Mind/Body Matters

Taking Care of Ourselves from the Inside Out

Sponsoring Teachers: Nancy Melrose, Jo Sandry, and Gayle Bowlby

Overview

This intersession is designed for participants to experience the complex and delicate connection between our minds and our bodies, with the ultimate goal of exploring meaningful ways to care for ourselves spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Each day we’ll explore a different topic; our mornings will focus on a structured set of related activities, and we’ll spend our afternoons engaged in a physical activity/instruction that is thematically related. All activities will be based on the construction of holistic understanding through meaningful self-disclosure, creative expression, active listening, cooperative communication, small and larger group discussion, and physical exploration/risk-taking.

Participants will leave this Intersession with:

  1. A deeper sense of self-awareness and self-respect
  2. An increased sense of personal power and boundary setting 
  3. Improved communication skills (speaking and listening)
  4. A deeper understanding of their unique mind/body/spirit connection 
  5. A heightened sense of personal choice and responsibility
  6. Exposure to a variety of practices for holistic growth and development 

Requirements

In addition to being willing to engage on a deeper emotional level with peers, participants also need to be prepared to be physically active – and to have the appropriate gear. This will include wearing comfortable workout clothes on a daily basis, having shoes for hiking, and water bottles. Participants must be willing to complete a four-mile hike, and to stretch their physical comfort zone. Additionally, participants must bring a journal, a writing utensil, and lunch every day! We’ll provide nutritious snacks.

Why Just Girls?

This intersession is designed to specifically address some of the critical issues commonly experienced by girls, including body image, sexuality, boundary setting, and eating disorders.  These topics are addressed more comfortably and openly without the added distraction, complexity, and self-consciousness that is more pronounced in a mixed-gender setting.

Wednesday, January 7th -  Relationship, Communication, and Trust

Morning Session 
Day one will include activities that will set the tone for our five days together; we’ll also explore the following topics: relationship with self, self-identity, communicating powerfully and effectively, telling the truth, teaching people how to treat you, the difference between perception and reality, and navigating the social aspects of being a teenager.

Afternoon Session – A Ropes Course
The Fort Miley Adventure Ropes Course is an accredited, safe, and well-respected leadership training facility operated by the Pacific Leadership Institute, a division of San Francisco State University.  Ropes courses are a progression of low team-based elements and high challenge elements built in the trees using cables, ladders and ropes. These “elements” use physical, emotional and mental challenges that employ both human and rope safety systems to encourage team development, support, trust, leadership and personal goal setting.  The experience fosters a fun, safe and positive environment in which individuals and groups work together to develop confidence, trust, support, communication, cooperation and leadership skills.

Thursday, January 8th - Safety, Boundary Setting and Personal Power

Morning Session 
Day two’s morning session will introduce the topic of safety and self-defense, with particular emphasis on conflict resolution. We will explore issues of feeling safe in the world, acknowledging the self worth defending, escaping the victim stance, and setting emotional and physical boundaries.  We will examine the nature of conflict and build resources for transforming conflict into solutions.

Afternoon Session -- “Kick Like a Girl” Assault Prevention Self-Defense Course for Teen Girls
This introductory full-force padded assailant self-defense workshop focuses on preventing stranger, acquaintance and relationship violence. Verbal boundary setting, in addition to physical self-defense training, enables teen girls to avoid or handle uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situations.  In this session, students will practice using assertiveness and boundary-setting techniques in realistic scenarios and learn some basic physical self-defense techniques.

Friday, January 9th - Health is Wealth

Morning Session
The emphasis for day three will be on caring for and honoring our health and our bodies from a holistic point of view. We will examine the damaging elements of stress, the positive facets of good nutrition and how mindfulness can powerfully instruct these behaviors. Guest Speaker: Kate Chilton, Youth Leadership Institute

Afternoon Session – Yoga Basics
Yoga is a time-honored method for realigning mind, body and spirit.  This afternoon’s session will focus on some basic poses and general yoga philosophy that will specifically address the mind/body/spirit connection.

Monday, January 12th - Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco – Altered States

Morning Session
On day four we’ll turn our attention to altered states; using drugs, alcohol and tobacco are ways we alter our state of consciousness, and turn away from not only others, but ourselves as well. In addition to this exploration, we’ll also look at other ways to reach enlightened states of consciousness – through meditation, yoga, exercise, and breathing techniques.

Youth Leadership Institute Workshop:
Empowering Teens to be Peer Group Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Educators.

Guest Workshop Leaders:
Kate Chilton, YLI; Mike Stanton, Huckleberry Youth Programs

Afternoon Session – Buddhism and Meditation at Spirit Rock
Spirit Rock is a Buddhist practice center, offering training in meditation. We’ll spend the afternoon with a meditation teacher, learning the practice of mindful awareness called Insight –Vipassana meditation.  We’ll also stroll the peaceful grounds, which include an organic farm.

Tuesday, January 13th - Body Image and Self-Care

Morning Session 
The focus for day five will be on body image, perfection and self-care. Where does our body image originate? We will explore issues of self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, emotional coping skills, risks of dieting, and body acceptance.

Guest Speaker – Litwack, Beyond Hunger. Beyond Hunger is an organization dedicated to helping people end their obsession with food and weight. They use a non-diet approach to explore the psychological, cultural, and spiritual issues underlying disordered eating.

Afternoon Session – Hike to Tennessee Valley Beach and Closing Ceremony
We will hike the Tennessee Valley trail to the beach, a four-mile round-trip (mildly hilly) walk. During our final afternoon together, participants will integrate their most meaningful experiences by celebrating new levels of awareness, understanding, defining moments, and personal growth. In a closing ceremony participants will be invited to symbolically release something from their past and embrace something new for their future.