivity, constant connectivity and unlimited demands on our time, it is sometimes challenging to consistently make time for what really matters.  One-to-One Coaching is an intentional collaboration that supports, deepens, and affirms your essential being—that aspect within each of us that is inherently wise, compassionate, and powerful—in fulfilling your true intentions.  It is an opportunity for you to focus on your deepest yearnings—hopes, dreams, and aspirations—and follow through on your most meaningful commitments to yourself, as well as the people and things that matter most in your life.

Using insight-oriented, inquiry-based approaches, we work with you to realize your goals with relevant perspectives, proven practices, and practical strategies that support your core intentions. Our primary function is to provide the targeted support you need to focus on what really matters to you.

The logistics depend on your situation, but we generally work together in person, or via skype or telephone, beginning with, what else?  A conversation. This initial conversation is an opportunity for us to determine how best to work together given your preferences and needs. Typically, we collaborate to:

Step 1. Assess your needs, clarify your priorities, and define your goals.  We begin by developing a thorough understanding of your current situation, needs and preferences. 

Step 2. Design a strategy for realizing your purpose, based on your core intentions. We work with you to design a strategy that is aligned with your intentions, identifying practical steps that you can take to fulfill your goals.

Step 3. Meet regularly to guide your process and support your progress with valuable questions, constructive insights, and relevant resources.  We help you evaluate how your inner experience, outer expression, central relationships and specific circumstances support or undermine your core intentions. Typically, individual coaching sessions are held once weekly or twice monthly. 

Conversational Yoga for Communities & Organizations

"Community cannot take rest in a divided life.  Long before community assumes external shape and form, it must be present as a seed in the undivided self: only as we are in communion with ourselves can we find community with others." 

                                             Parker Palmer     

   

Using insight-oriented, inquiry-based approaches, we work with you to realize your goals with relevant perspectives, proven practices, and practical strategies that support your core intentions. Our primary function is to provide the targeted support you need to focus on what really matters to you.

The logistics depend on your situation, but we generally work collaboratively with individuals or groups in person, or via skype or telephone, beginning with, what else?  A conversation. This initial conversation is an opportunity for us to determine how best to work together given your preferences and needs. Typically, we collaborate to:

Step 1. Assess your needs, clarify your priorities, and define your goals.  We begin by developing a thorough understanding of your current situation, needs and preferences. 

Step 2. Design a strategy for realizing your purpose, based on your core intentions. We work with you to design a strategy that is aligned with your intentions, identifying practical steps that you can take to fulfill your goals.

Step 3. Meet regularly to guide your process and support your progress with valuable questions, constructive insights, and relevant resources. 

Smaller projects may consist of a series of conversational sessions or a one-day intensive.  Larger projects usually involve some strategic combination of custom event design and facilitation, often with preparatory and follow-up sessions with key individuals or groups. 

FEES

If you've read this far, you probably have a sense that our work is valuable to you, but now you may be wondering what it will cost to work with us.  Since our fees depend on a number of variables that we must discuss with you—like your objectives, the amount of time and people involved, etc.—we don’t have fixed fees for our Conversational Yoga services.  However, we understand that you may want some idea of the cost before you contact us, so here’s an idea: 

Individuals

Our individual clients pay somewhere between $75 and $150 per session, the average session lasting 90 minutes and the number of sessions depending on the nature of our work together.  So given the range, what will you have to pay?  Simple.  You pay what you can afford based on your financial situation.  We trust that you will pay us what’s affordable and fair. 

Groups, Communities & Organizations

Our commitment is always to deliver real value for a fair price, and that price depends on the scope of the work—the scale of the project, number of people involved, amount of time, etc.  Most of our community-based and organizational clients pay something between $1,000 to $45,000 (USD).  However, let us know what you have in mind.  It never hurts to ask and we're pretty open to friendly, fair negotiations.

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"Yesterday was a momentous occasion in the history of our community.  It felt like a complete shift in the foundation of how we can work and live together--a very welcome one.  You bring a beautiful grace to the process that creates a safe container, and really supports the experience of being very present, both with ourselves and each other.  I am so excited for the unfolding of new growth in our community.  Thank you so much for your contribution toward this."

      Judith Weinstock  

      Founder, Wise Acres

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." 

       Margery Williams,

     The Velveteen Rabbit

"Thank you for your leadership and the many gifts you brought to the process. From the invaluable "ringing in with a moment of silence" (which is still being used and has spread to other events!) to the early structural framing of the initiative that gave us valuable guidelines, your leadership was instrumental in the creation of Sound Spirit. The program and communication teams are jamming now!"

    Allie Barbosa

    Sound Spirit Council