There is a basic concept in psychology when explaining people's reactions to aggressive or threatening situations, well-known as the "fight or flight' response. This refers to the unconscious, instinctive and learned reaction patterns that we fall into when we perceive some behavior as an attack or a threat. Simply put, we seek to get away or to confront, in an attempt to make things "safe."

There are many things in life that we perceive, consciously or unconsciously, as a threat. This creates conflict, as it invokes the fight-or-flight response. In times of conflict, we naturally establish a negative relationship with the person who initiates threatening behavior towards us; a relationship between our vulnerability, which is the part of us that can be hurt, and the other person's "power," as defined by their behavior.

When someone grabs our wrist or attacks us in Aikido practice, they are setting up a negative relationship with us. They are threatening our vulnerability. We, in turn, ordinarily react with the energy of whatever part of us we learned to protect ourselves with. When this happens, we get caught up in, and react to, the "area of conflict", rather than relate consciously to the real source of the conflict.


What Aikido teaches us about this system is that,

one, we can get in touch with and understand the patterns that we go into to protect ourselves, physical or emotional, and

two, that there is an alternative to this behavior; that of conscious response and choice, rather than unconscious reaction.

In Aikido, we blend with the energy/intention/movement of the aggressive act, out of a respect for the underlying vulnerability on both sides, and redirect it to a more beneficial conclusion. When someone "grabs our wrist" at the emotional level, we don't have to "run", we don't have to 'fight", we can stay present and make clearer choices about our behavior in accord with our sense of the true needs of all involved.

Whenever you find yourself in a difficult or stressful situation, returning to a centered state is a good first step. Our usual reactions are to fight, flee, or freeze. The martial art of Aikido offers another alternative, flow, which translates readily into daily life applications. When conflict occurs, Aikido teaches us to flow by
embodying these principles:

Acknowledge - Be aware that you have a conflict and what your feelings are about that conflict. Appreciate the other side's feelings and viewpoint without labeling them or judging them good or bad.
Accept - Show the other side that you want to work out a solution. Take responsibility for the fact that you are also part of the conflict and that all sides are in this together.
Adapt - Be willing to change and be open to new ideas. Be able to consider a wide range of solutions without excessive judgment.

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." - John Burroughs "The senses, being the explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge." - Maria Montessori

Working with people in a setting which is out of their natural and normal habitat offers us the opportunity to experience and experiment with the vast array of energy sources available from nature and it’s interactivity.

Putting a team together in this overwhelming environment reproduces the extremes of emotion and passion available to all.

Have you ever spent quality time in nature, moments when you loved the grandeur of a mountain, an impressive tree or the freshness of the wind? Has the spectacle of autumn colors, sunlit clouds or a blanket of stars ever brought you joy?

The captivating enchantment in these perfect moments and the spellbinding connections we make with nature, are our tools for helping us understand the impact our emotional state has on our own performance and over others.

Should we need to receive empowerment, all of Nature's elements can work with us.We learn that simply sitting along the banks of a mountain stream, one can feel the mountain chi (Energy) carried by the stream flow. As it flows, it brings us fresh sources of energy to our mind and body. There is a basic principle of working with Nature's chi: where the mind goes, the chi follows. Using this principle, we can gently guide this natural energy to energize us, storing the fresh chi in our "Center".

Various sources of emotional stretch are visited and experienced which in many cases can only be effectively resolved, jointly and with unconditional trust. Where and when interpersonal skills fail, we address the outcome and alternatives. Peoples feelings towards, and connection to, their human and natural environment have a direct outcome on the results of the exercises, enhancing the understanding and learning of where and how we influence others.

Those resources nature has to offer are explored and linked to a heightening of our senses. In preparation for Wave 3 we develop an understanding of why and where our senses are useful and how to reacquire the use of many of our 53 (! ) senses. The experience of nature and it’s elements are enhanced with a brief solo experience which can be lengthened to an overnight bivouac should the client situation so indicate.

Drama therapy is the systematic and intentional use of drama/theater processes and products to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional and physical integration, and personal growth.

Drama therapy is an active, experiential approach that facilitates the client's ability to tell his/her story, solve problems, set goals, express feelings appropriately, achieve catharsis, extend the depth and breadth of inner experience, improve interpersonal skills and relationships, and strengthen the ability to perform personal life roles while increasing flexibility between roles. - National association of drama therapists.

Improvisational theater uses audience or spontaneous suggestions to shape the action that unfolds on stage. Unlike conventional scripted theater, there is this element of spontaneity and unpredictability that makes improvisation a unique and exciting experience for the performers as well as the audience. Every performance is completely different, and there's an element of risk involved since there's no guarantee that any given scene will work out the way we expected.

The performing arts has touched many people's lives and inspired many a dormant or misguided creative spirit. This innate part of each one of us yearns to have expression, to be freed, to be heard, to touch others. As many of you know, finding the means to give voice to your own unique being is one of life's greatest gifts.

“By letting down my defenses I found that vulnerable yet magical spot where one is pure. For the performance to be real the performer has to be real, coming from one's true self.” -Participant

The warming up stage, helps the improvisers loosened up, feel safe about taking risks, develop trust and get the players in synch. The exercises, focus on particular aspects of the craft of improvisation, and allow for players to focus on the skills of environment, characters, listening, story telling, interaction and impact with audience.

The day can be prolonged into a highly energized, creative and unique evening event, where momentous experiences are relived through the skills acquired and openness achieved throughout an Energy process. This is what company myths and stories are borne from.